Early counts for two Morgan Hill ballot measures show that residents are opting to reset the tempo of their election cycles, changing when they can vote for their city leaders and how long those leaders can stay in power.
Support for enacting term limits was overwhelming, with yes votes holding a nearly four-to-one lead over no votes. A measure extending the mayor’s term to four years also held a strong lead.
Both measures require a simple majority for passage.
Originally brought forth by outgoing Councilmember Rene Spring, Measure A would set term limits of 12 consecutive years for officials to serve as city councilmember, mayor, treasurer, or any combination of the three. After 12 years, candidates would need to take a break of four years or more before running again for city office.
Currently, Morgan Hill does not have term limits for elected officials, making it the only city in Santa Clara County without them besides Gilroy.
The measure has been the subject of heated public discussion that touched on the character of the growing city.
Proponents for the measure argued that it would allow for more fresh perspectives in local government, avoid burnout, prevent incumbents from holding power indefinitely and encourage more people to engage in local politics.
Others, however, held that term limits are wrong for Morgan Hill, saying the measure would needlessly remove dedicated public servants from office. The opponents argue that limits are unnecessary in a small, close-knit town with ready access to local leaders.
Morgan Hill residents also weighed in on Measure B, which would extend the mayor’s term from two years to four years, and would go into effect in 2026 if results stand.
Proponents argued that the measure encouraged fairness by putting the mayor on four-year terms like the rest of the city council. They also asserted that the time and money required to run a campaign every two years detracts from the work of being a mayor, and that a four-year term would offer more time for a mayor to grow accustomed to the job and execute their plan for the city.
Opponents worried that the extended term could diminish voter engagement in the city. Since Morgan Hill is on staggered district election cycles, the mayoral race gives every resident an opportunity to vote every two years, regardless of whether their council representative is up for election. They also argued that Measure B would discourage the competition that comes from two-year terms.