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Commissioner Diane Savino explains her opposition to moving local election years
0:50:05
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59 sec
Commissioner Diane Savino explains why she will vote against the proposal to move local elections to presidential election years.
She argues that the change is contingent on action from the state legislature and therefore has no immediate effect.
She also expresses concern that in a presidential year, local candidates and issues would be overshadowed, doing a "serious disservice to local government."
Diane Savino
0:50:05
Thank you, chair.
0:50:07
On this question, I'm actually gonna vote no on this question, not because I did not hear the arguments from the various good government groups, but absent action by the state legislature, this doesn't provide any change to New York City law in any event even if it passes.
0:50:20
I also have serious concerns as having been a down ballot candidate that in a presidential year, local candidates who are the closest people to their community will not get the type of attention in that election year when it will be drowned out by the top of the ticket, which is they buy up all the airtime.
0:50:36
They buy up all the campaign time.
0:50:38
And if you are a local elected official, a council person running in the same year as a president is very possible.
0:50:43
The drop off from the top of the ticket to the bottom would do a serious disservice to local government.
0:50:47
So I'm not quite there yet, but I respect the work of the commission and, of course, the people who testified on it.
0:50:52
And since it can't go into effect without a state constitutional amendment, I I feel confident that I can vote no on this without just, you know, killing us at the ballot box.
0:51:02
Thank you.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
0:51:03
Thank you, commissioner.