County commissioner term limits bill pushes forward to next House committee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A bill that would enact term limits for county commissioners is moving forward to the next House committee stop after passing through the Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee by a vote of 9-6 on Wednesday.

The bill, HB 57, would limit county commissioners to a maximum time served of 12 years.

Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Escambia County, carried the bill. It previously passed through the Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee 14-0.

Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, was the only Republican to vote against the bill.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill is carrying a similar bill in the Senate.

Ingoglia’s bill is slightly different and sets term limits to eight years. It previously passed through the Ethics and Elections committee 5-3 and has one more committee stop.

Currently, over 75% of Floridians live in a charter county that has already voted for term limits, and 55% of Floridians live in districts that have already implemented them, Salzman said.

“This bill gives Floridians what they want, and sends a message to [Washington] D.C. that Florida stands with the people,” she said.

Salzman said term limits “discourage the development of political classes that prioritizes reelection over effective governance.”

“Officials may focus more on serving the public rather than securing their own political future, and let’s do this for the people,” Salzman said.

Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, D-Ocoee, among with a few other Democrats, said she would vote against the bill during debate.

“This is not about term limits, this is about preemption, and I think that we should let the cities and the counties and people back home decide what happens in their county,” Davis said.

Davis noted her community, Orange County, already has term limits.

“We didn’t decide that, the people of Orange County decided what to do with their county, and I think that’s what it should be for all of us,” Davis said.

Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, voiced his support for the bill during debate.

“Thank you representative for bringing this great American bill, restoring this to the people,” Tramont said.

Tramont said “many” charter review boards are appointed by the commission “so there’s certainly a vested interest there.”

In closing, Salzman asked the committee members a pair of rhetorical questions.

“How many thousands of emails from your local constituents have you received for this term limits bill? How many constituents are in the audience right now that are not commissioners or former commissioners screaming that we’re preempting them?” Salzman said.

“Nobody,” she said. “I haven’t received a single one.”

“If they are so concerned with us voting on term limits that they 82% agree with, then why aren’t they here burning the house down?” Salzman said.

“We all know they want term limits – and that’s what this bill does,” Salzman said.

Salzman noted they are “working on the small county conversation” and rural communities “will be addressed” in the next committee stop, which is the State Affairs Committee.