The frequency of elections, he says, means that more money is spent on campaigning, and that means that legislators must raise money throughout the two-year cycle except during legislative sessions, when their ability to soak lobbyists for contributions is restricted by law. The Senate proposal calls for all legislators to run for four-year terms beginning in 2002. Therein lies the first of many problems with this amendment. By putting the entire body on the same four-year schedule, Hoyle would deny the public any electoral input into the legislative body for four years. It s hard to find another government body that is so insulated from voters.
County commissioners get four-year terms, but half of the boards are elected every two years.
In the U.S. Congress, the entire House and one-third of the Senate are elected every two years. With input every two years, voters are able to express their feelings about the direction of a governing body without turning it on its head. In 1999, when Hoyle last proposed four-year terms, he tried to stagger elections. But that gets very confusing because of the need to redraw district maps every 10 years. Therein lies another problem with Hoyle s proposal.