Amendment 17, approved by Colorado voters in 1994, limited sheriffs and many other elected officials to serving two consecutive terms, applicable “to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1995,” but allowed “voters to lengthen, shorten, or eliminate such limitations of terms of office.” George Epp was the Boulder County sheriff from 1990 to 2003. Joe Pelle has been serving as sheriff since the end of Sheriff Epp’s term and is in his fourth term.
In 2005 county voters approved extending the term limits from 2 terms to 3 for the sheriff, clerk and recorder, treasurer, assessor, coroner, and surveyor.
In 2011 Boulder County voters allowed the sheriff to serve 4 consecutive terms. The county commissioners had considered asking voters to exempt the sheriff from term limits but believed that extending the limit to four terms was more likely to receive voters’ approval.
The commissioners are asking voters to allow the sheriff to serve a fifth term if re-elected.
Recommendation: YES
Elected officials who appoint judges, such as presidents and governors, should definitely be subject to term limits. Other elected officials, however, should be able to stay in office as long as the voters continue approving of the job that they are doing. When we term-limit out qualified people, then the lobbyists and government staff (whom the electorate can’t hire or fire) become more powerful. When we vote to continue someone in office, then they can often push back against lobbyists and staff because they have some accumulated wisdom and seniority.
The power of incumbency in elections is a serious issue, but I believe that there are better ways to level the playing field than to impose term limits.
Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a supporting website appreciated.
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opposition website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language
County Question 1B (Sheriff Term Limit Extension to Five Terms):
Shall the term limits imposed by state law and in Article XVIII, Section 11, of the Colorado Constitution on the office of Sheriff of Boulder County be modified so as to permit an elected officeholder in that office to seek and, if the voters of Boulder County choose to re-elect that person to a fifth term in office, to serve a fifth consecutive term?
Yes ___
No ___
See Resolution No. 2017-90 to put Question 1B to the voters
https://www.bouldercounty.org/government/county-ballot-issues/
In 2005 county voters approved extending the term limits from 2 terms to 3 for the sheriff, clerk and recorder, treasurer, assessor, coroner, and surveyor.
In 2011 Boulder County voters allowed the sheriff to serve 4 consecutive terms. The county commissioners had considered asking voters to exempt the sheriff from term limits but believed that extending the limit to four terms was more likely to receive voters’ approval.
The commissioners are asking voters to allow the sheriff to serve a fifth term if re-elected.
Recommendation: YES
Elected officials who appoint judges, such as presidents and governors, should definitely be subject to term limits. Other elected officials, however, should be able to stay in office as long as the voters continue approving of the job that they are doing. When we term-limit out qualified people, then the lobbyists and government staff (whom the electorate can’t hire or fire) become more powerful. When we vote to continue someone in office, then they can often push back against lobbyists and staff because they have some accumulated wisdom and seniority.
The power of incumbency in elections is a serious issue, but I believe that there are better ways to level the playing field than to impose term limits.
Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a supporting website appreciated.
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opposition website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language
County Question 1B (Sheriff Term Limit Extension to Five Terms):
Shall the term limits imposed by state law and in Article XVIII, Section 11, of the Colorado Constitution on the office of Sheriff of Boulder County be modified so as to permit an elected officeholder in that office to seek and, if the voters of Boulder County choose to re-elect that person to a fifth term in office, to serve a fifth consecutive term?
Yes ___
No ___
See Resolution No. 2017-90 to put Question 1B to the voters
https://www.bouldercounty.org/government/county-ballot-issues/
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