On March 5, the Nevada Supreme Court denied a request by a potential Reno mayoral candidate to reconsider its 5-2 ruling prohibiting some current and former council members from running because of term limits.
In published reports, the decision rejecting a rehearing on the matter upholds the court’s previous opinion finding that former Councilwoman Jessica Sferrazza and current Councilman Dwight Dortch cannot run for mayor.
The case was brought by George “Eddie” Lorton, who argued that Reno council members who have been in office 12 years cannot run for mayor because term limits prohibit them from serving additional time on the same governing body.
Nevada term limits restrict state Assembly members to six two-year terms and state Senators to three four-year terms. Statewide officials, such as the attorney general, are limited to two four-year terms. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled the state’s term limits constitutional in July 2008 and ordered them enforced for all officials in office since 1996.
The 2014 ruling has ramifications in Henderson as well. Mayor Andy Hafen has served 22 years on the Henderson Council, 10 of which came after term limits kicked in. He was elected mayor in 2009 and re-elected last year. He has not yet been challenged over the matter.
