WATCH REPLAY: Brevard Charter Review Rejects Anti-Term Limit Proposal, Advances Tomboulides Proposal to Strengthen Term Limits

Public polling revealed 82 percent of Brevard residents opposed Fisher’s proposal

WATCH: The Brevard Charter Review Commission voted, by a 6-5 margin, to terminate a proposal from Commissioner Robin Fisher which would have repealed the current 8-year term limits for county commissioners and implemented a 12-year limit instead.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard Charter Review Commission voted, by a 6-5 margin, to terminate a proposal from Commissioner Robin Fisher which would have repealed the current 8-year term limits for county commissioners and implemented a 12-year limit instead.

Charter Review Commission members voting against term limits were Marcia Newell, Robin Fisher, Kendall Moore, Cole Oliver and Sue Schmitt.

Commissioners Mike Haridopolos, Marie Rogerson, Matt Nye, Gabriel Jacobs-Kierstein, Blaise Trettis and Jordin Chandler all voted in support of maintaining the voter-approved 8-year term limits.

Public polling had shown that 82 percent of Brevard residents opposed Fisher’s proposal, preferring to keep the 8-year term limit in place.

During the debate, Trettis pointed out that it was unfair for commissioners to delegate to charter appointees a decision on term limits that would affect their own political careers.

In addition to killing the anti-term limits proposal, the commission allowed a pro-term limits proposal from Cocoa resident Nick Tomboulides to move forward.

“I would say it’s disgraceful,” said Tomboulides.

“These appointees (who voted against term limits) were supposed to represent the people, but have instead thumbed their noses at citizens by voting against term limits. They are putting the needs of lobbyists and special interests above their duty to Brevard taxpayers. Hopefully, our five-county commissioners will think twice before appointing these individuals again.”

WATCH: Does Former County Commissioner and Charter Review Commission appointee Robin Fisher want to change or remove term limits for politicians in Brevard County? During a Charter Review meeting in January at the Brevard County Government Center in Viera, Fisher asked Charter Review Chair Mike Haridopolos, “I don’t understand, and I don’t know if we should ask them or one of them to research it for us but I would like to have a better understanding of how term limits came into play. And if there was a proposal to eliminate term limits or make them a longer period of time. Is that proper to ask our attorney or staff to look at that? (SCGTV video)

The Tomboulides proposal would strengthen the 8-year term limit for county commissioners by removing the provision which allows ex-commissioners to run again after sitting out a term.

It would create a lifetime 8-year term limit which permanently blocks career politicians from returning to the office.

“Our current limits work well with one exception: they do allow former commissioners to sit out and then run again,” said Tomboulides, who serves as Executive Director of U.S. Term Limits.

“So, we have a lot of zombie politicians – career politicians – still floating around and always scheming to come back. These people refuse to go away. My proposal would tighten up the 8-year term limit so career politicians take a permanent hike.”

Tomboulides said his proposal was inspired in part by a bill Governor Ron DeSantis introduced while serving in the U.S. House, which would have imposed a lifetime term limit on members of Congress. Former Brevard Clerk of Court Scott Ellis has also endorsed the measure.

The next two meetings of the Commission will take place in the Commission Chambers in Viera on June 23 and July 7. Both meetings begin at 3 p.m.

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