Pinellas Commission votes to use your tax dollars to fight term limit law you passed

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• published: 15 Jul 2012
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SEE PREVIOUS VIDEO FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94xg6OwKvoY By Adrian Wyllie - 1787 Network (http://www.1787network.com) CLEARWATER - The attorney for Pinellas County issued a recommendation Tuesday on how best to handle the pending lawsuit to enforce existing term limits on Pinellas County Commissioners. Attorney James Bennett advised them to postpone any proceedings on placing a term limit amendment on the 2014 ballot until the outcome of the trial. If successful, Scruggs et al. v. Clark, would require the immediate removal of four Commissioners due to a 1996 term limit amendment that passed with 72% voter approval, but was never included in the County Charter. When the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Tuesday, the question of how to handle the Scruggs v. Clark suit was placed on the "consent agenda," meaning there would be no discussion. Typically, items placed on the consent agenda are routine and without controversy, and pass with unanimous consent. At least one commissioner believed the gravity of this issue demanded greater scrutiny. Commissioner Norman Roche asked that this item be removed from the consent agenda and debated. At issue was whether Pinellas County Attorney Jim Bennett would defend the BOCC against this suit that seeks to remove four commissioners. The motion by Nancy Bostock to direct Attorney Bennett to defend both the County, and the individually-named commissioners, against the suit passed with only Norm Roche voting against it. In 2000, the BOCC faced a similar question regarding whether to fight a court ruling that upheld the "Eight is Enough" vote. At that time, Commissioner Karen Seel argued that, "I really feel that the voters spoke, and spoke very clearly, and to fly in their face once we have already gone to the Second District Appeals testing the waters. Too much." Seel's job is now at stake because of that ruling, which has been ignored by the BOCC for more than a decade. The 1787 Network has requested a transcript of the meeting. At Bennett's advice, the commissioners will not comment publicly on this issue.