York County Council mulls referendum on 4-year council terms

Voters in York County could be asked to decide in November whether County Council terms should be lengthened from two to four years.

A proposal to put the issue on the November ballot was approved this week by council members in a 6-1 vote, with Christi Cox the lone dissenting vote.

The proposal for staggered four-year terms would have to be approved in two more council votes, including a public hearing, before it would be placed on the November ballot. State law requires that voters must approve a change in term lengths from two to four years.

During a discussion Monday, council members said York County is one of only two counties in South Carolina where county council members serve two-year terms. Anderson County is the only other S.C. county where council members serve two-year terms. All other counties have four-year terms, council members said.

Several council members said representatives from some of York County’s municipalities and chambers of commerce have questioned whether the county would benefit from longer council terms, giving the county’s elected leadership more time to gain experience.

Council member Bruce Henderson, who decided not to seek re-election this year after serving three two-year terms, voiced support for the move. He said shorter terms result in members putting too much focus on their re-election prospects.

With two-year terms, Henderson told the council, “it is so tempting to calculate every move you make, and you are so concerned about your next election.”

Henderson also voiced support for a limit on the number of terms a council member can serve “to protect against long, lifetime politicians. I think there need to be some checks and balances.”

However, several other council members said a limit on the number of terms a council member can serve would require a change in state law.

Council member Chad Williams said the council previously considered longer terms, but the proposal died in the face of strong public opposition.

When the proposal that was previously considered reached a public hearing before the council, Williams said, the overwhelming public sentiment was that it “seemed like elected officials trying to stay in office.”

Council member Michael Johnson said he would support putting the question to voters. “It makes sense in terms of economic development,” Johnson said, though he also voiced support for term limits.

Cox said she could not support the proposal to put the question to voters because “no one at all” has suggested to her that longer council terms would be a benefit.

“I’m not sure making it easier in government is what needs to happen,” Cox said.

Council member Robert Winkler said he is in favor of hearing from voters. “I believe in letting the people vote,” he said. “I believe in letting the people speak. That’s why I voted to put it on the ballot.”

Under the proposal, if voters approve the change in November, half plus one of the council members who receive the highest vote in that election would serve four-year terms. The remaining members elected would have initial terms of two years, and after that all members would have four-year terms.

This story was originally published June 23, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "York County Council mulls referendum on 4-year council terms."