Lawsuit challenges Lawrence's move to four-year terms for mayor, trustees
Resident Paris Popack says the village broke state notice rules before the June election; Mayor Samuel Nahmias calls the suit without merit
The Village of Lawrence is being sued over a law that extended the terms of the mayor and trustees from two years to four years, according to the Nassau Herald. Resident and community activist Paris Popack filed an Order to Show Cause in Nassau County Supreme Court seeking to invalidate Local Law No. 6, which the Village Board adopted on May 14. Popack argues the law could not legally take effect until June 13, just three days before the village's June 16 election, because state law requires a 30-day window after adoption so residents can petition for a permissive referendum.
Popack said in a statement that the change should have gone before voters with proper notice rather than taking effect just before an election. She said the lawsuit is not about any candidate or outcome but about whether residents were given a fair chance to weigh in.
Mayor Samuel Nahmias rejected the claims, saying the law followed public hearings and legal notice published in the Long Island Herald, and that Popack did not attend the meetings where it was discussed. He said the change does not extend the eight-year limit officials can serve overall, only replaces four two-year terms with two four-year terms, and that longer terms will help the village retain employees, handle longer infrastructure projects and cut the cost of holding elections every two years.
Deputy Mayor Aaron Felder and Trustee Steven Gottesman issued a joint statement saying they were surprised by the suit's timing on Election Day and noting the uncontested June election drew more than double the turnout of any previous uncontested village election.