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NEWS BRIEFS
W.Va. voters to decide on sheriffs’ term limits
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Voters must decide on Election Day whether to support a constitutional amendment that would end term limits for West Virginia’s 55 county sheriffs.
Since 1973, they’ve been limited to two consecutive four-year terms. Then, regardless of their popularity, sheriffs must sit out one term before running again.
The West Virginia Sheriffs Association says no other county-level official has term limits.
The only state office with similar limits is the governor.
Advocates for change say voters should be able to decide how long a sheriff serves. They also say term limits discourage younger people from running for the position.
But critics say term limits are a good idea for every level of government.
Voters rejected attempts to allow sheriffs additional terms in 1982, 1986 and 1994.
