MILTON — City Councilman Alan Lowery is wrapping efforts to gather signatures for a petition calling for term limits on Milton’s council and mayor.
“This is the final push,” Lowery said. “We either make that magical number or we don’t.”
Lowery estimated he has between 150 and 200 signatures. He hopes to gain 686 signatures, or 10 percent of the city’s registered voters based on the last election.
While the city charter suggests 40 percent of registered voters is needed for such a petition, state law requires just 10 percent. Lowery said he had City Attorney Heather Lindsey confirm the 10 percent amount of needed signatures at a previous council meeting.
The petition calls for changing the city’s charter so it states that a council member or mayor could not serve more than three consecutive four-year terms.
The charter currently allows both council members and mayor to serve four-year terms until a qualified successor is voted into their position.
Lowery said the main issue he has with the lack of limitations stems from retirement; elected officials who serve 20 years are eligible to earn retirement income from the municipality in which they served.
“My biggest problem was that we should not be getting retirement as city council members,” Lowery said. “We are there to do the will of the people, not for a second part-time career.”
Lowery said several elected officials, including a couple of former mayors and a former council member, are eligible for retirement.
City Manager Brian Watkins said the city is required by state law to give former elected officials half of what they made while serving in office. A council member makes more than $5,000 a year, he said.
This issue has been brought before the council in the past, and Lowery was the lone council member to support term limits.
Councilwoman Patsy Lunsford opposes such limits. “I think it should be regulated by the voters,” she said.
Lunsford, who was first elected to the council in 1996, said voters have the opportunity to replace an elected official out of office, should a majority feel a change is needed.
Mayor Wesley Meiss agreed with Lowery.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea; it would be a great thing to have in the city of Milton,” Meiss said. “I think once you have been in office for 15 to 20 years, you have to pass the torch to someone else and get some new ideas out there … that is what makes America great.”
Lowery said he would like to have the needed signatures by next Tuesday. Should he meet his goal, the item would then be placed on a November ballot.
In addition to going door to door, Lowery has been active in spreading awareness of the petition like starting the community Facebook page, ‘12 is Enough for Milton,’ placing petition forms at several local businesses including the Blackwater Bistro and the Copper Possum antique mall.
Milton residents can also expect a mail-out later this week, Lowery said.
ONLINE: See www.facebook.com/12isEnoughforMilton for the latest updates on the ‘12 is enough for Milton’ campaign
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Councilman seeks signatures for term limits petition