Cook Vetoes Term Limit Ordinance

In a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, Westfield Mayor Andy Cook discussed his veto of the term limits ordinance for elected officials recently passed by the Westfield City Council.

This was his first veto of an ordinance in four terms as Westfield Mayor. Cook’s decision comes after the city’s legal counsel raised concerns about the ordinance establishing a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms for the mayor and city councilors and a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms for the clerk-treasurer.

The proposed requirements are scheduled to take effect in January, 2024.

“The reason I elected to veto was not based on the merits of term limits; it was solely based on legality,” Cook said during the conference.

“When I took this office several years ago, I took an oath of office that said I would uphold the constitution of the State of Indiana. It is for that reason I have vetoed this ordinance.”

City administration not only sought the opinion of city legal staff at Taft Law, but also Co-Chairman of the Indiana Election Division Brad King, who advised that the purview setting of term limits is purely at the discretion of state legislature.

A live stream of the news conference is available on the City of Westfield’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/CityofWestfield/