• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Democracy Chronicles

Towards better democracy everywhere.

  • AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • WORLD DEMOCRACY
  • POLITICAL ART
  • more
    • election technology
    • money politics
    • political dissidents
    • THIRD PARTY
      • third party central
      • green party
      • justice party
      • libertarian party
    • voting methods
  • DC INFO
    • author central
    • about
    • advertise with DC
    • contact
    • privacy policy
You are here: Home / DC Authors / Town of Brookhaven to Put Term Limit Extensions on November Ballot

Town of Brookhaven to Put Term Limit Extensions on November Ballot

September 28, 2018 by Thomas Manning Leave a Comment

FacebookLinkedInPinTweet
Brookhaven town Hall picture
Brookhaven town hall picture. www.longisland.com

At a time when many politicians use the term limits issue as a talking point or grudge against the political system, politicians in Brookhaven County on Long Island have passed a resolution that would add more years onto their terms of service, not less, contrary to what some politicians would want.

The town board voted 7 to 0 to approve putting the measure on the ballot on election day. The vote which was conducted on August 2, drew bipartisan support from both Democrats and Republicans. “It is difficult to work for six months and then go campaigning,” Councilwoman Valerie Cartright a Democrat said regarding the issue.

If approved, terms for town supervisor, town council members and the highway superintendent would be affected. The current terms of service for all three positions are two years but if approved the term limits would be raised from two years to four years and will place a cap for term limits at 12 years.

A similar effort was rejected in the Long Island town of Riverhead in 2016. That measure would have increased the town’s supervisor’s position from four years to two years, but the ballot measure failed on a vote of 3 to two. The vote took place on Tuesday, August 21. The vote was along partisan measures with 3 Republicans voting against and 2 Democrats voting for.

Voters rejected ballot measures in 2005, 2007 and 2016 where it would have done the same and increased the town supervisor term.

“Whoever would be elected, I think a four-year term would be beneficial to them, Republican or Democrat, at the next election,” Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens- Smith said regarding the possible extension.

Democrat Town Councilwoman Catherine Kent, agreed with the supervisor saying, “I see it as something that is good for our town. I think it gives us an opportunity for more consistency and it gives the supervisor more time to get things done.”

The town of Brookhaven has yet to try to pass an effort for term limit extensions. The town of Brookhaven has no term limits and several Long Island town officials have no term limits.

“It’s a very complicated issue,” said Don Seubert of the Medford Taxpayers and civic association. “And to roll it into one proposition is not good for the public,” he continued. Medford is part of the town of Brookhaven.

Concluding, the issue of term limits is an important one and which should be discussed openly with the public. Politicians trying to increase their power by extending their term limits must be guarded against as it ultimately means extending their influence over their constituents’ lives.

Links to sources:

  1. Newsday Riverhead article: https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/riverhead-town-term-limits-1.20633722
  2. Newsday Brookhaven article: https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/term-limits-town-board-brookhaven-1.20276992

Term Limit Extensions on November Ballot

FacebookLinkedInPinTweet

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: American Local Elections, New York City and State Elections, Term Limits

Some highlighted Democracy Chronicles topics

Africa American Corruption American Local Elections American State Elections Asia Capitalism and Big Business Celebrity Politics China Democracy Charity Democracy Protests Democrats Dictatorships Education Election History Election Methods Election Security Election Transparency Europe Internet and Democracy Journalism and Free Speech Middle East Minority Voting Rights Money Politics New York City and State Elections Political Artwork Political Dissidents Political Lobbying Redistricting Republicans Russia Socialism and Labor Social Media and Democracy South America Spying and Privacy Supreme Court Third Party Voter Access Voter ID Voter Registration Voter Suppression Voter Turnout Voting Technology Women Voting Rights Worldwide Worldwide Corruption

About Thomas Manning

Thomas Manning writes for Democracy Chronicles from New York City and is a key part of our increasing coverage of democracy news. Checkout the rest of our international team of authors as well. Together, they help cover free and fair elections on every continent with a focus on election reform in the United States.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

democracy chronicles newsletter

democracy around the web

  • “Minnesota assassination prompts many lawmake...
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 2 hours ago
  • DOJ weighs in in Alabama preclearance
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 2 hours ago
  • “N.Y.C. Mayoral Primary May Hinge on Early Vo...
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 2 hours ago
  • “Amid upcoming redistricting deadline, massiv...
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 2 hours ago
  • “Hawaiʻi Senator Didn’t Disclose Possible Con...
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 2 hours ago