Politics & Government

Should Smithtown Town Officials Face Term Limits?

Smithtown's elected officials call for support for 12-year term limits as primaries approach.

As primary season heats up for the November elections, Smithtown town board candidates are throwing their support behind setting new term limits. 

Smithtown Councilman Kevin Malloy said his first action if re-elected to the town board in November would be to support the creation of a 12-year term limit, Newsday reports. 

Malloy is seeking re-election to his second 4-year term this November. While campaigning, he said constituents have complained about elected officials becoming complacent and unresponsive after years in public office. 

Malloy's call-to-action is supported by Councilman Robert Creighton, who will run in the Republican primary on Sept. 10 against Supervisor Patrick Vecchio. 

Creighton is in the middle of his sixth year serving on Smithtown Town Board, re-elected to his second four-year term in 2011. Vecchio has been in office for 36 years, earning him the distinction of the longest serving town supervisor in New York State. 

Assem. Michael Fitzpatrick, R-Smithtown, who is serving as Vecchio's campaign manager, called Malloy and Creighton's support for term limits a publicity stunt, suggesting residents are more concerned about cost of government and keeping taxes low. 

Democratic candidate Steven Snair also said the suggestion of term limits is nothing more than a political stunt.  

Would you like to see a term limit imposed on Smithtown's elected officials? Why or why not? 

Tell us in the comments below. 

Read more on Newsday [subscription required] about Malloy's support for term limits. 


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