Meretz MK Gilon submits bill to impose term limits on mayors

Bill will prevent mayors from serving two consecutive terms; says limiting terms will reinstate public faith in government.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Jerusalem municipal election 370 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Jerusalem municipal election 370
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
MK Ilan Gilon (Meretz) on Tuesday submitted a bill that would not allow mayors to serve more than two back-to-back terms.
"The map of corruption in local authorities is spreading and even the Knesset Interior Committee led by MK Miri Regev (Likud Beytenu) cannot legitimize it," Gilon, former deputy mayor of Ashkelon, said, referring to Regev calling a meeting last week to berate a whistle-blower who reported her political ally, Nazareth Mayor Shimon Gapso, for corruption.
According to Gilon, "the term of office is a central component in corruption by mayors who control municipalities and a lot of money."
As such, limiting terms will allow long-term supervision and regulation that will bring back the public's faith in local government, the Meretz MK explained.
"Some people are confused and think mayor is a life-long position. Term limits will bring new energy to the system," Gilon stated.