Clinton County legislators want to abolish term limits for themselves. We couldn't agree more. If the people want a representative who is otherwise qualified, why should they not be allowed to have him or her?
Why should voters not be able to choose the person they want? Because that person has too much experience in office? That person may know more about his or her job than anyone in the community. Why should that be a disqualifier?
If a representative is not getting the job done, the public can install its own version of term limits and elect someone else. The late Sen. Ronald B. Stafford (R-Plattsburgh) used to say term limits were already instituted long before they were passed: It was called an election.
In what other profession would an experienced performer be asked to step down because of an arbitrary number of years served?
Term limits were installed in 1996 with legislators allowed to serve no more than 12 consecutive years in office.
Under the existing rules, two legislators, Keith Defayette (R-Area 5, Schuyler Falls) and Sam Trombley (R-Area 2, Ellenburg), could not run when legislators are up for election again in 2011.
No doubt many voters in Ellenburg would be very disheartened to not be able to pull the lever for Trombley, who has served them since 1983, and likewise for Defayette, who has been on since 1998. What is gained by making these people ineligible for re-election?
The idea of term limits was to ensure a new slate of lawmakers, with new ideas, every so often. But doesn't that determination rightfully belong to the voters?
At the behest of Chairman Jimmy Langley (R-Area 7, Peru), the legislature is on track to put the issue of term limits before voters, who will have the final say, in November.
We applaud legislators for their willingness to put the idea forward at the risk of appearing self-serving. We also encourage voters to get rid of this confining law when they enter the booth in November.
This year's slate of elections is very light, with only three countywide races at the top of the ticket, so voters should be able to concentrate on the term-limit question.
In addition to looking at term limits, legislators are also considering the possibility of staggering terms so all 10 legislators don't have to run at the same time, as they do now.
With all 10 running together, it is possible — unlikely, but possible — that all 10 could be removed at the same time. That would create a very inexperienced new legislature.
While some voters think that might not be a bad idea, especially, right now, for the Senate in Albany, it probably does not bode well for local government.
We encourage the county to devise a way to reconfigure the terms to ensure some kind of stability for the county.
Opinion
July 1, 2009
Editorial: Term limits undemocratic
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