Millbrae to put term limit extension on ballot

Millbrae councilmembers are not currently allowed to serve more than two consecutive four-year terms per a 1997 ordinance passed by voters. This can make it challenging for local Millbrae officials to establish themselves on the regional boards they serve on, councilmembers said.

“It is difficult for our elected officials in the city to get into leadership positions regionally with the two-term limit. Most other cities within the county don’t even have term limits. Those who do, have longer term limits than we do,” Mayor Anders Fung said.

But a lack of regional leadership positions shouldn’t be solely attributed to term limits, Goodman maintained.

“If we’re talking about getting appointed and creating opportunities on these regional boards, it can be your first term, it can be your second term, it can definitely be your third term,” he said.

“But if you lack the ability — and no judgment towards anyone on this council — if you lack the ability to create and forge strong relationships with individuals, it’s going to be difficult if you had 10 terms.”

The City Council debated the proposed length of increased term limits, with Cahalan suggesting three terms might be more amenable to the public since the role is service-based, “not a career.”

“I think for the public, there are concerns about term limits. If we go to the ballot at four and lose, we have to wait until 2026 to go back again,” she said. “I think the public would be more open to three.”

Millbrae resident and former Mayor Marge Colapietro said at public comment that she believed the maximum term limit should be capped at three four-year terms, so that new people could continually serve on the council, she said.

“The longer there would be the term limits, the less time there would be for these people to serve our community — and these are people who love our community as we do,” she said.

Ultimately, regardless of what term limits are imposed by the city, voters have the ultimate decision, Councilmember Gina Papan emphasized.

“I’m inclined to give voters as much choice as they possibly can,” she said. “It’s very, very difficult to find people to run for office — it’s probably the whopping salary. It’s not necessarily a career, as suggested, public service is really designed to help represent your community.”