Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desire for term limits for four elected statewide offices is an idea whose time has come.

While we have long held that elections are the best form of term limits, especially locally, there is something to be said for a required changing of the guard for the four highest-ranking positions in state government.

The position that turns over the most often — lieutenant governor — has the least power and often is elected at the whim of the governor’s office.

Despite his obvious flaws, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was likely to be re-elected had he not resigned from office last October. For some time in New York state, resignation has been the main reason top offices change over. Cuomo took office after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer and the ineffective term of Gov. David Paterson. The state Comptroller’s Office had been held by only three people from 1955 through 2002. Then, Alan Hevesi served for three years before resigning for using state employees to care for his ailing wife and participating in a “pay to play” scheme regarding the state pension fund. Thomas DiNapoli, elected in February 2007, has served in the office since. The state Attorney General’s office has turned over largely because its occupants seek higher office, not because they face serious re-election challenges.

Term limits for the governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller and attorney general make sense even in a state where only one party stands much chance of winning statewide office. While we hope this isn’t the centerpiece of Hochul’s 2022 agenda, term limits are a good starting point.