It’s against the law. Enough said?
Obviously not. Suffolk County Executive Bellone knew in advance that Monica Martinez if elected could not maintain two tax-payer funded positions. A law has existed in Suffolk County since 2011 prohibiting elected county officials from doing so. Bellone’s solution to the self-created mess of a newly elected official, holding two positions, is to change the law.
Bad idea on so many levels.
On November 5th, Monica Martinez won a contested race against Legislator Ricardo Montano in the 9th LD. Martinez is an assistant principal at the East Middle School in Brentwood, a job that includes a salary of $117,000 a year. A legislator’s salary is $98,260. A conservative estimate of the cost of fringe benefits for such positions is roughly 30% and usually more depending on the contract. This adds another $65,000 to the tax payer burden in the county and school district. Both positions require a huge commitment of time and energy. Both positions pay a full-time salary with benefits and both positions deserve the full-time focus of the person earning those tax-payer dollars.
County legislators are asked to vote on a myriad of issues that are not directly related to a legislative district and impact all of the residents of Suffolk County. Votes are routinely taken on issues of land preservation, budgets, sewers, parks. taxes etc. These are issues that require and deserve the focus of the $98,260 salaried elected official.
The argument being made by Bellone, that voters knew in advance of Martinez’s plan to maintain both positions when they elected her, disregards the fact that this is a county law. A Legislator’s salary does not come exclusively from the people in an elected district. Unless I am mistaken there is no separate pot for funds that come from a legislator’s district that go into salary and benefits for their representative. Taxes are collected throughout the county. These are my taxpayer dollars as well as those from all over the county that are paying $98,260 + benefits. I think that all county voters should have a say in how their money is being spent not just the people in the 9th Legislative District. Voters get to elect the person of their choice. They do not get to unilaterally have the law changed to accomodate them.
The county law should remain intact. If amended make it stricter, no one should be double dipping. Ms. Martinez is obviously an intelligent woman and an asset to her school district, but she needs to make her choice: the Suffolk County Legislature or Brentwood School District.
Republican Legislator Kennedy is out in front on this as is Working Family Kate Browning. It is time for the Democrats to speak up in opposition. Changing the double-dipping law is an awful idea.
One more thought on the subject - if it is not a full time commitment, why are we paying $98,260 + benefits?
Pat