The Case for Term Limits

While hiking into Willamette National Forest, I was lucky enough to be present while the topic of term limits was brought up. Being so mired in the world of Tribal politics, I've forgotten how what might seem bland and mundane to us is enormously fascinating to outsiders, to whom Tribes can be enigmatic and mysterious. During the hike I was confronted regularly by our guides about the political arena of Grand Ronde.

A question that has been posed to me numerous times is a simple one: Don't you guys have term limits? And if the answer is "no", why not? The second part of the question is invariably easier to answer than the first. Because we must abide by the Tribal Constitution, which has no language for term limits. The first part is not so easy.

What I've noticed about the 2007 Tribal Council elections, and with all due respect to most everyone reading this because you really have to be in or near my position to appreciate this, is that there is in the air, ever so slightly, the scent of revenge. When Angie, Buddy, and I were elected in 2004, and in the subsequent election, we unseated a few longstanding and well-known incumbent Council members. I believe at least one of those Council members has learned to live with the results, such is life, such is democracy. While the others, one in particular, I would say the exact opposite--they haven't learned to live with the results. In fact, for every one of us incumbents who tumbles this year, and there may be different degrees of savoring on this one depending on who falls, there will be much rejoicing and fist-pumping. That we've done a decent job is irrelevant. That we are still looking out for the best interests of the Tribe, in other words their interests, is overlooked. Payback what matters most. Control is a close second.

I'm not going to provide some sort of psychological analysis here. There is little point. But what I can and will say, and few will convince me otherwise, is that term limits might have eliminated a lot of the bitterness and hard feelings that are so prevalent in Grand Ronde politics right now. It would also have eliminated the "whatever it takes" attitude, including upholding and endorsing wrongdoing, that is growing a little too obvious these days.

I expect that "whatever it takes" philosophy to only be cultivated further in the next two elections. Heck it will probably even grow worse. The former powers that be are not only focused on regaining control, something I've become convinced a few of my co-workers almost view as a right, but they've grown used to their positions, including the income and even more crucially the influence. The latter, I really believe, is a much bigger reason for the kicking and screaming over the whole SMGI scenario. The influence there has probably paid off in more ways than one. Furthermore, it's an influence gained with only 20% of the vote in Council elections. Ultimately, I've often wondered if the turmoil and clannishness of our Tribe isn't fueled by the fact that nobody on Council seems to ever be elected with a majority. Election reform might be an alternate answer.

Of course I would never advocate for such a major change like term limits without it going to a vote of the general membership. To ever be trully effective it would have to be in the Constitution anyway. The real question is when will that opportunity for the membership to decide ever come?

Partisan animosity stings unlike anything else. The idea that people hate you just because you were elected over somebody they like or are related to is still hard to take, even after three years. That more than anything I think is what stokes the tension on Council and in public meetings. When you genuinely care about the Tribe, the strife grows old. We see it in national politics as well, which has become a decades long see-saw of power between Republicans and Democrats. Like Bill Clinton, I've noticed George W. Bush is exiting office with a lot whiter hair. But he's exiting whether I voted for him or not. He's done his two terms, like Clinton before him. Somebody else will always get the chance to take the reins.

I think three terms is plenty of time for a Council member to make a difference. This great country of ours can send their most powerful public official packing every eight years, and yet the nation survives. In fact, it thrives. That is more than good enough for me.