ATTENTION: Political editors and assignment desks

14 May 2001
Contact: Janet Gilmore
(510) 642-5685

WHAT:
"Ten Years into Term Limits, Academic Findings and the View from Sacramento," a daylong symposium presented by the University of California, Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies; the institute's legislator-in-residence, Sen. Patrick Johnston; and the UC Berkeley/Sacramento Program.

Scholars, state lawmakers, lobbyists, journalists, political consultants and others will gather in Sacramento to discuss California's political landscape in the era of term limits. The event is free and open to the public.

WHEN:
Thursday, May 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE:
Room 100, Legislative Office Building, 1020 N. Street, Sacramento.

WHO:
Participants will include Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg; Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fred Keeley; Sen. Deborah Ortiz; Assemblymember Elaine Alquist, chair, Council of State Governments-WEST; Assemblyman Bill Leonard; Dan Schnur, political consultant and UC Berkeley lecturer; Darry Sragow, political consultant and UC Berkeley lecturer; Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, senior scholar at the University of Southern California's School of Policy, Planning and Development; and UC Berkeley political science professor Bruce Cain.

Panelists will discuss whether term limits have changed the way the capitol works; influenced who runs for office; or altered the nature of political campaigns. For a full list of participants and discussion topics, go to the conference Web site.

BACKGROUND:
Passed by California voters in 1990, Proposition 140 imposed a limit of three two-year terms for state Assembly members and a limit of two four-year terms for state senators.