Term limits for city politicians not a bad idea

When it comes to electing people to city government, voter turnout is often embarrassingly apathetic commonly hovering just over 30 per cent in Hamilton. But this doesn't stop us from bitching about the problems with the pivotal services the city provides like water we drink, the transit we ride, the sewers, policing and fire protection.

Because of this lethargic behaviour of voters incumbents in municipal office are notoriously difficult to unseat. As a result, many municipal politicians are able to cling to office for years, often well past their effective abilities. At Hamilton's city hall, for example, almost half the councillors have been in office for at least 15 years, the exact percentage as Toronto.

Fairness and accountability at the municipal level sounds like an oxymoron, especially in Hamilton going back in recent years to the DiIanni scandal and to the currant councils credibility issues. Term limits was one of Fred Eisenberger's promises in the last election and Progressive Conservative MPP Norm Sterling echoes the concern and is asking for a review to be undertaken at Queen's Park. Scheduled for debate in the Legislature on Thursday is Sterling's resolution calling for the creation of an all-party select committee to look at municipal governance in Ontario's big cities. The proposed review would focus on cities with a population greater than 500,000, such as Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton and Mississauga.

We need a compromise on term limits to encourage new blood to flow into city politics bringing with them enriched nutrients at the same time cutting out the cancers that kill any attempt at new growth and development . I suggest no more than two consecutive terms as a councilor, but no limitations on someone re-entering in the future for another two terms. It prevents councilors from becoming career pariahs sucking money out of municipalities in the way of wages and benefits without offering any useful input. Like we see in the Federal Senate where Senators spend less than a third of their time actually working.

Really good Councilors can, jump from councilor to mayor. That would give you 4 uninterrupted terms (16 years) in municipal politics before either jumping to the provincial or federal levels or taking a term off.


City of Hamilton
Members of Council (2006-2010) and their years of service.



Mayor Fred Eisenberger-Serving as Mayor since December 6, 2006.
City of Hamilton Ward Boundaries


Ward 1..................... Ward 2................ Ward 3 .................Ward 4
Brian McHattie .......Bob Bratina..... ...Bernie Morelli ..Sam Merulla
2003.........................2004......................1991.................2000



Ward 5 ...................Ward 6 ......................Ward 7 ................... Ward 8
Chad Collins ......... Tom Jackson .............Scott Duvall .............Terry Whitehead
1995........................1988...................2006....................2003



Ward 9 .........................Ward 10 ................Ward 11 .......................Ward 12
Brad Clark ...................Maria Pearson .....David L. Mitchell ........Lloyd Ferguson
2006......................1991....................... Glanbrook 1986 - 2000 .Ancaster-1984 to 1994
....................................................................Hamilton in 2001........Hamilton-2006


Ward 13 ......................Ward 14 ..................Ward 15 .............
Russ Powers ..............Robert Pasuta .......Margaret McCarthy
1982 Dundas..................2006.....................Flamborough 1994
2001 Hamilton............................................Hamilton 2000

Later,
Kenaz