A new bill introduced by state Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, could lead to regular citizens having an opportunity to change the state constitution.

But it won’t get off the ground without grassroots support, local Republican legislators said.

Kolb met with about 60 people at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Middle School Thursday night to answer questions about the proposal, which would fast-track the vote for a constitutional convention.

Such conventions provide an opportunity to change the state’s legal framework, but the option typically is given to voters only once every 20 years. The next time it is scheduled to appear on the ballot here is in 2017.

“What we’re talking about is nothing new,” Kolb said. “All we’re saying is we think we’re in enough trouble we need to try something new, move it up to now.”

His bill would put the convention question on the ballot this year. It also would change the rules governing those conventions, barring elected officials and registered lobbyists from serving as delegates unless they first give up their office.

“That’s the huge difference,” Kolb said. “It’s more people driven.”

Support

Kolb was joined at the meeting by fellow Assemblyman David Townsend, R-Sylvan Beach, and state Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome.

Many audience members said they also supported the initiative.

“Nothing’s happening in Albany, and I think that the state government needs to be shaken up,” said Gary Stearns, of Warners in Onondaga County. “Apparently, they have no clue as to what they’re not accomplishing for the people of the state.”

Les Radford of Lee referred to Albany as “dysfunction junction.”

“We need to make some basic structural changes if we’re in as bad shape as we are,” Radford said. “We have to get to the root, and the root is the constitution.”

The process

For now, supporters are focused on bringing the initial bill to a vote in both houses of the Legislature by putting pressure on representatives. Griffo will kick off a local petition drive at a 10:30 a.m. press conference today in front of the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce building on Genesee Street in Utica. And petitions also are available online at www.reformny.org.

Even if they’re successful, and if the bill passes, the question then would be put before voters on the November ballot.

And if that passes, preparations would begin for a convention in January 2012.

An election in 2011 would select three delegates from each state senatorial district and 15 at-large delegates. Political parties would not be a factor in the election.

The chosen delegates would meet over a period of weeks to draft amendments to the current state constitution. Those amendments, either separately or as a single group, then would be put back before the voters, who ultimately would decide whether or not to accept them.

The convention would cost the state about $35,000.