Politics & Government

Local Politicians Aspire To Lower Offices

An unintended consequence of term limits, the trend of running to get one's old job again is one way our local representatives try to continue to serve, and stay relevant, perhaps as they wait for another seat to open up.

 

If you've had a sense of deja vu when state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) declared his run for Fifth District Supervisor of Santa Clara County last Sunday, you—and he—are not alone. Not only has he been there before, but so have our our other local pols, such as County Supervisor Liz Kniss, former Secretary of State Bruce McPherson and others. They are all running for jobs they left long behind in their ascension.

The San Jose Mercury News reported recently about unintended consequences of term limits: Politicians who have risen to higher office are flowing back down to offices they once held, frustrating those who aspire to higher offices, but keeping experienced lawmakers doing what they spent decades learning to do.

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