Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski has vetoed a City Council bill that would put a two-term mayoral limit question on the November ballot.

In a veto message to City Council, Pawlowski said he is not in favor of term limits, “but in the interest of compromise, I would be happy to sign a measure that would place the question of term limits for all city elected positions together; the mayor, city council and the controller; on the ballot.”

If approved, the referendum would limit the mayor to a total of two terms and the terms would not have to be consecutive. The new limit would not be retroactive.

Pawlowski was elected in November 2005 and re-elected in November 2009 and 2013.

Pawlowski had urged Council to defeat the term limit bill arguing that Allentown voters had proven that they don’t like to be told they can’t have the mayor of their choice by electing Joe Daddona and himself more than two times. Daddona served a total of four terms.

Council is expected to take a vote to override Pawlowski’s veto.

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