The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-02-16
Four Year Terms for County Officers.

Some years ago Iowa adopted
biennial elections of state and cOun-
ty officials. Formerly part of the
state and county officials were elect
ed annually, but holding two year
terms-it being the theory of the
trainers of the constitution that it
is better to have part of the officials
hold over rather than have a COM
plete change at one time. That the
DRY had merit, and public opinion
is again turning in that direction
to some extent.
Without doing away with biennial
elections, it is proposed to extend
the terms to four years for county
Offices. 1t is said this plan has
worked successfully in majority of
the states. The legislative commit
tee of the District Court Clerks as
ISOLATION has prepared the following
brief upon the suggested reform:
Many Iowa officers are elected for
a longer period than two years. Our
supreme court judges are elected for
six years, our state senator's are
elected for four years, our judges of
district court for four years, the
members of boards Of supervisors
are elected for three years. There
are many meritorious reasons why
county officers should be elected for
four years.
/. 1t will save expense in reduc-
ing the length of the ballot, for part
of the officers will be elected at one
biennial election and part at an
other biennial period, thus reducing
the ballot, at the primary and at
the election.
2. The officer will be able to rem
der more efficient service to- the
county if his term is four years and
he is undisturbed in his term. He
can make plans to improve the work
and methods of his Office, if he has
This term of four years undisturbed.
3. 1t is generally true that man
can get two terms of two years, even
if he is in the minority party of his
county, yet the uncertainty of the
second term keeps the officer in a
state of unrest and he is like an en-
ploye who is in doubt as to the tenure
of his position. He is not as good
servant and naturally does not rem
der as efficient service to the people.
This condition is but natural. Why
not give him four years straight?
1. The primary law has eliminat-
ed the urgent necessity for a recall
of county officers, for the candidate
is we'll known before he even gets
his nomination, and the public is
not caught 50 frequently with an
incompetent man az under the eau
Gus convention system. Almost in
variably q competent man will be
chosen.
S. In regard to the clerk and
sheriff, they are, 80 to speak, arms
OF the court, and their terms should
coincide with the length of term Of
the Judges; Each Judge shoald have
his own, clerk and sheriff during his
term OF ONCE. >;@'@"
s. The large expense incurred by
the campaign makes the burdens
heavy on the officer. heavy cam
paign in the primary and another
at the election, and both coming
every two years, makes the burdens
LOT campaign such that a competent
man will have little encouragement
to try for an office, and less COM
petent men will enter the race for
Office. A four year term will tend
to do the following:
Invite more competent men to
office.
| Cause greater efficiency in Office.
! Will save expense in elections by
reducing length of ballot.
The primary, insures selection of
/ better men, hence less necessity for
la recall, or frequent elections.
Many states have adopted It with
success. l@a
It Is business methods applied to
politics.
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