For Jeffco District Attorney Scott Storey, eight is definitely not enough.
Term limits mean that Storey must leave office when his second four-year term ends in 2012, but he's determined to stick around. And so, he will soon propose to the county commissioners that the limits be extended to let him seek another term.
"As it applies to the DA, and as it applies to those offices that are not necessarily policy-makers but have a specialty attached to them - like the sheriff, for example - I felt like eight years is not enough," Storey said.
He has broached the subject with the commissioners and County Attorney Ellen Wakeman. Wakeman would have to prepare a resolution for the commissioners to put the proposal on the November ballot in Jefferson County...
Sheriff Ted Mink has expressed interest in the idea but so far hasn't asked the commissioners to approve a resolution. He gave several reasons why he would favor adding another term.
"There are a lot of people out there reluctant to run for office because of term limits," Mink said. "They could be out of a job in eight years, and they're not financially in the position to do that. The system leaves it to people in the back side of their career to run for office in these positions."
Mink agrees with Storey, saying the first four years are spent "getting comfortable and knowledgeable" about the office. If voters in the county don't like the job the sheriff or any other elected official is doing, "they can vote them out," Mink said. "If it's that glaring to the public that the (elected official) isn't fulfilling the contract with the voters, they can vote them out."
