There is just no persuasive reason for extending term limits for Pierce County Council members and the county executive. Our government is not so dependent on specific individuals that it cannot manage to succeed without them after eight years in office. Citizen representation requires access and innovative perspectives.

When it comes to experience, we already have the wisdom of staggered council terms to constitute a body of seasoned council members with fresher ones. Term limits are an imperfect tool, but they do help ensure turnover and better accountability to the voters – and not concession to major contributors, political insiders and special interests.

Unfortunately, term-limited politicians face only minor-league opponents. So much for voter’s choice. The smart and most qualified candidates will wait to run for the open seat. Term limits effectively eliminate the competition for the incumbents; longer term limits will only mean eliminating serious competition for even longer periods of time.

Eight years is enough. Reject term limit extensions by rejecting charter Amendment 1.