Suffolk Dems set to challenge voter-approved term-limit expansion: ‘It’s all craziness’

Suffolk County voters have approved a controversial GOP proposal to double county legislators’ terms from two to four years — setting up a legal showdown as local Democrats move to overturn the results.

The proposed term extension, approved under last week’s ballot Proposition 2, included the stipulation that the county lawmakers elected this year will serve three-year terms before they face re-election in 2028, to line up with the timing of of races for other offices.

A new state law recently changed local election years to align with presidential elections. 

But Democratic leaders claim the Suffolk referendum is unconstitutional since it would alter the terms of candidates who were voted into office last week for a two-year stint, and they are vowing to challenge it in court.

“I believe that it will be found unconstitutional and that then the races would have to be run again next year,” Democratic Party Chairman Rich Schaffer told Newsday. 

Republicans who pushed the measure are defending it as a practical fix to the state’s new law.

In July, Republican County Executive Ed Romaine cleared the way for the referendum to appear on this year’s ballot for the voters to approve.

Romaine’s measure also adjusted the county legislature’s 12-year term-limit law on members so that incumbents hitting that mark mid-term under the new proposition’s guidelines can serve out the rest of their freshly lengthened final term. 

“This important measure ensures that our elected leaders can remain focused on serving the people and tackling the real challenges facing our communities,” Romaine said in when he signed the bill. 

But Democratic leaders argue the change is the equivalent of moving the goalposts mid-game, giving current officeholders extra time in power.

They claim it flagrantly violates the state constitution, which bars altering the terms of officials who are already elected or on the ballot.

Schaffer revealed that he plans to file a lawsuit in the coming weeks seeking to invalidate the referendum’s vote — a move that could throw the newly elected legislature into limbo and force another countywide election next year.

But Republicans insist the proposal was properly vetted and passed with bipartisan support in the legislature before going to voters. 

“It’s all craziness,” said Legislator and Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, who is set to hit his term limits at the end of the year.

Voters previously shot down a nearly identical measure in 2020 by a 70% margin, but this year’s version passed after Republicans threw the party’s full weight behind it while campaigning this election cycle.