Jerry Wright: Are longer terms a good idea?

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Jerry Wright: Are longer terms a good idea?

Ward 3 Alderman Jerry Wright supports longer terms for city council members and the mayor.

3rd & 7 37yd

Is it that time-consuming to learn the job of councilman? You worked with the city before becoming alderman. Have you noticed that other council members without that experience are struggling to catch on?

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:07:24 PM
I would not want to speak for others, I just consider myself having an easier time adjusting and working with the council process with my experience. As with many things, language, structure, etc. are things we learn in any new job. One thing that takes a lot of time is learning all the sides or issues of a certain item. An example would be the issue being discussed about the Civic Center, Central States Fair, and the Sutton Rodeo Company. I am studying that issue, and it is taking time, effort, etc. as it has a very long history and is complicated. Getting involved in "regional" issues such as the pine beetle infestation, or agri-business development, etc. take time to learn about, get involved, etc. So it is a learning process necessary to be productive in decision making.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:11:56 PM
Jerry, here's a question from last week's Live Chat guest, Pete Wernicke.

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:12:41 PM
Our one seat in the house of representatives and members of our own state legislature serve 2 year terms. With the exception of the mayors office, what is it that has made our council members jobs so much more difficult that they need a longer term length than these federal and state offices?

by Pete Wernicke 10/27/2011 5:12:43 PM
Keep in mind that the U. S. Senate is for 6 years for continuity in the federal legislative process. The terms of the other offices referred to at the state and national level are not the issue being discussed. I am discussing the terms of our local city government, and I believe, after studying and considering the issue, that a 3 year term for the office of council is appropriate and would help our City. See comments below. As for the mayor's term of office, I believe an extension to 3 years, maybe 4 would help those who run for that office as it is full time, they have to set aside their other career, or shut down their business, and in order to make that kind of committment, longer terms help. In addition, I do not agree that turnover will improve government, on the contrary, what will improve government is performance by the elected and the oversight of the electors. In my opinon, the lengthening of the council term will build a smoother running and more stable local government.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:19:11 PM
You said at the recent forum that you believed that opponents to the longer terms were questioning the integrity of elected officials. Are opponents being too cynical in their attitudes toward elected officials by distrusting them to serve longer terms?

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:19:57 PM
Certainly some elected officials deserve scruting. Staying with the local issue, I have been in Rapid City the past 37 plus years, have known many if not all of the elected officials, and have found them honest, sincere, and of good moral character. It does bother me when citizens consider all elected officials as immoral, corrupt, etc. as that under-mines our very form of government. We need to show respect tothose elected and to communicate with them our concerns, issues, etc. When an official does step out of line and is of less than good character, we re-call, impeach, or vote them out. But, the vast majority of people serving, especially on the local level are only trying to do what is best for their community.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:23:28 PM
Jerry, Patrick Fink has a question for you.

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:23:55 PM
What are your thoughts on extending terms through ordinance, rather than through intiated measure? What would be the pros and cons?

by Patrick Fink 10/27/2011 5:23:57 PM
I support the changing of the term lengths by ordinance, by the Council, and the citizens have every right to have that decision referred to a vote if they want to. After all, we as the elected council, are chosen by the vote of the people to represent them and that is the form of government we have. I see action on the ordinances as a responsibility of the City Council. Certainly, as proposed and discussed to date, no one currently serving would automatically get an extended term. Members and citizens who would campaign for one of the offices, would be elected to the longer terms. I see absolutely no personal gain in this matter for any of us on the Council. If passed by ordinance, and then possibly referred, the issue would have been debated and written, I believe, in a constructive manner.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:27:56 PM
Is the ordinance route still being considered? I thought it was on hold for the time being.

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:28:50 PM
I support and supported the council ordinance approach. The current council plan is to take the issue to the wards, have "townhall" type meetings, draft a ordinance and submit to a vote to the people. The course could change based upon input from the town hall meetings and adoption by the council by ordinance could evolve. I certainly have no problem going to the community and listening to them.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:31:31 PM
When will your Ward 3 constituents be able to attend a townhall on the issue?

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:32:33 PM
The townhall meeting schedule etc. is in the hands of the Mayor and the Council leadership. I am not sure how soon all will occur, but I would suspect sometime in the next few months.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:33:45 PM
One of the reasons cited by proponents of longer terms is the cost of running for city offices. Is spreading out the election cycle with longer terms in office an answer to the expense of seeking public office?

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:34:12 PM
I do not believe it would lower costs per election, but would reduce, in theory, the overall cost of running for longer periods of time. For instance the cost for a City Council campaign is in the $7,000 range for two years. If the terms were three years, you would have one more year, before investing in another campaign. The initial and re-curring costs probably would be the same, it would simply be the frequency of expenditures.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:37:02 PM
If you don't mind a change in topics, on another recent issue before the city council, how did you vote on the policy to guarantee a job interview to applicants with disabilities? What is your view of the issue?

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:38:14 PM
I voted for it primarily because of the endorsement of Paul Stabile, past manager of the Black Hills Workshop, and Ann Van Loan. They are both good friends, and I took their endorsement seriously. I might add
, in my 23 years of working for the City, I always saw the City as a very dedicated equal opportunity employer. I am not sure this particular action was even necessary, but we will give it a year and see how it works.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:41:18 PM
Patrick Fink has another question on term lengths.

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:41:50 PM
Few months? What if a group of individuals drafts their own initiated measure before the council makes their decision?

by Patrick Fink 10/27/2011 5:41:52 PM
I would suggest that they put their thoughts together and talk to their council representatives, and therefore will have a say in the content. Format and legal descriptions, etc. need to be well thought out and written. When I said a few months, I am saying the meetings are in the near future, not immediate, but should be well before any election next year. If a group drafts and initated measure, we as a community, want it well written and constructive, if that makes sense. It is their right to do so, but I do hope all will work with the Council.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:45:15 PM
You mentioned before that you were studying the Civic Center and Black Hills Stock Show tiff. Do you anticipate that the city council will intervene?

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:46:39 PM
I do not know what is going to happen there. Time will tell.

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:47:13 PM
I do not have any more questions, Jerry.

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:48:05 PM
Do you have any last thoughts?

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:48:20 PM
no

by Jerry.Wright 10/27/2011 5:49:16 PM
Thank you, Jerry, for participating in our Live Chat.

by Randy Rasmussen 10/27/2011 5:49:42 PM