News

City council stuck at two terms

Jeff Schmucker
Published: November 8, 2012

BROOKSVILLE - A referendum that would have allowed Brooksville City Council members to serve three consecutive 4-year-terms on the board instead of two failed by a wide margin following Tuesday's general election.

That means two council members will have to take a break for a year following the end of their term in 2014.

According to preliminary election results, 2,069, or roughly 71 percent, of 2,890 votes cast were against City Referendum 1 that would have allowed city council candidates a chance to serve for 12 straight years before stepping aside.

Those in favor of the referendum cast 821 votes — showing roughly 28 percent in favor of the measure.

The result directly impacts Vice Mayor Lara Bradburn and Councilmember Joe Bernardini, who both are currently serving their second terms, which expire in December of 2014.

City council members are the only locally elected officials to a board that has limits on how many times they can consecutively serve before having to bow out for at least a year.

Bernardini said he is against term limits and instead believes voters should decide whether a council member deserves to continue sitting in public office.

However, he added voters have made clear their feelings on the matter.

"The charter review committee recommended we change it and put the question to the people and the people said 'no,'" Bernardini said. "I don't ever have a problem putting a question to the voter. It should be the people's choice."

Despite calls to Bradburn's cell phone, she did not return a message left by press deadline.

While voters strongly struck down the referendum, they also just as strongly supported a second one that explicitly states a council member would be disqualified from office if they don't primarily live within the city limits.

Titled City Referendum No. 2, roughly 69 percent of voters came out in favor of the measure Tuesday with 2,008 votes cast out of 2,909 total. In comparison, 901, or roughly 39 percent, voted against the measure.

Prior to the election, Bernardini said there appeared to be some wiggle room if a council member didn't live in the city and decided to challenge the matter in court.

"Nothing stated that they have to continue living in the city," Bernardini said. "So there was something that someone could argue in court if it was challenged. But now they can't."