A Call for True Term Limits for Montrose City Council

Persistent Faces in Local Government

Have you noticed the same faces dominating Montrose City Council seats year after year? I certainly have. Even during my time away from Montrose, staying connected with family and friends revealed a persistent pattern. Familiar names cycle through city and county government roles without end.

Upon returning full-time to care for my aging mother and diving into local involvement, I observed more red flags. Attending council meetings, I saw unanimous "yes" votes with rare dissent, which came from just one council member who appeared beaten into submission. It seemed incredibly strange. Either policies are universally perfect, or something else was at play.

Uncovering Deeper Concerns

Digging deeper revealed serious issues. In our Constitutional Republic, we elect representatives to serve "We the People." Yet, in a March 2024 council meeting, hundreds of residents packed the chambers to overflowing. More than 100 spoke, urging Montrose to declare itself a "non-sanctuary city". Council members nodded in agreement, but after the crowd left, they tabled the issue indefinitely.

This shows the council's disregard for constituents. The complete opposite of what Mayor Frank claims the Council is dedicated to. It took over a year of John Brown hounding the council to prompt any action, spurred by a Presidential Executive Order on April 28, 2025, threatening to pull federal dollars from sanctuary cities. In June 2025, after a meeting between Brown and Mayor David Frank, the council issued a statement in the Montrose Press and Montrose Mirror declaring, "The city is not, and will not become, a Sanctuary City".

However, it took two months to acknowledge this directly to Brown. Worse, they let him continue for months without pointing to the announcements or an email that likely landed in his spam folder. Brown rarely misses meetings, including the July 1, 2025 session where he again requested a written declaration. Not a word from the council as to their statement. This demonstrates profound disrespect for taxpayers views and their time.

The question remains; was their action prompted by citizens concern, or was it the threat of the loss of federal dollars?

Demanding Accountability

Elected officials work for citizens. Yet, during public comment, speakers face blank stares and silence. No dialogue, just a timed cutoff. For real interaction, submit questions in writing ahead of time. If deemed worthy, you might get a slot before a 10 a.m. work session. How gracious. We hold jobs too. Let's demand regular engagement.

The Case for True Term Limits

Currently, council members can serve two consecutive four-year terms, then return after a four-year break and do it again! This perpetuates stale perspectives and an elitist attitude. The cycle fosters entrenchment and reduces accountability. Legal scholars argue term limits prevent corruption and maintain voter oversight. The U.S. Supreme Court in U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton (514 U.S. 779, 1995) upheld states' rights to impose such limits on local offices.

Join the Movement

It is time for true term limits for the City Council in Montrose. Lifetime caps will inject fresh ideas and ensure leaders listen.

Join me in reclaiming our voice on April 7. Vote Michael J Badagliacco, "MJB", I will push for a charter change to establish true term limits for City Council to help end this cycle and increase accountability.

Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”

Michael is a father of 5, grandfather of 3, USAF Veteran, recording artist, entrepreneur, Editor of USA Liberty Report, passionate about Freedom, Liberty, the founders’ genius of the Constitution and current Candidate for Montrose City Council, mjb4Montrose.com

Montrose Strong: Community, Family, Freedom with “MJB”