Term Limits and Residency Requirements

S03808 Text:

                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K

       ________________________________________________________________________

                                         3808

                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                                   I N  S E N A T E

                                   February 17, 2015

                                      ___________

       Introduced  by  Sen. AMEDORE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when

         printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-

         ment Operations

       AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to imposing term limits

         for members of the assembly and senate of the state of New York

         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-

       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

    1    Section  1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 2-a

    2  to read as follows:

    3    S 2-A. LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITS. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE  SHALL  NOT

    4  SERVE MORE THAN SIX TWO-YEAR TERMS IN EITHER THE SENATE OR THE ASSEMBLY.

    5  IN NO EVENT  MAY A LEGISLATOR SERVE MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS IN EITHER THE

    6  SENATE OR ASSEMBLY.

    7    S 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2017.

Sheldon silver was indicted on 3 counts, Thursday, according to the AP news wire: "Silver's arrest rocked the state Capitol, even though state lawmakers' arrests have become ruefully common. Some 28 New York legislators have stepped down because of criminal or ethical issues in the past 15 years. Four others remain in office while they fight charges, including Silver."

While your Auntie and the team are most definitely in favor of term limits, and in this exact form (12 years total), we wonder just how much of a deterrent this will be in the immediate term.

Looking at the language, S03808 (and corresponding bill in the Assembly) if passed, will be effective January 2017 moving forward but with no provision to apply to those currently in the senate or assembly. Perhaps that would be an incentive for the current legislators to vote for term limits since it would not apply to them.

Not perfect, but a step in the right direction. 

And now, another step needed. How about the residency requirements to run for office?

According to Mike Randall in the THR:

"Former mayor Kevin Hudson, whose two years in office were marked by controversy and infighting among Village Board members, wants his old job back."

Question: Didn’t he move to Monroe to run for the State Assembly in the 98th AD? and isn't Washingtonville in the 99th AD?

Maybe we should all chip in and buy Kevin a mobile van! He can park it at the site of the former village hall, (the one that he personally, physically, demolished) and then, when the mood strikes, he can park the van in the Wal-Mart parking lot. He can go to whatever district he wants and then run for office! Why not? The van could be his own version of the Herkimer Battle Jitney!

This is the man who knocks down buildings "in a single bound" (apologies to Superman). If elected, he could show up for Village Board meetings dressed in a cape and be Washingtonville's superhero! Supermayor!!! or how about as part of Orange County's own Fantastic Four?!!!!

Humph! This should come down easy, can I borrow your ax?


The Town Supervisor of Monroe, Harley Doles, could be one of the Fantastic Four. After all, who else but a superhero would swoop down on local criminals with the taxpayer-funded version of Green Hornet's Black Beauty: the Big, Black Chevy Tahoe (Ala Eddie Diana) and block the path of offenders in their vehicles!!! Who cares if they are not convicted of a crime? It's fun! (Thank you Chris McKenna! This was very entertaining! http://blogs.hudsonvalley.com/fray/2015/02/13/doles-suv-cost-town-37000/)


And can't you just envision Harley in green tights?

Kevin Hudson, Harley Doles...

You know who the other two members of the Orange County Fantastic Four (OCFF) are, don't you Dear Nieces  and Nephews?