Letter to the Editor
By Eugene Platt
Reprinted from the Post and Courier

To fully appreciate this letter, it should be considered in the context of Charleston City Councilman Tim Mallard and I rarely being on the same side of any important issue. And that should surprise no one; after all, we are at opposite ends of the political spectrum: Mallard is seen as a very conservative Republican, I as a very progressive Green. Furthermore, Mallard works in real estate and has a developer mentality; by contrast, some developers consider me their worst nightmare.

It is in that context that I commend Mallard for his bold proposal of term limits for City Council members. Indeed, his proposal was all the more bold because he knew, or should have known, it was doomed from the day it was conceived. Such courage brings to mind the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C.

All elective bodies—including the one on which I serve—could benefit by having term limits for their members. Mayor Joe Riley, in saying “the American way is to vote someone out of office if you don’t like them,” comes close to implying that term limits are un-American. It logically follows from such a bias that Riley and others opposed to term limits, must have a problem with the Constitution of the United States (which limits the President to two terms) as well as the Constitution of South Carolina (which limits the Governor to two terms).

Although his style often appears abrasive, the American way is also “to give the devil his due.” In this instance Councilman Mallard merits thanks from all who believe in good government and who see the pitfalls of an entrenched incumbency.

Eugene Platt
Member, Steering Committee
South Carolina Green Party

734 Gilmore Court
Charleston, SC 29412