By Thomas Montana
In an effort to counter the state’s law calling for elections during even-numbered years, the Republican majority of the Suffolk County Legislature passed a bill that they said protects local governance by keeping the legislators’ term limits to 12 years.
On June 25, legislators passed The Term Limit Preservation Act of 2025, introduced by Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst). Under the Act:
- Legislators may complete a full term, even if their 12th year of service occurs during that term.
- Terms shift from two to four years, eliminating three elections in four years.
- Term limits remain enforceable and protected.
McCaffrey noted Suffolk voters overwhelmingly backed term limits in a 1993 referendum. In 2021, Republicans closed a loophole exploited by Democrats, capping service at 12 years. In 2022, voters reaffirmed the reform with 85.9% approval (449,605 votes).
This is in response to the The Even Year Election Law that was passed in 2023 by Governor Kathy Hochul and allows for certain local elections held outside of New York City to be held on election day in November in even-numbered years. Suffolk County Republican Committee Chairman Jesse Garcia has expressed his displeasure with the state law.
“The Even Year Election Law — rammed through by Albany Democrats and signed by a failing Governor Hochul, strips away local control by shifting our elections into the noise of national campaigns. It hides critical local issues from voters, disrupts accountability, and confuses the process,” said Garcia in a statement. “This is a blatant voter suppression tactic, dressed up as reform. Nothing more, nothing less.”
But State Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) told Long Island Life & Politics that, while term limits are needed, the Preservation Act is not the way to go.
“Suffolk voters have repeatedly supported term limits for legislators but this attempt to override their will and allow certain elected officials and their political parties to remain in office longer than legally permitted is a disservice to the public,” Martinez said. “This change is not about the hardship of holding elections but rather about holding on to power. I hope voters will once again reject this referendum just as they did in 2020 when today’s Republican majority opposed it while in the minority.”
McCaffrey called the state law “a blatant power grab,” adding, “Today, Suffolk’s Republican majority acted to protect the will of our voters, preserve local control, and prevent chaos and cost.”
The Republican majority also announced plans to challenge the Even-Year Elections law in state and federal court, citing voter suppression and constitutional concerns.
“This law protects the integrity of our government and honors the will of the people,” McCaffrey said of his recently passed legislation. “We will not allow Albany to undo decades of common-sense reform.”
“[The Term Limit Preservation Act of 2025] aligns Suffolk’s term limits law with the new election schedule imposed by the state—preserving the spirit and intent of citizen-led government,” Garcia said. “It ensures that local elected officials continue to serve within the limits the people approved, regardless of interference from Albany Democrats.”
— Additional reporting by Hank Russell