Back in the days when it felt like government sorta worked and folks we elected appeared to try to do the right things collaboratively, I wasn’t much of a fan of term limits. Figured the voters would take care of tossing out entrenched politicos when they ran off the rails. At the same time those doing their best, even with the occasional stumble, shouldn’t be kicked out just when they’ve achieved traction.

I especially disliked limiting any elected official to fewer than three years in office. It takes three years in any job to get the lay of the land. The first year, usually euphoric along the lines of “I can’t believe I’m here,” is spent on finding the bathroom. The second year you get down to business, often making a mess because, well, you don’t know much. The third you spend cleaning up your messes. By year four you might actually do good.

Limiting elected officials means said politicos spend most of the time running for re-election. The worst term limit is the two-year stint — and that’s what Key West mayors face. Two years in the job and they’re running again. They’ve had barely enough time to navigate the complicated power bases within the city and just enough time to hold a bunch of workshops and hire consultants to power up three-ring binders and AI renderings of spiffy projects. There’s nary the time to actually get those projects off the ground.

I think that’s one reason Key West City Hall’s shelves are chock-full of dusty project plans. Two years, even four if they’re re-elected, ain’t enough time to get some jobs done. We get a new mayor and we’re back to workshops and binders. Rinse. Repeat.

So with all that love for longer terms, I still voted against both city charter amendments on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. If you flipped your ballot to page two, you found three proposed amendments, one state, two city.

Term limits: Here’s why I voted against the city amendments

The first is Florida’s infamous Amendment 3, the one that’s supposed to lower the taxes on your home. Except that at closer analysis it could bankrupt some counties and cities and exponentially raise rents as landlords pass on additional costs. By the time local governments tack on new fees and raise old ones, a homeowner’s not going to save much, if anything.

Amendment 3 to the Florida Constitution is a cluster so wicked even its champions are saying, “Have we lost our minds?” Gov. Ron DeSantis, who once loved the idea (after all, he birthed it), is barely campaigning for it. On Oct. 23, Florida Senate President Ben Albritton flat-out shot it down. He’s voting against it because, he says, the property-tax cut would gut funding for law enforcement and other needed services in Florida’s rural counties.

Good on him — except Albritton is the reason Amendment 3 is up for a vote. He pushed it through and chortled when it made ballot status: “What better way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary than a massive property-tax cut through a $250,000 homestead exemption for Floridians?” Flip-flop dipstick.

Then come the two city charter amendments.

Amendment 1 would increase the Key West mayor’s term from 2 years to 4, effective with the 2028 mayoral election. If it passes, it won’t affect Sam Kaufman’s current two-year term. Amendment 2 would change the term limit from 8 years to 12 for future mayors. If both amendments pass and if Kaufman runs again in 2028 and wins, he’d get a four-year term and could serve a total of 12 years as mayor. City charter amendments need 50 percent plus one vote to pass. (State constitutional amendments require 60 percent.)

Sounds decent to someone who likes longer term limits, as I do. So why would I vote no on both?

Other than I was in an admittedly surly mood and voted no on every state and city amendment, I voted against charter Amendment 1 because I think Key West mayors should get a three-year term, not four. Three years can tell us a lot about the effectiveness of a mayor, and if we like what we’re seeing we can add another three years in the voting booth.

I voted against Amendment 2, the 12-year mayoral term because I think eight is enough. One can do a lot of good in eight years — and a lot of damage. I see no compelling reason to extend the current total service limit. If you can’t get it done in almost a decade, you’re unlikely to pull off a miracle with four more years.

If my fellow Key West voters are as grumpy as I was when I voted early, both city charter amendments will fail. Amendment 1 will deserve another chance — if it’s three years, not four. Amendment 2? Not so much.

On Tuesday, Ranger Ed and I will be Precinct 7 poll workers at the Moose Lodge on Eisenhower. If I remember, I’ll bring a bag of candy as your after-voting treat. You might want to wear your waders, considering the king tides thing. See you at the polls on Nov. 3.

Learn more

https://www.tampabay.com/viewpoints/2026/10/23/florida-amendment-three-property-tax-exemption