Philly City Council members take issue with term limit talk

A push for term limits in Philadelphia City Council is getting a cold shoulder from Council members.

The independent group Philly 3.0 has been running commercials on broadcast media and in print calling for a three-term limit for the city lawmakers.

But informal term limits are already in place, said Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell.

“As we like to say, we have term limits,” she said. “It depends on the voters.”

Councilman Wilson Goode, who said he tried to impose term limits back in 2010, said the restriction can have unintended consequences.

“In New York City, they believe term limits have worked to create a progressive block,” he said. “In places like California, you have terms limited at the local level — and at the state level, you have elected officials switching seats. A state senator may become a city councilperson, a city councilperson may become a state senator, just because they termed out.”

Just to get the measure on the ballot, 12 Council members would have to vote for it.