Clarkstown's Supervisor Goes to Court Attempting New Method of Changing Term Limit Law

M.C. Millman

Although Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann would be prohibited from seeking a new term under the Town's term limits law, he and two other Clarkstown residents are going to court to request a change in the law.

The Supervisor, Councilman Donald Franchino, and Thomas Foley, a Clarkstown resident, filed legal papers on Thursday claiming that the Town's 2014 term limits law is illegal and should be voided. The complaint is based on the premise that Clarkstown residents never got the chance to decide the issue at a public vote.

Hoehmann originally voted for term limits in 2014, but after serving as supervisor for eight years, he won't be able to run for another term in 2023 if the present law stands.

The legal action comes after Hoehmann arranged for public hearings on the subject to convince the Town Board to vote for his proposal. Instead of the hearing, though, he made a last-minute withdrawal of the discussion scheduled for Wednesday, November 29, allegedly because he was unable to acquire the number of votes needed to repeal or change the law, as reported in Rockland Daily here.