Local term limits coming?

County Commissioner Jim Adkins is running for re-election to a second four-year term on the board, and that will be his last.

Adkins said two terms is plenty.

"That's eight years," Adkins said. "I believe that's long enough."

And Adkins believes that's long enough for any commissioner. Getting a new person in the seat every so often allows for fresher ideas, he said.

"If you're in there a long time, you could be part of the problem instead of the solution," he said.

Adkins could get his wish.

A state House panel three weeks ago passed a bill that would allow people to vote on a referendum in November to set term limits for local elected officials. If approved, it would require an amendment to the state constitution.

A Senate panel this week tweaked the language of the bill to primarily apply term limits only to counties with charter governments. Charters are formal written documents that confer powers, duties, or privileges on the county and allow the people to set salaries and term limits for county commissioners.

Hernando County is a constitutional county.

County Commissioner Wayne Dukes said he favors the proposed bill because it prevents career politicians.

And Dukes believes a maximum of two, four-year terms should be the standard in every elected office. He cannot understand, for example, why state legislators must run every two years.

As soon as they get elected, they begin campaigning for their next run for office, he said.

Dukes' term will be up in 2013 and he is undecided if he will seek re-election. But if he does, he said it would be his last run.

"I would really have to feel the people would want me to run," Dukes said.

County Commissioner Dave Russell is no stranger to term limits. He maxed out his time as state representative after four, two-year terms.

Russell said he has no problems getting a referendum on the ballot and asking the question of voters, whether they live in charter or constitutional counties.

"Let the people speak," Russell said. "If the legislature approves it, I'm for putting it on the ballot."

The legislature has not decided what the term limit would be. Presumably, there would be more discussion before the referendum is worded.

Russell said the cap for county commissioners would likely be placed at 8-12 years.

Often, elected officials start hitting their stride with their third term and it benefits the constituency, he said.

There is also a valid argument that the county retains its institutional knowledge the longer a person stays in office, he said.

Russell, who is serving his second term on the county board, said he continues to learn things about Hernando County "and will continue that learning process as long as I am here."