OUR VIEW: Term limits needed
After 13 years in the office, Rick Perry did all Texans a favor by announcing Monday that he will not seek an unprecedented fourth term as governor. There are several reasons that announcement is welcome, but the most important is the word "fourth."
No person should control one state office that long. Running for office is difficult, and incumbents have the built-in advantages of name recognition, fundraising and paybacks from their appointees.
Those factors matter, and politicians like Perry tend to get re-elected because of them, not their accomplishments. That's why most other offices have term limits, to ensure turnover.
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When the Legislature convenes again in 2015, a new governor will be in charge. He or she should ask lawmakers to approve a constitutional amendment limiting all statewide elected officials to two terms.
Having seen the drawbacks of Perry's long tenure, Texans will undoubtedly approve it.
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ANOTHER VIEW: No change needed
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It's no surprise that Rick Perry's frustrated opponents were happy to hear him announce that he won't seek re-election. They can't beat him at the polls, so this is the only way they'll see another governor.
The logic of the term-limits crowd is anemic. They think voters make the wrong decision by repeatedly electing someone like Perry. They don't seem to consider the more obvious truth: Texans keep re-electing Perry because they like him. They have other choices, and they simply don't want them.
Perry even crushed a well-known and well-funded challenger like former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, so the old excuse about other candidates being outgunned doesn't hold up. Besides, nobody gets a free ride or a setup in American politics.
If someone wants to beat a veteran politician like Perry, he needs to go out there and try to do it.
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If he fails, he shouldn't whine about it or ask for a new set of rules like term limits.
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PRO/CON VIEW: What do you think? Should Texas have term limits for governor? Post your comment below now!
