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for larger version       Eight Is Enough For Both City And State Pols A number of City Council members are attempting to make an end-run around the voters by legislatively extending term limits to 12 years from the present eight- year maximum. The voters have spoken twice on this issue, setting eight-years as a maximum term in 1993 and then turning back a city council bill that would have extended the terms of its members to 12 years in 1996. Sure that the voters would once again turn back any extension, the City Council plans to extend its term without asking the electorate this time around. While it is legal for the council to do that, the move brings the morality of council members who would not be in office if it had not been for term limits into question. Councilman Joseph Addabbo, who represents the west end of Rockaway, says that term limits are bad for the electorate, but he wants to bring the question to the voters once again. He is opposed to making the change by legislative fiat. Councilman James Sanders has not yet returned our call asking for his opinion on the issue. Not only do we think that term limits for city officials should remain at eight years, we would like to see those eight year limits extended to state politicians as well, including the Governor, Assembly members and State Senators. Political reform is in the air, and that reform cannot come when legislators deny the voice of the people in such a wanton manner as the council plans to do.
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