Lewis voters decide on four-year terms

LOWVILLE — Lewis County voters on Tuesday will once again be asked to increase county legislative terms from two years to four.

While current legislators are supportive of the change, they're particularly interested in getting a more representative verdict than two years ago.

In 2006, a four-year-term proposition was defeated by a 2,554 to 2,165 vote, or 54.1 percent opposed. However, an additional 3,028 ballots were either blank or void, and more than half of the 16,616 eligible voters did not vote at all.

It is hoped this year's vote will show how the majority of county residents — not just the "ones paying attention" — feel about the issue, said Legislator William J. Burke, R-West Lowville.

Proponents of the switch are taking out advertisements in local newspapers asking people to vote "yes" on the four-year proposition, which appears in the upper right-hand corner of all county ballots. With a presidential race this year, voter turnout likely will be higher this time around.

If approved by voters, the change would take effect in January 2010. All 10 legislative seats are up for election in November 2009.

This year's proposition is a little different from the previous one.

The 2006 proposal included a provision to stagger terms so only five of the 10 seats would be contested at one time. While the intent was to eliminate the possibility that all 10 legislators are removed from office at once, that plan could have led to some residents, following redistricting, being represented for two years by legislators they didn't get to choose, said Legislature Chairman Jack T. Bush, R-Brantingham.

Supporters of four-year terms tout the proposed switch as a way to improve continuity and allow new legislators more time to learn their job before facing re-election.

"Some of the projects that have been undertaken are good projects," Mr. Bush said. "But you have to realize that the wheels of government run slowly."

As an example, Mr. Burke mentioned a countywide soil survey championed in the early part of the decade by former Legislator Gary P. Rosiczkowski of Turin that hasn't been completed. Legislators also are still working on completion of the county courthouse project, which has been overseen by three different Legislatures, he said.

While opponents argue that four-year terms would provide fewer opportunities to oust poor legislators, Mr. Bush said the proposed switch should cause voters to "do a little more homework."

"This is easily the most important vote people will make next Tuesday," said Lowville resident John M. Gehrlein, who has publicly opposed both term-lengthening attempts.

While local votes for federal and state offices will be diluted by larger populations elsewhere, the proposition vote will be "Lewis County talking for Lewis County," he said.

Many legislators typically don't have competition, and the ones who do should be held accountable every two years, Mr. Gehrlein said. Those who don't pick up the nuances or terminology in that time either are slow learners or don't put much time into the job, he said.

Mr. Gehrlein is a columnist for the Lowville Journal and Republican weekly newspaper, which is owned by Johnson Newspaper Corp.

"I could come down on both sides of the issue very easily," said county Republican Party Chairman Samuel F. Villanti.

However, the retired paper mill manager said longer terms make sense from a business standpoint, noting that five-year plans are typically developed to avoid a short-sighted approach.

"Short-term people in that office may not be in the best interest of good government," he said.

While Mr. Villanti served for 24 years as a county legislator under two-year terms, he noted that was in a different era, when nobody ever opposed him.

"With some degree of safety, we could make plans three or four years down the road," he said.

Legislators who seek grants could also be out of office before the funding is awarded, Mr. Villanti said. He also suggested that term limits be considered as a balancing measure to an increase in term length.

County Democratic Party Chairman Edward M. Murphy said he's not officially taking a position on the matter but supports letting voters make the decision.

Mr. Murphy said he is skeptical about the proposal from the standpoint of lost accountability. However, politically speaking, longer terms could make it easier to find strong candidates to challenge incumbents.

"You've got to be nuts to run for a two-year term," Mr. Murphy said.

The vote Tuesday will likely be, in part, a referendum on the current legislators, even though none would benefit from the proposal unless they're re-elected next year, he said.

A few other New York counties — including St. Lawrence — have four-year legislative terms. The other elected county offices — sheriff, clerk and treasurer — also have four-year terms.