This won’t take long, did it?

Who knew? Few people.

Jim Clarke, the most unusual blended City Councilman in recent times – a devout wonk, also truly a man of the people – is in his final term on the dais.

That old devil term limits.

But, you say, he only has served three years. Re-elected last spring to his first full term, he has three years remaining.

Aren’t term limits meant to apply to elected officials who have served two four-year terms?

Yes, but.

Not in all cases, City Clerk Martin Cole has ruled.

The affable Mr. Clarke – who may genuinely love his work more than anyone else you know — now is guaranteed his own page in the Culver City history books.

•  Only Councilman to have a two-year term deemed the equivalent of a four-year term.
• Only Councilman to be forced from the dais for reasons of eight-year term limits when only having served six years.

Last seen, Mr. Clarke was not complaining.

But isn’t someone with muscle  going to stand up and say this is wrong?

Birth of a Headache

The bramble bush of trouble started three years ago.

In a technical whoosh of hurricane proportions, Councilman Scott Malsin, seeking to protect his city pension, took the unprecedented and shrewd step of resigning his office hours ahead of the precise mid-point of his four-year term, thus salvaging his  pension.

Somebody, however,  had to pay.

This meant the guy on the other end, his unlucky successor, Mr. Clarke, would be forced to take gas.

Why? Because Mr. Clarke would be holding office hours longer than two years.

Technically, in Mr. Cole’s view, this was the legal equivalent of a full four-year term.

Hence, Mr. Clarke, who turns 67 years old this year, vigorously in his prime, will be banished – prematurely? — to the sidelines.

(To be continued)