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Hein vetoes Ulster term limits bill
Oct 23, 2018 6:30 am
Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman Ulster County Executive Michael Hein has vetoed legislation that would have allowed voters to decide the question of term limits for the county’s elected officials. Hein said the measure violated state law and could “open the door” for “dark money” influences in county elections. Ulster County lawmakers must now decide whether to attempt an override of the veto or to let the executive veto stand, effectively killing the bill. The legislation was adopted by the county Legislature on a vote of 14 to 8 in September. The measure would have put a proposition on the November 2020 ballot asking voters whether to limit to 12 years the tenures of the county executive, comptroller and all county legislators, beginning with their next election. Legislature Chairman Ken Ronk said he intends to talk with other legislators to determine if there is enough support to override the veto before deciding how to proceed. The legislation was rebuked by the League of Women Voters and others who have argued that term limits take away voters’ rights and are contrary to the principles of good government. Supporters of the measure believe term limits will prevent elected officials from amassing too much power and allows new people with new ideas to get elected. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.