Soon-To-Be Suffolk Legislator Seeks To Keep Job As Principal
SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A newly elected Suffolk County legislator is under fire for wanting to keep her job as a school assistant principal while she serves office.
A law in the county prohibits elected officials from receiving two government salaries unless the person is a teacher.
As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported Thursday, Legislator-elect Monica Martinez is also the assistant principal of a school in Brentwood.
Suffolk Legislator Seeks To Keep Job As Principal
Martinez said she wasn't deceitful during her campaign about her intention to keep her school job.
"If a teacher is allowed to serve on the county Legislature, why isn't an administrator when it's the same exact hours?" Martinez told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
"There are people on the Legislature now who are also receiving other pay as well as pensions. And it's not that I'm taking money from the taxpayers."
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has voiced support for Martinez's wish to keep both jobs, which would pay her $215,000 a year. Bellone argues that the law is confusing and a recently proposed bill, if passed, would allow elected officials to keep their jobs in schools, fire departments and libraries.
"This is something that voters were aware of during the election, and they voted overwhelmingly to elect her," Bellone said.
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