[Opinion] By Kurt Naas. This election Cornelius citizens will be asked to double the terms of town commissioners from two years to four. They should say NO for several reasons.

First, four year terms would insulate local government from the voter. But local government is close government; it affects your daily life more than what happens on the national level. Roads, public safety, schools and parks are something we deal with every day.

Since local government is closest to the people, it should be the most responsive. And if the board does something the electorate disagrees with, they should be voted out at the earliest opportunity.

That’s exactly what’s happened in every LKN town over the last four elections- every board was “flipped” over a local issue. In 2015 Huntersville incumbents were kicked out over the I-77 toll issue; in 2017 Davidson voted out their town board for breaking a promise on maintaining park lands. And in 2021 Cornelius voters flipped their board for approving high-density development. (Interestingly two of those commissioners who were voted out are running again.)

Ironically, the current Cornelius board that benefitted from the wave election now seeks to insulate themselves from the same thing happening to them. This should not be allowed to happen.

Second, North Carolina does not have a process for recalling local elected officials. Once candidates are in office we’re stuck with them until the next election. The state’s policy is that the voters’ remedy is at the ballot box. Imagine early in a term a local official commits a grievous error in judgement or law. The only remedy the public has is to vote that person out of office. Can you imagine waiting three-plus years for that chance? The state constitution contemplates frequent elections.

Third, two-year terms are part of the gig. I’m sure elected officials would prefer four-year terms because campaigns are hard. I should know—I ran one during the most contested election in our town’s history.

They require a lot of time, begging for favors and, yes, money. But that’s no excuse for doubling the time when you must do it again. Indeed, every candidate knows—or should know—what they’re getting into when they file. Changing the rules to your benefit after you get in is not only unsavory but also poor governance.

Finally, four year terms are forever. The referendum you’re voting on didn’t happen on a whim. The current town board had to apply to the state legislature to put the referendum on the ballot. It took months of planning and deliberate action. No way a future board, used to cushy four-year terms, would ever take the initiative to revert back to two-year terms. Once we approve this, it’s four-year terms.

Forever.

Let’s not start.

Let’s keep our government responsive. Vote NO on four year terms.

—Naas is the founder of the WidenI77 anti-toll group as well as a former member of the Cornelius Town Board, serving from 2017 to 2019