Onondaga County

Statement from Majority Leader Nodesia Hernandez

Earlier today, the County Executive held a public hearing on the local law I sponsored to bring term limits to the County Executive Office and Comptroller’s Office. After most statements at the public hearing being in support of the local law, the County Executive publicly communicated his desire to veto the local law. That news was disappointing to hear.

A veto means that voters will not have the opportunity to decide on term limits on a ballot referendum. It would also mean that the Executive’s will would supersede the desire of voters as well as the independence of the voter-elected Legislature.

I wrote this bill in response to what voters asked for and overwhelmingly approve of and what the Legislature began last year: term limits for all eligible county elected offices. I amended it based on what the Minority Caucus requested: two offices (The Comptroller and the County Executive) on one bill. Yet, the Republican Caucus still did not vote in support of it.

The County Executive said he does not support the bill because he does not “like” how the bill came through. Our Office’s are equal branches. Laws cannot be decided by what one person likes.

As we now focus on the developments on what’s next, I thank our residents who engaged through their public comments and public hearing testimony. I also thank my colleagues in the Legislature who understand the need to set equal standards across our elected branches.