Suffolk: Sheriff says he opposed term-shortening measure

Suffolk Sheriff Vincent DeMarco said last week he opposed the bill to allow elected officials terms to be cut short partly a response to behind the scenes discussions in Bellone administration last year to create a corrections department and ax his office.

The sheriff, a Conservative, said Democrat Bellone did not deny that the idea was under consideration when he raised the issue with the county executive last fall. DeMarco said their discussion was brief because both men were involved with response to Hurricane Sandy.

“He said we’ll have to talk about it,” DeMarco said. No further discussions ever took place.
Bellone aides withdrew the bill last week in the face of opposition from four Suffolk countywide elected officials.