Letter: Suffolk voters deserve choices

Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota, Sheriff Vincent DeMarco and County Clerk Judith Pascale have decided to sue Suffolk County, claiming that a local law cannot limit them to 12 years in office ["Spota sues over Suffolk term limit," News, Feb. 13].

Suffolk Democratic Party head Richard Schaffer, who was recently appointed Babylon town supervisor by a Democratic town board that just couldn't say no, agrees. After all, the DA, the sheriff and the county clerk are the beneficiaries of deals put together by Schaffer and the other political bosses in Suffolk County that enabled them to win uncontested elections, so why should a mere local law or voter sensibilities be allowed to interfere with their careers?

Lest we forget: Spota had no opponent in his last two elections, DeMarco had no opponent in his last election and Pascale had no opponent in hers. Comptroller Joseph Sawicki had none in his last two elections and County Treasurer Angie Carpenter had no opponent when she was re-elected in 2009. Our previous county executive, Steve Levy, also was unopposed when he sought re-election in 2007.

In these troubled economic times, the hard-pressed taxpayers of Suffolk can understand why public officials with good salaries, great benefits and exceptional pension plans would want to use every dodge to keep their jobs, but we ask only that you pay your lawyers with your own money, and you give us a chance to vote against you in a real election.

James J. McDonald, Deer Park