For the second time in four years, Memphis voters will vote in August on whether to extend the current limit of two consecutive terms for city council members and three consecutive terms for the mayor.

The ballot question was approved on third and final reading Tuesday, May 24, with council member Martavius Jones, the original sponsor of the referendum ordinance, as the only no vote.

Voting yes were Chase Carlisle, Frank Colvett, Michalyn Easter-Thomas, Edmund Ford Sr., Cheyenne Johnson, Rhonda Logan, Chairwoman Jamita Swearengen.

Council member Patrice Robinson was absent.

Council members Ford Canale, Worth Morgan and JB Smiley did not vote.

The election backstory: Term limits

By the terms of the ballot question, all of the current council members would be eligible to run for three consecutive terms if it is approved by voters.

Jones’ original version of the ballot question called for extending the limit to three terms for just the council and not the mayor.

He argued it was a move by him to strengthen the role of the council in city government.

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Warren successfully amended the ballot question to make the mayor eligible for three consecutive terms as well.

The council voted down a move by Logan to have a ballot question with two components — one to extend to three terms the limit for the council and the other to extend to three terms the limit for the mayor.

Council members expressing an opinion weren’t unanimous on extending the term limits.

Some framed the issue as allowing Memphis voters to decide the issue.

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“I will place an extreme amount of skepticism in this day and age and this political environment that anybody believes politicians deserve any extra time in office,” Carlisle said. “But I support the people’s right to speak.”

Logan said it was “obvious that you need a longer term” as a council member.

“Initially this was concerning the ability of council members to serve terms that they will be effective in — that you have a long enough time to serve and that you can serve your constituents well,” she said. “There’s a huge learning curve.”

Warren argued the times warrant allowing for the possibility of three consecutive terms.

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“In my opinion, I think we need some of the experience on the council to go forward in the next few years when we are dealing with high inflation and the war in Ukraine,” he said. “I think we need that experience. I think we need the experience of the mayor in addition to that.”

Mayor Jim Strickland said during the 2018 referendum campaign that he had no interest in seeking a third term in 2023.

Johnson voted for the referendum but predicted voters would vote it down.

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“I really don’t think the people want to do it,” she said. “If they in (20)18 said no, what makes you think they are going to change their minds? We probably need to drop the whole thing.”

Meanwhile, the council approved on the second of three readings Tuesday another referendum question also proposed by Jones that would be on the November ballot if given final council approval at the June 7 council session.

The election backstory: Primaries

The ballot question would allow for partisan primary elections in city elections if either or both of the local parties choose to hold such elections.