NE1: Northeast By-Election Act

[free my dawg]

We already have laws for special elections on the books - which are actually prompter on when the election should be held than this one.

And even if we didn't, I wouldn't sign it. Waiving of a special election for candidates with only one candidate can cause very big problems - essentially, under this law, nobody could hold a write-in campaign for the seat.

[free my dawg]

I wouldn't be opposed to a reduction in the appointment threshold either.

[free my dawg]

I'd rather retain appointment powers than gain voting privilege in these matters - considering the fact that I might have to make multiple appointments at once (which is a very real possibility considering the high turnover rates of the previous Assemblies), I'd either have a vote that's stronger than the elected representatives or the people would be down one representative.

I don't see why the vacancy filling system after two weeks should be changed.

[free my dawg]

I'll remove the governor voting power in my next amendment.

I, personally, don't think that anyone should be appointed to a role that is elected under normal circumstances. Which is why I'm proposing that special elections should take place two weeks before the close of the assembly term, rather than a month before. Especially considering that a term is only two months.

I've already indicated that I support the reduction of the threshold to two weeks. That's not a problem. Leaving this seat vacant is my problem with this bill - it's unworkable and inefficient, so the appointment system must remain in place in order to get my signature.

[free my dawg]

Yeah - Altsomn and I come from that time when there was a high turnover rate.

[free my dawg]

Awesome.

I'm just saying - during my first term as Governor (and actually, Governor Talleyrand's second term), we had seven Assemblymen leave - all for various reasons.