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NY allows Bloomberg new mayor bid

The city council in New York has voted to extend the limits on officials' terms of office, allowing Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run for re-election.

Mr Bloomberg was due to stand down after his second term in office, which under current rules would be his last, at the end of next year.

The billionaire businessman had asked for the law to be overturned.

He said the financial crisis on Wall Street and his record as mayor meant he deserved the chance to re-run.

The 51-member city council supported the change by 29 votes to 22.

Twice during the 1990s, voters voiced their support for limiting city politicians to a maximum of eight years in office.

But the BBC's Matthew Wells in New York says many on the council were also approaching the end of their second four-year terms and the mayor was favoured to get his way.

Now the two-thirds of council members who have had to step down at the November 2009 elections will be able to stand for re-election.

Mr Bloomberg earlier denied that backroom deals had been made, and said the economic downturn was the main factor.

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Originally posted by Geezer:
So screw what the voters want. We politicians know what's best for them.

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Originally posted by Kirkules:
The whole point of term limits is to negate the enormous advantage of incumbency. Without term limits 90%+ politicians would be in for life.

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