Ex-Redondo Official Seeks Limelight Again : Former Councilman Wants to Overturn City Charter’s Caps on Terms of Office

Less than five months after his bid to become mayor was squelched by Redondo Beach voters, Archie Snow has thrust himself back into the public limelight.

The two-term former councilman is challenging a city law that limits officeholders to two terms as a council member and two as mayor. Snow contends the law, passed by voters in 1975 as an amendment to the City Charter, is unconstitutional.

Why would a 70-year-old with an ailing heart--Snow had surgery in January and has a defibrillator implanted in his chest--take on such a cause?

“It’s just my nature,” said Snow, who earned a reputation as a maverick councilman. “I’m a despicable old son of a bitch. No, not really. I enjoy a good scrap.”

Snow and other city officials say the amendment was put before voters by the political foes of William Czuleger, who served as a councilman from 1947 to 1957 and, after a four-year hiatus from public office, went on to serve as mayor for 16 years. The amendment limits officeholders to two terms even if there has been a hiatus.

The measure’s supporters argued that its passage would keep the lid on cronyism at City Hall by ensuring a steady turnover among elected officials. The measure, which does not apply to the city offices of treasurer, attorney or clerk, passed by a 5-2 margin.

“People essentially said ‘We don’t want politicians to continue forever in office, two terms is long enough,’ ” said first-term Redondo Beach Councilman Stevan Colin, who opposes Snow’s effort.

‘Encourage New Ideas’

“You really want to encourage new blood coming in and new ideas,” he added.

Snow has enlisted the aid of Los Angeles attorney Barry Fisher to help him in his battle. Fisher, in a five-page letter to Redondo Beach City Atty. Gordon Phillips, argued that control over elected officials rests with the state, not individual municipalities. Fisher requested that the city not enforce the amendment.

Phillips said he is studying the matter, and will probably discuss it with council members sometime in mid-August or early September. In the meantime, he said, “I would feel we would defend the limitation.”

Snow contends it should be up to voters to decide how long they want a particular politician to hold office. The city’s voters “are notorious for booting people out if they don’t like them,” he said.

“You either do a good job, or you don’t stay,” Snow said.

That view is shared by Snow’s friend, Councilman Ron Cawdrey. Last year, Cawdrey said, he unsuccessfully tried to persuade other council members to put the issue before voters, hoping the electorate would overturn the amendment.

If Snow is unsuccessful in his effort, Cawdrey said he will try again to get the matter before voters, either late this year or early next year. Cawdrey, whose second term expires in two years, said he would run for a third council term if allowed under city law.

“I think when you get someone who is worthwhile in office, you should have a right to keep them,” he said.

Might Seek Ally’s Seat

When Snow was forced to give up his District 4 council seat, he supported Terry Ward, the candidate who prevailed in the May runoff. Asked whether he will run again for the council if the city agrees not to enforce the amendment, Snow said that he would find it hard not to, but that it would also be difficult to run against Ward.

But later Snow, who pledges to file a lawsuit against the city if it continues to abide by the amendment, said he would run only if the seat were to be come open.

“A lot can happen in four years,” he said. “You never know.”

For his part, Ward said he agrees with Snow that the amendment is bad. Voters, he said, should have the right to vote for whoever they like as many times as they want to.

If he winds up facing Snow in a reelection bid four years from now, well, so be it, Ward said.

“I hope the (amendment) does get overturned,” he said. “And if I have to go back and campaign against my friend, then, hey, that’s the American way.”