Onondaga County

Today, voters have a clear path to vote on term limits in the November 2026 elections for the Office of Comptroller and County Executive.

The Board of Elections, the County Executive, and the County Legislature have agreed on a process that maintains the Legislature’s desire to let voters decide. The agreement also addresses the County Executive’s request for a second ballot question that gives both County Executive and Comptroller more time in office. The County Executive has made known that he prefers a term-limit-maximum of 16 years in office compared to the local law the Legislature passed allowing a maximum of 12 years in office.

Although that measure originally failed in these chambers when it was introduced, in negotiations, an agreement is more powerful than an argument. I will now be introducing a local law that offers what was agreed upon in negotiations to ensure the term limits question will appear on the ballot in November.

I thank Judge Lamendola for his time convening all parties. The agreement and path today demonstrate that we had to engage the courts. There was no legal pathway forward without the court. This pathway was only possible because the Court agreed to waive the missed deadlines for a ballot proposition and allow competing questions to move forward. This decision enables the submission of a new local law for consideration.

This new local law will:

• Supplant the previously passed term limits local law.

• Include two competing ballot questions: one for 12-year term limits and one for 16-year term limits.
• Proposes term limits for the Comptroller and County Executive.
• Must be signed into law by the County Executive, if passed by the Legislature, no later than September 9.

• Clearly state that whichever question receives the most votes becomes the law.


THE FIGHT FOR VOTER VOICE

Let me make it plain: we chose you, voters, and not a lawsuit.

The Legislature began this work establishing its own term limits last year, and it was difficult then. Throughout this entire process of bringing term limits to the remaining elected County offices in 2026, we have seen six corresponding laws introduced. Legislators have consistently stepped up to say, “We hear you. We will make this work.”

A law that changes the charter by the voter’s voice is not the only way, but the right way to do this.

PROCEDURE MATTERS

Today also brought a critical protection: an agreement signed by all parties confirming that the actions of the Board of Elections commissioners do not constitute precedent. The courts made it clear: if this ever happens again, there will be no mediation. The courts will intervene.

Per the court agreement, I am sponsoring the new local law with competing ballot questions. It supplants the previously passed local law on term limits. I will direct the new law to be placed on legislators’ desks later today for consideration on September 1. I urge my colleagues to vote yes to advance it to the County Executive’s desk and bring this chapter to a close. I also urge the voters of Onondaga County to go to the polls on November 3rd and remember that their Legislature fought for them.

Lastly, thank you, to our voters for speaking so clearly and so powerfully.