SAN DIEGO (FOX 5\/KUSI) \u2014 The County Board of Supervisors is considering a series of updates to the county\u2019s charter, including a proposal to extend term limits for supervisors and potentially establish limits for other county-elected offices.<\/p>\n
County Chair Terra Lawson-Remer is leading the effort, which would increase the current limit for supervisors from two to three four-year terms.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe critical importance of balancing the need for fresh ideas with the need for experience in county government,\u201d Lawson-Remer said.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the proposal point out that San Diego currently has one of the shortest term limits among large counties in California. The existing two-term limit was approved by voters through a citizens\u2019 initiative in 2010.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are three counties that have three terms and six counties that have no terms,\u201d said Jack McGrory.<\/p>\n
However, critics argue that the proposal benefits current officeholders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I don\u2019t like about what\u2019s going on here today is it\u2019s a politician\u2019s initiative, and the politicians putting that forward are the very ones that are going to benefit from it,\u201d said Supervisor Jim Desmond.<\/p>\n
The proposal suggests applying term limits to other elected positions, such as district attorney and sheriff. However, there is currently no state law to support mandating term limits for those roles, as there is for county supervisors.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a lot of reasons, people are asking questions about where their tax dollars are going, and are they being used as effectively as they can be,\u201d said Kyra Greene, executive director of the Center on Policy Initiative.<\/p>\n
In addition to term limit changes, the charter update includes measures aimed at increasing accountability and transparency.<\/p>\n
Proposed reforms include creating an independent budget analyst, an independent program auditor and an ethics commission with authority over elected officials.<\/p>\n
The plan also calls for expanded public input and a board confirmation process for key county leadership positions.<\/p>\n
Desmond said those reforms could be implemented without changing the charter or altering term limits.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want to get something passed, they put all nice things all around it. It\u2019s kind of a distraction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Lawson-Remer emphasized that voters would ultimately decide the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should give voters the opportunity to take a second look and to reconsider. At the end of the day, it really is up to voters. It\u2019s not up to us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The effort ultimately passed in a 3-2 vote, with Supervisors Anderson and Desmond voting \u2018no.\u2019<\/p>\n
A second reading of the proposal is scheduled for May 19, with the goal of placing the measure on the November 2026 ballot.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n