A commission of leaders in both the public and private sector will debate the next step toward recommending a term limits extension for state lawmakers, who now can serve eight years in one office.
The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission—which sends recommendations on changing the Constitution to the General Assembly—is now considering two proposals to extend those term limits to 12 years. One includes current lawmakers and the other only applies to newly-elected officials.
Both measures now include language to put the issue on the 2016 ballot. State Rep. Mike Curtin of Columbus says this ensures term limits don’t get in the way of the popular redistricting reform—something already on this November’s ballot.
“My concern would be if we put term limit extension in the fall 2015 ballot next to reapportionment reform—there could be some negative spillover effect,” Curtin said.
Recent polls from Ohioans for Good Government and the University of Akron show more than seven in 10 voters oppose a term-limits extension.