L.A. Supervisors turn down measure to extend their term limits

Los Angeles County supervisors rejected a measure on Tuesday that would have asked voters to extend term limits so that members could serve an additional eight years.

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who has been in office since 1980, introduced a motion last week that would have allowed voters to decide in November whether supervisors could serve five consecutive terms. In 1992, voters approved a measure that limited supervisors to three terms from then on.

Antonovich said that he believes voters have the right to decide who they want to represent them and said the current board, which has four supervisors who soon will be termed out of office, is in the best position to lead the county through tough economic times.

But Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky criticized Antonovich’s motion as self-serving and confusing, and added an amendment that clarified the ballot language to make it clear that it would be to increase term limits.

Supervisors Gloria Molina and Mark Ridley-Thomas abstained from voting on Antonovich’s amended motion. Yaroslavsky voted no; Antonovich and Don Knabe voted for it.

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-- Jason Song at the County Hall of Administration

Photo: Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich in April. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times