Term Limits for Burbank

     The results of the Burbank Municipal election are in, and Marsha Ramos and Dave Golonski won the City Council race: and Debbie Kukta and Larry Applebaum won the School Board race. 
       As expected, the incumbents were re-elected to the Burbank City Council.  There were no incumbents running for the school board seats.  
       It is extremely difficult to beat any incumbent no matter what office they are running for.   They have an advantage in both name recognition and people willing to donate money to their campaigns.   So how do we replace them with promising new candidates?  Unless they are complete incompetents, or have become so full of themselves that they totally ignore the needs of their constituents, it is nearly impossible to defeat an incumbent politician. 
     Running candidates who lack a background of community involvement, or really don't understand the issues, isn't going to win elections.  While I voted for the new guys in the council race, I held out little hope that they would win. Vahe Hovanessian lacked experience.  Michael Bergfeld, while bringing some valid criticism of the incumbents, pandered to the anti-airport nuts.   A serious candidate needs to have a true understanding of the facts in the airport issue, and he did not demonstrate that.
     "Term Limits" seems to be the only way to force an infusion of new blood into local government.  It has worked at the state level.  It should have the same effect here in Burbank.  With a municipal election every two years, one term of 4 years should be enough for anyone to serve. But experience, especially on-the-job experience is valuable up to a point, so lets set the limit at two 4-year terms on the Burbank City Council and Board of Education.
     Yes, some politicians who have done good things will be forced out as a result of term limits.  But their departure is a small loss compared to the good that could come from term limits.  By making the playing field even for all challengers, term limits may encourage more people to run for office.  When challengers don't have to wage an uphill battle against well-funded incumbents, the cost of campaigns may come down too.  All of that would be good for the City of Burbank.

--- Stan
posted on 4/14/05