Group Wants To Limit Terms Of State Officials

Thursday, August 16th 2007, 8:03 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An Oklahoma City attorney filed an initiative petition on Thursday that seeks to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to impose term limits on some statewide elected officials.

James Dunn, chairman of the ``Yes on Term Limits'' organization, proposes a limit of two four-year terms for the offices of lieutenant governor, auditor and inspector, attorney general, treasurer, labor commissioner and superintendent of public instruction.

The group will have 90 days to collect 138,970 valid signatures on initiative petitions, representing 15% of the total votes cast for governor in the last general election in 2006.

The secretary of state's office designated the plan as Initiative Petition 736 and proposed State Question 386.

The proposal did not mention the offices of insurance commissioner or members of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which also are chosen in statewide elections. Dunn later said that was a mistake and the petition would be amended.

Dunn, the unsuccessful 2006 Republican nominee for attorney general, said a recent poll conducted for his organization showed Oklahoma voters are overwhelmingly in favor of term limits for statewide officials.

The governor is now limited to two successive terms. In 1990, Oklahoma voters decided to impose a 12-year term limit on members of the Legislature.

``I'm convinced that term limits are good for government,'' Dunn said.

He said he did not know how much the campaign would cost, other than it will exceed $100,000.

``We're soliciting funds from people in favor of putting term limits on career politicians,'' he said.

Dunn said he anticipates getting some contributions from outside the state, but the proposition was initiated by Oklahomans.

A lawsuit has been filed by Yes on Term Limits Inc. attacking an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that out-of-state residents cannot take part in the circulation of initiative petitions in the state.

Dunn's group will submit initiative petitions to the secretary of state, which will count the signatures. The Supreme Court will determine if the petitions have enough valid signatures, as well as resolving any legal protests.