Majority
of Vermonters Favor Four-Year Term for Governor
In testimony March 20, 2008, before the Government Operations
Committee of the Vermont Senate, Charlie Smith,
President of the Snelling Center for Government, presented the findings from 15
months of survey and outreach work on the question of whether Vermonts elected leaders should have
four-year terms of office. How we choose to be governed is a very
serious matter, Smith said. Should we place higher value on the
close accountability afforded by a two-year term? Or should we strive for the
possibility of more effective long term planning that might come with a
four-year term.
Smith said, Our primary conclusion is that more
than 58% of Vermonters favor a four-year term for the governor and statewide
elected officials. Further, Smith said, Support for changing the
senate term to four years hovers around 50%, and a majority of Vermonters
oppose changing the term length for Vermonts
state representatives.
The Snelling
Centers research
included statistically valid random sample surveys in October 2006 and 2007.
It also included 900 responses from surveys administered on the Web, in group
meetings around the state, and by paper ballot through the mail.
Some of the other findings include that:
·
from the random sample, over 70% of
Independents, 64% of Republicans, 53% of Democrats and 33% of Progressives
favor the four-year term for governor;
·
active voters tend to favor the four-year term
more than less active voters;
·
there is little variation based on age, gender
or income level;
·
the most commonly cited reason for favoring the
four-year term was: there would be fewer election cycles and less
politics. Two other frequently cited reasons for support were,
it would allow better long term planning for Vermont and it would allow
more time to solve complex problems;
·
the most commonly cited reason for opposing a
four-year term was, it would reduce the accountability of the governor
to the voters.
Based on this work Smith said,
the Snelling
Center recommends that
the Legislature advance an amendment proposal so that the four-year term will
be debated during the election-year. The amendment process requires
consideration again in the next legislative session. With election-year
input Smith said, the Legislature can make a fully informed final
decision in 2009 on whether a proposal should go to the voters. Any
proposal to amend Vermonts
constitution must pass through two consecutive biennial sessions of the
legislature and then obtain a majority vote of the public.
The Snelling
Center for Government is
a non-profit, non-partisan organization . Its mission is to foster
responsible, ethical civic leadership, encourage public service by private citizens,
and promote informed citizen participation in shaping public policy in Vermont.
Jen Eldred
Administrative Assistant
The Snelling
Center for Government
130
South Willard Street
Burlington, VT
05401
802-859-3090 x301
[email protected]
www.snellingcenter.org