In a massive mistake, the Republican executive of one of Upstate New York’s largest counties accidentally approved a bill to impose term limits on himself — when he had meant to veto it.
The Democratic-controlled legislature of Onondaga County, which includes the city of Syracuse, “says they received a signed bill that would implement term limits on the county executive’s office on Wednesday,” Spectrum News reported. “Minutes later, County Executive Ryan McMahon’s sent a new version that vetoed the legislation.”
However, under legal procedure, the first version that accidentally carried McMahon’s signature is legally binding and can’t be rescinded, legislative chair Nicole Watts said after confirming with attorneys.
The bill, which would limit the county executive and county comptroller to three four-year terms, doesn’t become law just yet — but the remaining steps are out of McMahon’s hands.
“This next step will be to send this transmission over to the board of elections,” said Watts. “When it gets to the board of elections, there will be a next forthcoming opportunity for people not only to engage in public hearings, but then to make it to the ballot for their voice to be heard.”
McMahon, who vetoed an earlier version of the bill this year, slammed the legislation, saying, “Priorities of the Legislature seem to be very focused on power and not on people.” He added he’s not opposed to term limits in principle, “But I want the legislature to bring me the most bipartisan bill because we’re in a politically divided county government. And getting things done is hard and getting things done can’t be done without compromise.”
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