Letter: No choice in Suffolk elections
New York’s top court ruled that Suffolk County’s term-limits law doesn’t apply to the office of district attorney – clearing the way for District Attorney Thomas Spota to run for a fourth term. Credit: James Carbone
Your editorial "Party lines in a tangle" [Aug. 20] is right on target. I hope it will awaken some sense of outrage among the citizens of Suffolk County to the abuses orchestrated by our local political leaders who have all but disenfranchised us over the past dozen years or so.
New York State election law is an almost impenetrable barrier to the average citizen who attempts to run for office without the blessing of the local party leader.
Raymond Perini, who is running against Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota in the Republican primary, is to be applauded for his challenge to this corrupt system. Spota has been allowed to run for "re-election" as the candidate of the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Independence parties. He ran without opposition, and with major and minor party cross-endorsements, in 2005 and 2009 as well.
Republican voters should reward Perini's courage in September. The voters of Suffolk County and not the five political bosses will decide whom the next district attorney should be.
James J. McDonald, Deer Park
