Council votes to leave term limits in place

HOUSTON In a seven-seven vote Wednesday, council members voted against changing term limits from three 2-year terms to two 4-year terms. The issue would have gone on the November ballot.

"I believe we ought to have an election every two years and have an opportunity for the voters to have a referendum on elected officials," said Council Member Anne Clutterbuck.

"I've been agnostic on this and I did not lobby council members one way or the other. I voted for it. I think it's better than what we have," said Mayor Annise Parker.

The term limit proposal came from a commission appointed last year by former mayor Bill White and the city council.