Burckard: “This topic is so
unanimously supported …”
MONTICELLO – Sullivan County’s Charter Commission has not finished its work, but is on record, unanimously, recommending one significant change. The commission favors staggered terms for the nine legislators.
The current legislators agree.
Since the last charter revision, more than a decade ago, the entire nine-member legislature is up for election every four years.
Commission Co-Chairman Paul Burckard said the idea of staggering terms
is in the early discussion stage but its where the commission wants to
go with it is clear.
“This topic is so unanimously supported that we thought that we wanted to send this on to you for your consideration,” Burckard said, during the unscheduled appearance.
Democrat Scott Samuelson, a former legislature chairman, said this has been on his agenda since joining the legislature four years ago.
“I agree 100 percent that it should be a staggered term; no question,” Samuelson said. “I said that from the day I got here. It makes no sense whatsoever to replacing this entire board every election.”
While that hasn’t quite happened, six of the nine legislatures were newcomers in each of the past two four-year cycles, including last November’s election.
One of this year’s six new legislators, Republican Catherine Owens, also supports the idea, as does another veteran, Democrat Ira Steingart.
One of the first questions is how to phase it in.
“There was some discussion about three to three and three, and the length of getting that done didn’t make sense,” Burckard said.
Another possibility is five legislators one year and four legislators two years later.
If the commission passes on a formal recommendation and the legislature accepts it, this would begin with the 2019 election.
Other issues under review include whether the legislature, currently with nine members representing geographic districts, should be larger or smaller, should legislators be full or part-time, what is reasonable compensation relative to the economy of the county, and, the question that dominated Thursday’s discussion: Should all nine legislators be elected at once, or in groups on different years?
One disparity causing some concern is the size of districts, ranging from Scott Samuelson’s very large district, to the relatively small district represented by Teri Ward.
