Referred to:  The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman Donaldson and Legislators Heppner, Roberts. Rodriguez, and Ronk)

Legislator Joseph Maloney offers the following:

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution 24 of 2018, the Ulster County Legislature established a policy prohibiting the use of public funds to place the likeness or name of elected officials on public service announcements, non-commercial and non-political advertising, and

WHEREAS, there has been a practice in government to use public funds in promoting elected officials on government facilities and signage, including the Ulster County website and other County property at various locations other than the particular official’s office or web page; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Board of Elections is responsible for the honest and efficient operations of all national, state, county, city, and local elections in Ulster County; and  

WHEREAS, the Board of Elections is tasked with insuring all eligible County citizens have the opportunity to register and vote for candidates of their choosing; and

WHEREAS, there is no public benefit to the taxpayers when public resources are spent on the practice of placing the name and likeness of existing elected officials on Board of Elections material; and

WHEREAS, this practice amounts to free and inappropriate political advertising for incumbent elected officials; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that it is the policy of Ulster County that on and after the effective date hereof, no County elected official shall appear by likeness, picture, or be named, or otherwise be identified or referenced on any Ulster County Board of Elections material, including but not limited to, signage, publications, mailings and the Board of Elections website; and, be it further 

RESOLVED, no provision of this policy is intended to supplant or diminish any state or federal policy or regulation, and be it further

RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect immediately,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on December 17, 2018 without consent

 Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on February 19, 2019 without consent

No Acton Taken in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on March 18, 2019

Passed Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE