Why Term Limits Should be Opposed

8/28/2015

As many Richfield residents know a recent petition to have term limits on the Richfield Village board has been circulating and was submitted to the village staff August 26, 2015.

This article is most interesting. While it is from 1994 it still provides factual information rather than just an opinion. It focuses mostly on federal government while still being a good resource.

21 Comments

Danah

8/28/2015 04:02:08 am

Some people do have the perspective that elections are, in theory, a way to get rid of an incumbent that isn't doing a good job. However, incumbents have around a 94% re-election rate. Money, and the amount of money spent on campaigning, is often the determining factor in a candidate being successfully re-elected. At a local level it's often in the form of favors more than money.

The idea of citizen legislators serving 6 years and returning to the community is fantastic because, in my opinion at least, it reduces the chance of elected officials becoming complacent. Plus, they will experience the effects of the decisions they make in the community.

marie

8/29/2015 12:37:21 pm

yes, that is your opinion. not the 98%percent of us who disagree. Money??? no, its the record of the people who get reelected.

Marie

8/28/2015 11:52:37 pm

Wow!! Article really shows that term limits are NOT the answer. However the people who want this just want to gain power. What they don't understand is that they have to win an election first.

Jackie

8/29/2015 12:30:59 pm

I am not in favor of term limits. This petition is a way of getting people elected that wil destroy the village by abusing power to get what they want.

marie

8/30/2015 08:26:43 am

you are right Jackie...What they don't understand is that the 1300 people are just a fraction of the voters in Richfield. This was just a little over the amount of votes that she got when running for trustee. Also, 2 more trustees will not make the difference in decisions that are made. Our current board makes decisions that are best for the village, not their own agenda. Anyone can attend the village meetings to hear and see how our village runs.

Danah

8/30/2015 03:44:38 am

The people who want this (over 1300 people) want more PEOPLE power! Citizen legislators not career politicians!

marie

8/30/2015 08:29:34 am

career politicians???? this is a part time job with part time pay. If you think they are career politicians, then you have your definition incorrect. again, term limits are done with ELECTIONS!! keep trying, maybe you can win one.

Danah

8/30/2015 10:57:42 am

A lot of politicians are politicians part-time. It's not the fact that it's a part-time position that creates the problem. The problem is when someone is in an office for too long and they base their policy decisions to benefit certain special interests to the detriment of the residents in general.

Danah

8/30/2015 08:06:03 am

Do you think our current elected officials are abusing their powers?

Jackie

8/30/2015 10:00:02 am

Why would you thing our current elected officials are abusing their power? From a business perspective, they are doing a phenomenal job with financial decisions. You even heard this from the accountant that shared her report to the village in a meeting a few months ago. They take care of all questions I have and follow the laws and take the public concerns VERY seriously and communicate well. Now. How again are they abusing power? By not granting permission for one company to come in and do whatever they want for their OWN financial gain?

Marie

8/30/2015 11:31:42 am

Jackie, you are one smart person. Knowing the facts and holding to them.

Marie

8/30/2015 11:33:44 am

You would think that she as a business owner would understand. Too bad she is nieve and tries to snow the people behind her.

Danah

8/30/2015 10:32:40 pm

Marie,

I started to respond to your posts but they're so negative and snarky I'll just let it be.

Danah

8/30/2015 11:14:56 am

Reflections Village: Bankrupt 3 times! The sale/resale benefits local current and former politicians.

Timberstone: Just completed litigation in Circuit Court with the Village over property tax dispute. (President Jeffords is affiliated with Timberstone's developer Payne and Dolan)

Bark Lake: The Village is currently in litigation trying to steal land from a resident.

The Village of Richfield has spent over $160,000 in legal fees since January of 2014.

Our President is the controller (or retired controller, I don't know the current status as he was planning to retire this year) for Zenith Tech which is part of the Payne and Dolan corporate family. Payne and Dolan RESTORED the Jacklin Pit.

The Village board knows about contaminated dredging material improperly deposited in an abandoned quarry on the east side of Scenic Rd. (not mine!)

You, Jackie, are one of the lucky ones in Richfield that gets to experience officials treating you fairly. Many others are not so fortunate and are subjected to repeated denials for records, requests ignored, and name calling. All because they don't "agree" with the "insiders".

The Village does not follow the law and has not followed the law in regards to our case. They are not following the precedent set even by their own zoning and ordinances. Our plans follow the Comprehensive Plans adopted in 2004 and 2014. The Plan was amended in 2015 with the expressed intent to prohibit what the Comprehensive Plan allowed us to do.

I could go on, but I won't right now.

This is why we need term limits and more representation!

marie

8/31/2015 12:35:57 am

get serious! what does reflections village have to do with this. It was private and a very bad investment on their part not the village.
Stealing land from someone is something you know about. your case ! yes this is all about YOU

marie

8/31/2015 12:38:57 am

$160,000 in legal fees since January of 2014. how much of that is because of you and Jeff Gonyo who sues just to spread his feathers. That guy needs to go back to Polk and leave US alone. He is your support? you need to rethink that!

Danah

8/31/2015 05:09:33 am

I'll check ccap but I'm pretty sure Jeff hasn't had a legal battle since Jan, 2014. Have you personally met Jeff? If I believed everything I had heard about him before I met him in February I might have the same opinion as you. I decided to take the time to meet him, he's literally the nicest guy you could ever meet.

Reflections Village was more than a bad investment, it was a blunder made possible by politicians. I just hope taxpayers don't have to pick up the tab to finish what the developer/s couldn't.

Owning land isn't stealing land. Elaborate please.

marie

8/31/2015 12:48:30 am

As far as records requests! you got yours so what are you crying about? You did not get it?
Name calling? you and Jeff Gonyo are the ones doing this. keep posting it is giving us a picture of how you do your business

Jackie

8/31/2015 07:25:06 am

Dannah- don't get me wrong, I had to do all my research and hire an attorney to go through records(meeting minutes) about 10 years ago with a prior administration that wouldn't help me. I did get in touch with a newer member and with some legal words were able to use the research to get through a logical outcome. From tests that were done adjacent to your development, they proved nothing was contaminated. So, not sure how crucial it is for your business plan, but can you reduce how many days/loads you truck in to build a rapport with the village? I know the biggest problem with most people is the 10 year proposal. I will research other pits to see what their plans/business models have done to be able to move forward. I just worry about how negative Jeff will be for you and your goals. He is smart, but very manipulative. The people on the board are trying to protect the residents, but they need that trust relationship(along with a few good legal terms to sway them - and not suing them). Once a lawyer gets involved, they watch their backs. They have a lot to lose.

marie

9/1/2015 12:39:17 am

Jackie, not sure where you stand on the pit. However, limiting the number of trucks is not a good option. our roads cannot handle the trucks without destroying them. People who live on Scenic, willow creek, Amy Belle school area, don't want the hazardous traffic, people in the village don't want the kind of fill that the Scenic pit will accept. And as far as Jeff, most of Richfield know his tactics. I know for a fact that he has gone door to door asking for $$ when he was supporting the HWY J group. Don't know if he still does that, and hopefully he will just go back to Polk.

marie

9/1/2015 07:19:26 am

make it a non binding referendum and lets see what happens

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Why Term Limits Should be Opposed

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