Poloncarz rep says he'd veto bill on term limits

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The effort to enact term limits for politicians across Erie County could be short lived.

Last month, Democratic legislator John Bargnesi introduced a bill that would limit any new office-holder by 2030 to three terms. The bill would cover the Erie County Legislature, County Executive, Comptroller, Sheriff, Clerk and District Attorney.

But a spokesperson for Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz told WIVB News 4 that Poloncarz opposes and would veto any bill calling for term limits, confirming a Buffalo News report.

That stance echoes comments Poloncarz made during a 2023 debate that aired on WIVB.com.

"We have term limits," Poloncarz said while campaigning for his fourth term. "They're called elections."

If the bill ever passed and was then vetoed by Poloncarz, it would require a two-thirds supermajority to override the veto. With 11 members on the county legislature, that means eight would need to vote to override it.

The Erie County Legislature allowed community members to share thoughts about term limits earlier this week, but only two residents showed up to speak.

Bargnesi's bill would also change county legislators from two-year terms to four-year terms. Poloncarz told the newspaper he supported that idea.