LWV of BROOKHAVEN P. O. BOX 92 BELLPORT, NY 11713 631-730-6556 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy Marr-730-6556 VOTER Editor Candidates Debates Jean Baker 751-6563 Vice-President, Membership Linda Devin-Sheehan-675-6038 Recording Secretary Marilyn Beard-803-0223 Corresponding Secretary Sue Kinsey-286-0407 Treasurer DIRECTORS Judi Bird-286-3810 Voters Service Betsy Gaidry-846-1778 Study Groups Carol Manel 928-5340 Logistics OFF-BOARD CHAIRPERSONS Peggy Olness 751-2655 Transportation Alice D Amico-751-0328 Finance Joan Nickeson-473-3689 Publlicity Nancy Arthur 654-7953 PRESIDENT S PAGE As our thoughts are focused on the election on November 6 we are pleased that we have been part of the effort to inform voters. In October we co-sponsored a candidates meeting with the Sound Beach Civic Association for candidates for State Assembly and Senate from NYS Districts 2 and 1; we will be sponsoring a meeting with the two candidates for the U.S. First Congressional District, Democrat Perry Gershon and Republican/Independent/1Conservative Lee Zeldin, on October 30.. Our debate is one of the very few debates with both candidates, so you may have friends who would like to attend. Please come to hear them and get answers to your questions. If you have questions you wish to have answered, please send them to us at enpymarr@optonline.net On August 2 the Brookhaven Town Council voted to ask the voters whether they wish to extend the two-year terms of the supervisor, the council members, and the commissioner of highways to four years, and add a term limit of three four-year terms for all the town officials (the town clerk and receiver of taxes currently have four-year terms). The referendum will be on the ballot, and we are holding a meeting on October 24 to review the referendum and clarify the issues. In place of the post-election brunch that the League of Suffolk County has held for many years, we are having a luncheon at the Cooperage Inn Restaurant in Baiting Hollow on November 14. The two Suffolk Community College professors whom we have had as speakers for our league, Neil Buffett and Nicolas Giordano, will analyze the election results. The price is $40, and we will have a 50-50 raffle, with all proceeds going to support the 2019 Directory of Public Officials. Our Directory of Public Officials has been supported in the past by Cablevision, but that is not longer the case. We have been researching possible sponsors, or partial sponsors, who would be willing to support the publication of the League with a financial donation. If you know of any business, organization, or person who might make a donation, please let us know. We have many adverttizers who have supported us for a number of years. Please patronize and thank them for their support of our mission. The good news from the New York State League is that the voter guide for current candidates is now on line although it does not yet include the local candidates New York State Assemblypersons and Senators, county comptroller, and judges, and will not until the Suffolk Board of Elections ballot is fully certified. The delay has also held up the mailing of the absentee ballots. **************************************************************** WELCOME NEW MEMBER LORETTA PRIVETT EAST MORICHES Publicity
Page 3 DISCUSSION OF PROPOSITION ONE ON THE NOVEMBER 6 BALLOT The unofficial wording for the referendum follows: To amend the length of term of office for the town supervisor, members of the town council, and superintendent of highways, and establishing term limits for the town supervisor, members of the town council, superintendent of highways, town clerk and receiver of taxes Come hear from MaryAnn Johnston, President, ABCO & Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Foley, 5 th District WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 7:30 PM Patchogue-Medford Library
BROOKHAVEN TOWN REFERENDUM ON NOVEMBER 6 ELECTION BALLOT Page 4 TO EXTEND TWO YEAR TERMS TO FOUR AND LIMIT TERMS TO TWELVE YEARS Brookhaven Town officials passed a resolution on August 2 requiring a mandatory referendum on November s ballot that would extend the terms for the town supervisor, council members, and the highway superintendent and place a cap on the number of terms all town officials could serve at three terms, or twelve years. Currently, the town clerk and receiver of taxes serve four years. A 1993 referendum established term limits for the supervisor and councilmembers. That law was nullified in 2002, when voters chose to change the Town of Brookhaven to a ward (or council) district system. In answer to a question written at that time by the Town Attorney, the Solicitor General of New York State responded that ward system council members should serve two year terms, but she declined to give an opinion on whether or not the term limits were valid. She wrote, We believe this issue is best determined by your office in consultation with local officials. Of course, the Town Board may, if it chooses, take legislative action to determine whether and how term limits will apply to council members under a ward system. In the state of New York, all ward district governments are required to have councilmembers serve two-year terms. According to state law, however, the town has legal authority to override the state statute, providing an opportunity to give officials four-year terms, if it is confirmed by a majority of eligible voters. Responses at the Town Board hearing were mixed. When asked for their rationale, the councilmembers explained that two years is often not long enough to accomplish goals, especially with community planning. Paul Pontieri, mayor of Patchogue, agreed. He said There are no projects that can be done in 18 months. There are no major policies that can be made in 18 months. There are no major legislative changes such as zoning, building codes, the list goes on, that can be made in 18 months. Many speakers advocated for two year terms, which allow voters to have a voice more often. Elections happen to keep politicians accountable. Although fund-raising every two years is a burden, visiting constituents is important for legislators. On the issue of term limits, it is not clear how it stands. Although the 2003 law was nullified, were the term limits abolished, or are they still in place. Since the law cannot be made retroactive, current legislators would be eligible for an additional twelve years, if they are re-elected. Many speakers advocated for separating the two issues, so voters who want to vote for either extended terms or term limits could do so. Officials from the supervisor s office said that the questions could not be separated, and now that the resolution has passed, it will appear on the ballot with both measures. Town Board members stressed that the residents of the town should make the final decision. It is not up to the Town Board. Some questioned whether the residents will have enough time and information to make the decision.
MORE ABOUT HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Gatt in 1920, six months before the 19 th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote after a 72 year struggle. From the beginning, the League has been an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that citizens should play a critical role in advocacy. The founders believed that maintaining a nonpartisan stance, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, would protect the organization from becoming mired in party politics. However, members were encouraged to educate citizens about and lobby for social reform legislation. Highlights in League s History 1920s The League quickly spread throughout the nation and by 1924 there were National Leagues organized in 346 of 433 congressional districts. The League also sponsored their first Get Out the Vote campaign. 1930s Membership which had reached 100,000 by 1924 fell by half during the 1930s due to the depression and the onset of WWII. Gas rationing was responsible for the most important change League members started meeting in small groups in their neighborhoods to discuss fundamental issues. 1940s The League of Women Voters was invited by President Truman to serve as a consultant to the U.S. delegation at the United Nations Charter Conference in 1945. 1950s - In 1951, "The National Voter" magazine was first published. Delegates to the 1954 convention voted to group League program into Current Agenda ("CAs") government issues chosen for sustained attention and concerted action, and In 1957 the League of Women Voters Education Fund was established to encourage the active and informed participation of citizens in government and to increase understanding of major public policy issues. 1960s -Membership grew to nearly 157,000 members. The League worked to build a solid foundation of support for equal access to education and employment. The League also added apportionment to its national program and supported presidential suffrage for the residents of Washington, DC. In 1969, the League was one of the first organizations calling for the United States to normalize relations with China. 1970s -The League worked for an national Equal Rights Amendment (it failed), adopted an official position on the direct popular election of the President, developed broad national positions on water, air, waste management, land use and energy. In 1974 the national bylaws were amended to allow men to become full voting members of the League. In 1976, the League sponsored the first televised presidential debates since 1960 for which they won an Emmy award for Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Journalism. 1980s -The League was in the forefront of the struggle to pass the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 and contributed significantly to the enactment of the historic Tax Reform Act of 1986. It also adopted a position on fiscal policy and one on US Relations with Developing Countries. In the arms control field, pressure from the League helped achieve Senate ratification of the groundbreaking Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) The League continued to sponsor Presidential Debates in 1980 and 1984, but withdrew support as a sponsor of General Election debates in 1988. In 1983, the League adopted a position on public policy on reproductive choice.
MORE HISTORY (CONTINUED) Page 7 1990s Leading a national coalition, the League spearheaded a grassroots drive that secured House and Senate passage of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) in 1992. But, despite League pressure, the President vetoed the bill. The next year, the leagues efforts succeeded President Clinton signed the bill. In 1993, the years of concerted effort by the League and other voting rights organizations finally paid off. Both houses of Congress passed voter registration reform legislation. President Clinton signed the National Voter Registration Act in May 1993 and gave one of the pens used to sign the historic legislation to the LWVUS. The "motor-voter" bill enabled thousands of citizens to apply to register at motor vehicle agencies automatically, as well as by mail and at public and private agencies that service the public. 2000s- The League worked to renew the Voting Rights Act, and filed a number of amicus briefs relating to campaign finance reform issues, racial bias in jury selection and Title IX. Beginning in 2004, the League focused its legislative work under a "Democracy Agenda" umbrella that included redistricting, civil liberties, campaign finance reform, voting rights for District of Columbia residents, election administration reform and ethics and lobbying reform. 2010 s- In 2011, the League launched, Power the Vote, a campaign opposing measures to restrict access to voting that particularly affected minorities, elderly, students and rural voters and helped bring cases to court. In October 2017, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Gill v. Whitford, a case that could change the way redistricting happens across the country. The League filed an amicus brief in this case arguing that partisan gerrymandering violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution. NEXT BOOK GROUP MEETING NOVEMBER 15, 1:00 PM We are reading Katherine Boo s Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, a National Book Award winner. This book is both a tour de force of social justice reportage and a literary masterpiece. (John K Galbraith award.) Please call Betsy Gaidry, (631) 846-1778 for directions if you wish to attend. SAVE THE DATE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12 1:30 LONGWOOD LIBRARY Brian Langloss, from Oceana, will give us an update on the issue of off-shore drilling why it can damage our marine assets, and the current status of prospects for seismic and oil drilling by the Department of Interior off the coast of Long Island. The film Shore Stories will document the threat. We will discuss what we can do about it.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS POST OFFICE BOX 92 BELLPORT, NEW YORK 11713 Page 10 OCTOBER Tues Oct 24 Tues. Oct 30 Tues. Oct 30 Road, Discussion of Referendum on the length of terms of Brookhaven town officials, Patchogue- Medford Library, Downstairs, 7:30 pm. Date by which application for Absentee Ballot must be postmarked. It can be brought to the Board of Elections (631 852-4500) in person until November 5. The ballot must be post marked by November 5 when it is completed. Candidates Meeting for US Congress candidates, Sachem Library, 7 pm, 150 Holbrook Holbrook. NOVEMBER Mon, Nov 5 Mon. Nov 12 LWV Brookhaven, Board meeting, 10 am, Linda Devin-Sheehan s. Meeting about off-shore drilling with speaker Brian Langloss from Oceana, at Longwood Library, 1:30 to 3. Wed. Nov 14 LWV Suffolk County, post-election luncheon at Cooperage Inn, Baiting Hollow, 11:30, Professors Neil Buffett and Nicholas Giordano from Suffolk County Community College will review the 2018 election results. Confirm attendance by 11/9. Thurs. Nov 15 Book Group, Betsy Gaidry s, Coram, 1 pm.