ALBANY – Legislation sponsored by State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) to move elections for many public offices to even years has been signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.
The law does not affect the election cycle of county sheriffs, county clerks, and district attorneys.
The law changes the future election cycles and will adjust the terms of office for elected officials in town boards, county legislatures, and other offices.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day, a Republican, slammed the governor for signing the election bill without any input from the public. “This is bare-faced partisanship and Governor Hochul and Senator James Skoufis should be ashamed of themselves for pushing this bill through and not allowing voters to weigh in on such a major and abrupt change to their elections,” said Day. “The Rockland County Charter delineates elections and when they should occur. This law is an attempt to override that charter and local control in a home rule state and the oath I took is to that charter and the people of Rockland County not Governor Hochul. Local governments are the most responsive and responsible to the everyday person and play a vital governance role for drinking water, social services, sewage, zoning, schools, roads, parks, police, courts, jails, trash disposal — and more.”
