Rockland Writes: Statement From Senator Weber on the End of Local Elections

Dear Rockland Residents,

Like many [as reported by Rockland Daily here]I was hoping the governor’s veto would prove to be an effective check on the ambitions of the radical progressives now running both houses of the state legislature. Her failure to protect our local elections is the final proof she has surrendered to these radicals.

Now, elections for county executive, county legislature, town supervisors, and other local officials will be drowned out by campaigns for state and federal offices. This essentially affects nearly every elected office in Rockland County.

This legislation was rammed through in the middle of the night at the end of this year's legislative session. I proudly voted AGAINST it for the simple reason that the majority of interactions New Yorkers have with the government are with local government. Elections for local officials should be about local issues. No more.

Naturally, the radical progressives, most of whom live in New York City, exempted cities, and especially New York City, from this change. Their claims of cost savings and efficiency are nonsense. This is just another blatant power grab designed to improve the chances of a single political party on election day. This is what they are talking about when they say they are "improving democracy."

It adds just one more reason why so many are fleeing this state.

(Please note, in a local bipartisan effort, that Assemblymen John McGowan,  Ken Zebrowski, and Karl Brabenec also voted against this bill).

Senator Bill Weber