An issue with ramifications decades into the future will be decided by West Virginia voters in the general election today. It involves the current limit preventing county sheriffs from serving more than two consecutive terms.
The proposed constitutional amendment on the election ballot would, if passed, rescind that limit.
As we have noted previously, sheriffs can amass enormous political power. That can allow them to create re-election machines keeping them in office for many years. It has happened in some southern counties.
Such political machines usually are detrimental to the residents of counties where they exist. For that reason, West Virginia voters should cast ballots "against the amendment" today, to retain the current term limits for sheriffs.
