Mayor Derek Slaughter gave his rationale for why he vetoed the city terms limit ordinance adopted by City Council in a 6-0 vote.

“I issued a veto of the entire ordinance for the following reasons:

• The ordinance is retroactive in its current form. This takes the power away from the voters to choose who they want to represent them.

• I believe term limits should be applied equitably to all.

• The ordinance contains no language addressing currently elected officials.

• If legally challenged, defending this ordinance could result in unnecessary costs to taxpayers.”

Attempts to reach council for comment following the veto by the mayor were made.

The ordinance, adopted in a 6-0 vote with Councilwoman Bonnie Katz absent and Mayor Derek Slaughter not at the meeting, limits the current mayor’s ability to run for a third consecutive term in two years. It provides for council, treasurer and the controller to hold office for three consecutive terms.

Slaughter, who has served since January 2020, is in his second, four-year term with two years remaining.

Council can override his veto with a two-thirds majority — five votes.

Katz, who has been on council 13 years, could not seek another consecutive term in two years based on what was adopted.

The ordinance allows for the mayor to hold no more than two consecutive, four-year terms. It also allows for council, the treasurer and controller to serve no more than three consecutive terms.

It does not preclude the mayor, treasurer or controller to step away from the office and then run for reelection.

It would not apply to incumbent Democrat Councilwoman Liz Miele, who, if elected on Nov. 4, would be in her fourth term.

Councilman Eric Beiter said in response to the veto that “Mayor Slaughter, as I have always said, is entitled to his opinion and council would have potentially taken his opinion under advisement had he reached out to us, or attended either one of the public meetings.”

Beiter serves as vice president of council.