Laws that aim to change decades of established checks and balances in Onondaga County government are now on the county executive’s desk for consideration. Majority Democrats on the legislature led the push for measures imposing term limits and who fills vacancies on the legislature.
The county executive currently has the power to appoint someone to fill a vacancy mid-term. Republican legislator Kevin Meeker argued it should stay that way.
“The current system provides an important separation of powers by allowing the county executive to fill vacancies," he said during the floor debate. "This legislation removes that balance, concentrates more authority within the legislature itself.”
Democrat Gregg Eriksen is the law’s sponsor. He said the idea is to disperse power.
“We are saying that the county executive should not be able to appoint people to a body that keeps them in check," Eriksen said
“This would make the appointment split up among 17 people as opposed to just one where you run the risk that a newly appointed legislator might be beholden to that county executive. It's a heck of a lot tougher to be beholden to 17 people than it is to one.”
The measure passed 9 to 8 with democrat Charles Garland joining Republicans in voting no. The other law imposes three four-year terms on the office of county executive, the same as legislators. But Republican Ken Bush said it doesn’t go far enough.
“I support term limits for the county executive and the comptroller.," he said. "And I'm sad that this initial legislation that's being presented includes only the county executive.”
Bush said he proposed a measure a few years ago that included both offices. The current comptroller is a Democrat. Legislature chairwoman Nicole Watts said they’ll address the additional law soon.
“The comptroller's law was sitting on everyone's desks today, ready for our July session," she said. "So that's one step in the direction of communication and a way that we are able to work together.”
The term limits law passed 10 to 7 along party lines. Most Republicans said they disagreed with imposing term limits on the office of county executive without also including the comptroller.
The approved measures are in front of the county executive, and Chairwoman Watts said she’s fully aware he could veto them. Democrats would need at least two Republicans to override a veto.
In a statement, Ryan McMahon said he will review the laws and whether they strengthen a framework that he said has served the county well.
"For more than 60 years, the Onondaga County Charter has provided foundational checks and balances that help ensure accountable and effective government. In the days ahead, I will review these proposals through that lens," he said.
"The question should not be which political interests benefit from changing the structure of government," McMahon said. "The question should be whether the public does."
If McMahon agrees that the public benefits, the measures go to the voters in November.
