Residents in Montgomery County, Maryland, voted to adopt term limits for their elected officials Tuesday.
The measure limits county council members and the county executive to three four-year terms or partial terms.
>>> Liberal DC Suburb Could Resurrect Term Limits Movement
Voters in 2000 and 2004 rejected similar measures, making this a significant victory for those campaigning for term limits.
Robin Ficker, an attorney and political activist, championed the fight for term limits. He cited tax increases and the council’s 30 percent pay hike as reasons to pursue the measure.
“It makes me happy to be a citizen of the United States because we can effectuate change through the electoral process,” Ficker told The Daily Signal in a phone interview.
He added that after the voters passed the measure, four county council seats and one county executive seat will now be open.
Ficker believes this victory for term limits is a referendum on incumbents as well.
“Incumbents cannot run again and there may be other incumbents who see this vote and decide not to run again,” Ficker said.
Voters, according to Ficker, have told Montgomery County officials that they want to see significant changes in leadership.
“The voters have spoken and rejected the record of the incumbents,” Ficker said.
Last week, Ficker joined The Daily Signal for a interview about term limits. He predicted a victory in Montgomery County Council would spark interest in term limits across the country.
“This is the bedroom of the nation’s capital,” Ficker said. “Many congressmen live in our district and many staff members live in our district, so when it passes in Montgomery County, we expect it to spread like a wildfire over the West Coast.”
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