Silly Reporters Never Understand...

The Ventura Star News just published an article entitled "Will senators check out?" The question outlined is whether termed-out senators are really going to leave in 2008, or if a term-limits extension will shut the door on a handful of developing campaigns. Good question: Simple answer.

VSN Reporter Timm Herdt presumes that a term limits proposal being promoted by the Legislature would upend campaigns by Fran Pavley and Lloyd Levine who are looking to battle for a Valley to the Sea district in 2008. The concept is that a term-limits extension would allow Sheila Kuehl to continue her service in the State Senate - but maybe the reporter should read the fine print first. All of the proposals being floated by the Legislature would extend terms by allowing either 12 or 14 years in each house, or some combination of 12-14 years in either house (depending on the version). All of the versions would apply to current members, as you would imagine. But they ARE NOT retroactive. So, Sheila Kuehl, who has served 8 years in the Senate and 4 years in the Assembly (a total of 12 years already served), would be ineligible to run for re-election, even if the term-limits proposal were to be passed by the voters in time.

So the answer is simple: NO. Sheila Kuehl is termed out.

Even if the State Legislature pulls a Measure R trick and fools the public into supporting a term-limits extension, there will be competitive elections for Senate seats being vacated by Sheila Kuehl, Jack Scott and Ed Vincent. All three were first elected to the Assembly in 1996, served four years in the lower house, then served their eight years in the Senate.

What will change is this: Lloyd Levine won't run. He will have an additional four years to serve in the Assembly, and there's no reason for him to risk a run for Senate. The trickle-down is that Stuart Waldman and his host of opponents and blog-posting-player-haters would have to put it to rest for another four years.