Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie County Legislature held a public hearing Tuesday night for a new bill that would place term limits on elected officials.
The bill, which was introduced by Democratic legislator John Bargnesi, would restrict all elected officials to three terms, and allow for legislator terms to be four years.
Bargnesi believes this was the perfect time to introduce the bill because of a separate bill Gov. Kathy Hochul signed that will move all local elections to even-numbered years. All county legislators will be up for election in 2026, then the four-year term limits would start rolling out.
However, Bargenesi stated he wants to see it passed before November so that it can be on the ballot.
"I did it when I was in the Town of Tonawanda, the town board. We implemented term limits. I turned myself out of that job, and I'm here with the county legislature," said Bargnesi during an interview with the media. "It's amazing how much overwhelming support I've gotten from people throughout all of Erie County, way out of my district. The only negative feedback I've gotten was from sitting elected officials, people that are sitting currently in office. It's the only negative feedback I've gotten"
Republican legislator Frank Todaro says there is certain elements of the bill that he agrees with, but not all of it.
"I will agree, being that in those shoes, two years is a short amount of time to really focus on the job. Four years, I agree with it. It's great. It's good," said Todaro with WBEN. "You can really focus and get that job done and, you know, take some of those bills and get them over the finish line, but it's the amount of the term. You get a four year term, but how many of those is where we're trying to figure out what would be fair."