The New Takhoman

While most of Tacoma’s eyes are focused on this Fourth of July weekend and today’s arrival of the Tall Ships, a small group of Tacoma citizens are bringing the 232^nd year of United States independence closer to home. And in the words of this writer’s seventh generation ancestor, John Paul Jones, “I (they) have just begun to fight!”

Within 15 hours of the Tacoma City Council passing what it now being called “The Ladenburg Obsession”, a resolution asking Tacoma citizens whether or not to vote to abolish the City Charter mandated ten year city council term limits, a group of Tacoma patriots has organized to oppose what will be designated as Proposition 1 on the November 4 ballot.

Amazingly enough, for the most part, these are the same city patriots that opposed and defeated two city government sponsored “Save our Dome” bond issues in the recent past.

According to City Clerk Doris Sorum, former Tacoma City council candidate Charles “Kelly” Creso, Chris Lucas, Sherry Bockwinkel, and former Tacoma city council member Tom Stenger have shown interest in being on the committee to oppose November’s Proposition 1.

Sorum stated that to date no one has come forward to be on the committee to support the measure.

On July 28 the City Council Appointments Committee, comprised of Mayor Baarsma, and council members Manthou, Anderson, and Lonergan, will decide who will be appointed to both sides of the issue.

In an e-mail sent to The New Takhoman late yesterday afternoon Bockwinkel wrote, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.--Lord Acton, 1887

“Chris Lucas is asking people to volunteer to help SAVE OUR TERM LIMITS.

“Tacoma voters need to volunteer to save term limits because career politicians on the Tacoma City Council want to eliminate them. The five council members who voted Tuesday evening to put Proposition 1 on the ballot said they want the people to decide on the issue of term limits.

“In 1973 voters approved term limits.

“In 2008 the voters will have to tell the council once again that term limits are important for good government.

“Lucas began organizing this morning, just hours after a majority of the Tacoma City Council members voted to spend $100,000 to place Proposition 1 before the November voters.

‘Lucas called the clerk's office to volunteer to be on the citizens committee to oppose the charter change. Lucas is encouraging others to contact the city clerk (591-5171) to volunteer to be on the committee.

“There is a process.

“Volunteers need to fill out an application form found at

http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=1834

“Yvonne Yaskus, with the clerk's office states, ‘It is anticipated that the Appointments Committee will be reviewing names submitted for the ‘for’ and ‘against’ committees for City of Tacoma Proposition No.1 at their regular meeting of Monday, July 28, 2008. Our office will be soliciting names of interested individuals prior to that time period, and will be sending all necessary paperwork to those appointed at the appropriate time.’

“If being part of the committee working on the Voter's Pamphlet is not your cup of tea, then join Lucas and others in a grassroots campaign to Save Our Term Limits.

“The grassroots campaign is planning to put up yard signs, make phone calls and publish a web site.

“If you want to attend a meeting or volunteer please contact Chris Lucas at

SaveOurTermLimits@gmail.com”

According to Bockwinkel there will be a meeting for all who oppose Proposition 1 on Tuesday, July 8 at 3:00 PM at Tulley's Coffee on 9^th and St Helen’s (next to city hall) in the upstairs area.

“We're planning a grassroots campaign with yard signs and window signs. We're planning on purchasing a list of names and phone numbers to begin contacting Tacoma voters”, Bockwinkel stated.

Further Bockwinkel said, “We need people who are willing to volunteer some time and money”.

Stenger summed up the current fledgling grassroots campaign to defeat “The Ladenburg Obsession” as follows. “Every system needs a periodic flushing. Term limits provide that for Tacoma’s citizens.