Baltimore Voters Spoke on Term Limits. Why Are Some Leaders Trying to Undo Their Decision?

Former Councilman Jody Landers says efforts to repeal Baltimore's voter-approved term limits ignore the will of the people.

In 2022, Baltimore voters made their voices heard loud and clear.

More than 98,000 residents voted in favor of Question K, a charter amendment establishing term limits for Baltimore's elected officials. The measure passed with approximately 72% support, creating a simple rule: elected leaders could serve no more than two terms within a twelve-year period.

WATCH: Former Baltimore City Councilman on pushes to undo term limits

For many residents, the vote was about more than term limits. It was about accountability.

Today, that decision is under challenge.

A recently introduced charter amendment would repeal Baltimore's voter-approved term limits, prompting concerns from residents and civic leaders who believe elected officials are attempting to overturn a decision that voters already made at the ballot box.

Speaking with FOX45, former Baltimore City Councilman Jody Landers expressed frustration with the effort and questioned why city leaders are revisiting an issue that voters settled less than four years ago.

Where Things Stand

The proposal to repeal term limits was introduced by Councilman Ryan Dorsey and has already received a public hearing. The legislation currently remains in committee while lawmakers debate its future.

Councilman Zac Blanchard has proposed an amendment that would modify the repeal effort by replacing the current limits with a new structure that would allow elected officials to serve up to twelve years within a sixteen-year period.

While the details differ, both proposals would significantly weaken the term limits approved by Baltimore voters in 2022.

A Question of Accountability

Interestingly, Landers noted that he was not historically a strong advocate for term limits.

However, his recent experiences observing the City Council have changed his perspective.

According to Landers, the issue is not simply how long elected officials serve. The larger concern is whether they remain responsive to the people they represent.

"When 71 percent of city voters approve something, it doesn't make sense to immediately begin looking for ways to undo it," Landers said during the interview.

He argued that elected officials have a responsibility to listen to their constituents, even when they personally disagree with the outcome of an election.

For many residents, that principle lies at the heart of representative government.

Why Are Residents Frustrated?

The debate over term limits reflects a broader frustration many Baltimore residents have expressed in recent years.

Across neighborhoods throughout the city, residents continue to raise concerns about public safety, city services, education, economic opportunity, and government responsiveness.

For some, efforts to repeal Question K reinforce a perception that elected officials are disconnected from the concerns and priorities of the people they serve.

Landers suggested that attempts to revisit the issue could actually strengthen support for term limits rather than weaken it.

"If this issue returns to the ballot," he said, "I believe voters would support term limits by an even larger margin."

Respecting the Voice of the Voter

Reasonable people can disagree about whether term limits are the best policy for Baltimore.

What should not be controversial is the importance of respecting the democratic process.

Question K was debated publicly. Residents were informed. Voters cast their ballots. And the measure passed by a decisive margin.

The current debate raises an important question:

When voters make a clear decision at the ballot box, should elected officials seek to overturn that decision simply because they disagree with the outcome?

Baltimore residents deserve leaders who listen, engage, and respect the voice of the people they were elected to serve.

At PEACE, we believe civic engagement does not end on Election Day. Democracy works best when residents stay informed, stay involved, and continue holding elected officials accountable for their actions.

The conversation surrounding term limits is ultimately about more than one charter amendment. It is about whether the voices of Baltimore voters continue to matter after the votes have been counted.

Because accountability begins with listening.