Erie County Legislator Kathy Konst and fellow Legislators Michele Iannello and Cynthia Locklear on Monday introduced a Local Law that would limit the terms of office for county Legislators. Konst said, "As part of our reform platform we promised change to the residents of Erie County. And I feel that this Local Law is a big step towards that promise; it would impose a twelve-year limit on consecutive service by Erie County Legislators."

She went on to state, "We are aware of the voters' frustration with government. This disappointment is borne by a feeling of powerlessness over elected officials once elected and the overwhelming power yielded by the system."

She concluded by saying, "We envision that this Local Law will keep elected officials mindful of their fiduciary duties and respectful of the power of the people they serve."

The proposed Local Law would increase the length of term a county legislator would serve from two years to four year and it would also limit a county legislator to only three terms. Before this new law can be go into effect, both the Erie County Legislature as well as the County Executive must first approve it. The County Executive has already stated he is in favor of term limits, so his approval is expected. The law would then go to the voters in the county in the form of a referendum.

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