California voters appeared evenly split tonight over Proposition 93, a measure that would change the system of legislative term limits.

Depending on who you talk to, the measure is either a move to allow competent, seasoned lawmakers to stay focused on the weighty task of guiding the state or a sneaky attempt by politicians to keep their grasp on the reins of power.

With 8.75 percent of precincts reporting, 50.62 percent of voters statewide opposed the proposition, which would reduce the amount of time that an individual could serve in the state Legislature from 14 to 12 years, while dropping the requirement that they split that time between the Senate and the Assembly.

"It's just too close to call at this point," said Richard Stapler, spokesman for the Yes on Proposition 93 Campaign.

Under current law, an individual's service is restricted to three two-year terms in the Assembly and two four-year terms in the Senate.

The catch of Proposition 93 is that current members of the Legislature could serve a total of 12 years in their current legislative house regardless of how many years they've already served in a different house.

That would allow Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland -- both due to leave in December -- to campaign to stay in office until 2012 and 2014, respectively.

"It's a power grab by these two greedy politicians and their allies who have abused their offices for personal gain and want to keep living the good life on the tab of the taxpayers and the special interests," said Kevin Spillane, spokesman for the No on 93 Campaign.

Representatives for Nunez and Perata declined to respond to Spillane's comment directly, instead referring any media inquiry regarding Proposition 93 to Stapler.

"Proposition 93 is not about any one legislator," Stapler said. "It is about reforming California's 18-year-old term limits law to make the state legislature more efficient and effective over the long term."

Both Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have announced their support for 93.

Schwarzenegger had originally said he would oppose the proposition unless it included a measure to reduce legislators' redistricting power but announced a change of heart in an Jan. 15 op-ed piece published in the Los Angeles Times.

"The people of California are not well served by so much turnover and lack of expertise in the Legislature," he wrote.

"The Legislature will be more representative of the people and less beholden to special interests. Its members will have more time to do their jobs well and, most important of all, problem-solving will be a higher priority than partisanship and ambition."

Despite the endorsements, voter support for Proposition 93 has slipped over the past few months. As voter awareness about the measure has risen 46 percent from October to January, the number of voters planning to vote yes has dropped 10 percent, according to a Field Poll.

That same poll shows supporters and opponents of Proposition 93 deadlocked with 39 percent of the vote each, leaving 22 percent undecided.

The proposition requires a simple majority to be passed into law.