The proposal: a ten-year limit for Nassau County legislators
19legislators, one per district, each serving two-year terms
Nonelimit today on how long a Nassau legislator may serve
12 yearsSuffolk County’s limit for its legislators, approved by voters in 1993
10 yearsthe limit proposed here: five full terms
Why term limits
- Competition. Incumbents rarely lose. A known end date opens seats on a regular schedule and gives challengers, newcomers and people from outside the usual pipelines a real chance to serve.
- Accountability to voters, not tenure. Long service concentrates power in committee posts and leadership roles. A limit keeps that power circulating.
- Consistency on Long Island. Suffolk’s legislators already work under a 12-year limit. Nassau residents deserve the same check.
Why ten years, counted in total
Legislators serve two-year terms, so ten years is five full terms. The limit counts total service rather than consecutive service, so it can’t be reset by sitting out one term or by moving to another district. Suffolk had to close exactly that loophole in its own law.
How it would become law
The Nassau County Legislature can amend the County Charter by local law. Under the New York State Attorney General’s reading of the Municipal Home Rule Law, a term limit is a qualification for office, so a public vote is not strictly required. This proposal asks the Legislature to put it before the voters anyway, as Suffolk did, so the decision belongs to residents and carries their mandate.
New York does not let county residents place a law on the ballot themselves. That is why this is a petition to the Legislature: the more Nassau residents who sign, the harder it is to ignore.
Proposed local law · Draft for discussion
A LOCAL LAW to amend the Nassau County Charter, in relation to term limits for County Legislators
BE IT ENACTED by the County Legislature of the County of Nassau as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent.
The County Legislature finds that regular turnover in elective office promotes competitive elections, broad participation in public service and accountability to the voters. Members of the County Legislature may currently serve without limit. The purpose of this local law is to limit the total time any person may serve as a County Legislator to ten years.
Section 2. Term limit.
The Nassau County Charter is amended by adding a new section, to be numbered by the Clerk of the Legislature, to read as follows:
“Term limits for County Legislators. (a) No person shall be eligible to be elected to the office of County Legislator for any term which, if served in full, would cause that person’s total service in that office to exceed ten years. (b) Service shall be counted in total, whether or not the periods of service were consecutive and regardless of the legislative district represented. (c) Service for part of a term, including service to fill a vacancy, shall count toward the limit for the time actually served. (d) No person shall be appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of County Legislator if that appointment would cause the person’s total service to exceed ten years.”
Section 3. Application.
This limit applies to every election for the office of County Legislator held after this local law takes effect, and service in that office before this local law takes effect counts toward the limit. Nothing in this local law shortens a term to which a person was elected before it takes effect.
Section 4. Referendum.
This local law shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the County of Nassau for their approval at the next general election held at least sixty days after its adoption, and shall not take effect unless approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting on it.
Section 5. Severability.
If any part of this local law is held invalid by a court, the remainder shall not be affected.
Section 6. Effective date.
This local law shall take effect upon its approval by the voters and its filing with the Secretary of State.
A choice to make before introduction: Section 3 counts years already served, so the limit reaches sitting legislators at their next election after it takes effect. The alternative, used by many places, counts only service after the law takes effect. Counting past service matches this petition’s goal but is more likely to be challenged, so county counsel should review the draft before it is introduced.
Sources
Civestor Advocacy