NY Deserves a Special Election for US Senate Seat Vacancy

While Governor David Paterson prepares to announce the candidate he has chosen to replace Senator Hillary Clinton as New York’s junior U.S. Senator, I unveiled legislation that would end the pattern of “accidental” elected officials who entered into office without a mandate from the people of New York State.

With the Governor, Comptroller and now a U.S. Senator coming into office through appointment as opposed to democratic election, I introduced a bill that would amend the State’s Public Officers Law to require Special Elections for any vacancies in the office U.S. Senator for New York State.

My bill requires the Governor – within ten days – to call a Special Election within 90 days of the occurrence of a vacancy. If the vacancy were to occur less than 100 days before the annual Primary or General Election, the Special Election would then be held during the regular election cycle.