Thursday, October 1, 2026
I recently led the Suffolk County Legislature in the historic passage of the Term Limit Preservation Act of 2025. I sponsored the act proactively to protect local governance and taxpayer interests from Albany’s recently imposed election disruption — the “even-year elections” law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2023.
My Term Limit Preservation Act passed without opposition, and County Executive Ed Romaine has since signed the measure into law. It’s now up to you — the residents of Suffolk County — to vote on the act as a referendum in the November election.
Because of Hochul’s even-year elections law, all 18 county legislators elected or re-elected on this November’s ballot would face shortened terms, mid-term resignations and potential special elections. At present, the county charter outlines an election process in which all 18 seats in the Legislature are at stake every odd year. Under the law signed by Hochul, legislators elected in 2025 would be forced to run again in 2026 and again in 2028 — and in doing so, be denied the second year of the term for which they were elected to serve in November. Moreover, that’s three costly elections in four years!
The potential disruption the new law could cause is undeniable, particularly here in Suffolk. The Term Limit Preservation Act would amend the county charter to ensure that the county’s voter-approved 12-year term limits remain intact and that:
Let me be clear: I am an advocate of term limits. When I was elected the Legislature’s presiding officer in 2022 by the new Republican majority, one of our first actions was to close a loophole in the law and cap total service at 12 years. The resulting referendum was overwhelmingly approved by 85.9 percent of voters.
Term limits are also favored by the national electorate, as evidenced generally by public opinion surveys, and by the Suffolk electorate specifically, as evidenced by voter approval in multiple referendums. Further, I firmly believe that term limits have proved successful, especially in Suffolk. Our Legislature boasts members who bring real-world experience from all walks of life to public service, including lawyers, teachers, doctors, small business owners, first responders, farmers, civic leaders and labor leaders.
Ultimately, term limits give voters more, not less, choices at the ballot box. Elections are not always dominated by incumbents. Term limits mitigate the advantages of incumbency and allow for new, emerging leaders to take office.
The Term Limit Preservation Act is a direct continuation of the Republican commitment to citizen-led government and strong term limits. It would also ensure that Suffolk’s voter-approved term-limit system remains in place and aligned with the new Democratic-imposed election schedule — without undermining its arguable intent to spur greater voter involvement based on increased turnout in even years.
I firmly believe that moving local elections from their historic odd-year schedule to even years will overwhelm voters and bury important local issues under the static and noise of national elections.
Although 2025 is my last year in the Legislature due to our 12-year limit, I introduced the act proudly, and will wholeheartedly support efforts to prevent Albany-style dysfunction from taking root in Suffolk County. With the approval of voters in November, term limits will be preserved, and we will avoid forced mid-term resignations, costly special elections, and interrupted service and instability in local government leadership.
Kevin McCaffrey represents Suffolk County’s 14th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s presiding officer.
