Spring Break
Bloomberg wants limit laws changed to run for third term, cites financial meltdown
By: Sara Kugler
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: News
NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg's crusade to change term limits so he can run again gets its first official test this week with a bill in the City Council.
Lawmakers who oppose Bloomberg's plans to modify the law without voter approval have drawn up a bill that would require any term limit change to be done by voter referendum only.
Backers plan to introduce the bill Tuesday, just as Bloomberg's supporters are set to introduce legislation that would change the law and allow three consecutive four-year terms for the mayor, council members and several other offices.
Elected officials are now limited to two terms, and as Bloomberg neared his final year in office, he struggled with what he wanted to do next. After deciding earlier this year against an independent White House bid, Bloomberg recently reversed his long-standing position on the city's term limits law and said last week he would seek to change it and run again.
The former CEO cited the Wall Street meltdown as the reason he believes he should stay on and guide the city through the storm, even though he began privately considering a third term months before the economy took a dive.
The council will not vote Tuesday. Each bill must have hearings and proceed through a committee before going up before all 51 members. But all sides were already jockeying for support at City Hall on Monday at a closed-door meeting of the body's Democratic majority.
Before the meeting, some members who oppose Bloomberg's attempt to change the law legislatively, rather than with voter support, denounced the effort as nothing more than a vanity campaign. They pledged to rally others to their side. "You're going to see a debate in the hall starting today," said Councilman Bill de Blasio.
Lawmakers who oppose Bloomberg's plans to modify the law without voter approval have drawn up a bill that would require any term limit change to be done by voter referendum only.
Backers plan to introduce the bill Tuesday, just as Bloomberg's supporters are set to introduce legislation that would change the law and allow three consecutive four-year terms for the mayor, council members and several other offices.
Elected officials are now limited to two terms, and as Bloomberg neared his final year in office, he struggled with what he wanted to do next. After deciding earlier this year against an independent White House bid, Bloomberg recently reversed his long-standing position on the city's term limits law and said last week he would seek to change it and run again.
The former CEO cited the Wall Street meltdown as the reason he believes he should stay on and guide the city through the storm, even though he began privately considering a third term months before the economy took a dive.
The council will not vote Tuesday. Each bill must have hearings and proceed through a committee before going up before all 51 members. But all sides were already jockeying for support at City Hall on Monday at a closed-door meeting of the body's Democratic majority.
Before the meeting, some members who oppose Bloomberg's attempt to change the law legislatively, rather than with voter support, denounced the effort as nothing more than a vanity campaign. They pledged to rally others to their side. "You're going to see a debate in the hall starting today," said Councilman Bill de Blasio.
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