Warren voters have decided to extend the term limits for the office of mayor.Voters were asked if they wanted to amend the city charter to allow the office of mayor to serve five, four-year terms or 20 years instead of serve three, four-year terms or 12 years. The extension did not apply to the city clerk or city treasurer, both of whom are term-limited to three, four-year terms or 12 years in office.With 100% of the vote, it passed with 53% approval.This was supposed to be Warren Mayor Jim Fouts' last four-year term in office after he was elected in November.If the measure passes, Fouts would be eligible to serve two more four-year terms. Fouts previously told the Free Press that he did not propose city council's resolution to put the measure on the ballot, but that he was "certainly not opposed to it."Fouts previously said he had no plans for re-election, but hadn't ruled out the possibility. He has said he is against term limits in … [Read more...] about Warren voters decide to extend mayoral term limits
Mayor term limit
Term limits battle over possible Mayor Bloomberg run for a third term heats up
The battle over Mayor Bloomberg's plan to give himself a third term in office heated up Monday with more supporters and opponents falling into line - raising the possibility that Thursday's planned City Council vote will be delayed.The city's powerful police union gave its grudging support to the plan, while healthcare union 1199 SEIU came out against it.Billionaire Tom Golisano also said he would launch ads as soon as Tuesday calling for the decision to be made by voters, not the Council, since the two-term limit was twice supported by voters in the 1990s.RELATED: THOMPSON CALLS BLOOMBERG A 3RD-TERM BULLY"The people have spoken twice," the Rochester billionaire said. "Is there anything more democratic than the people making this decision? And now the City Council wants to violate the will of the people. To maintain the spirit of democracy, there should be at least another public referendum."He also said that while Bloomberg has been a great mayor, term limits were a necessary check on … [Read more...] about Term limits battle over possible Mayor Bloomberg run for a third term heats up
‘I favor term limits,’ sez Bloomberg
You won't have Mayor Bloomberg to kick around anymore."I favor term limits, and I'm looking forward to being mayor through midnight on Dec. 31, '09, and then doing something else," the mayor said Monday. "I'm not seeking a third term. That's correct." They were Bloomberg's first comments since the Daily News reported Sunday that some of his advisers considered overturning the city's term limits law so he could run again. In the past year, people close to the mayor have also tried to promote him as a future President, vice president and governor - but he insisted he wants to be known for giving his fortune away. "I'll probably wind up in philanthropy," Bloomberg said. "I give away $225-odd million a year, and there's an awful lot of ways to change the world, be involved. And I think you can contribute a lot by really working hard at it, and I will do it." In answering questions about his plans, though, Bloomberg twice mentioned golf. "One of the things I would love to do is spend some … [Read more...] about ‘I favor term limits,’ sez Bloomberg
Bloomberg aides plotting path around term limits, source says
Aides to Mayor Bloomberg discussed finding a way for the popular mayor to get around term limits so he could seek another four years in City Hall, a source said Saturday. But while the Bloomberg administration has talked about revising the City Charter on term limits, the mayor has not committed to the idea, the source said. A spokesman for the mayor said Bloomberg promises to abide by the law, which limits elected city officials to two four-year terms in office. "The mayor is absolutely not seeking a third term," said Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser. Asked if the mayor would promise to leave at the end of 2009, Loeser replied, "Yes." Bloomberg has often expressed support for term limits, which voters approved in ballot referendums in 1993 and again in 1996. "The mayor has repeatedly said that the current term limit is the will of the voters," said Jeff Simmons, spokesman for City Controller Bill Thompson, a potential mayoral candidate. "We take him at his word." … [Read more...] about Bloomberg aides plotting path around term limits, source says
Bloomberg’s nice, term limits nicer: poll
New Yorkers like Mike - but they like having a new mayor even more. Mayor Bloomberg tops the latest Quinnipiac University poll of who should be elected mayor next year, towering above other candidates at 38%. Term limits bar the mayor from running again - and 65% of voters oppose changing the limits, as Bloomberg has considered trying to do. When asked specifically if they would support extending term limits so Bloomberg could run again, 56% of voters said no - and 55% agreed with the statement, "Changing the rules in the middle of the game is unfair." Quinnipiac poll director Maurice Carroll said city voters seem to have no problem holding two seemingly contradictory opinions at the same time. "It's a little inconsistent, but you can understand both sentiments," Carroll said. "It would be nice if he could stay around, but no, we shouldn't change the rules." Bloomberg has flirted with running for governor and has tried to position himself as a potential vice … [Read more...] about Bloomberg’s nice, term limits nicer: poll
Term-limited Bill de Blasio joins Brooklyn borough race
A second politician who will be forced from the City Council by term limits in 2009 has reportedly said he will run for Brooklyn borough president. City Councilman Bill de Blasio (D-Park Slope) joins Councilman Charles Barron (D-East New York) in vying for the post. Current Borough President Marty Markowitz is also facing a term-limit deadline that year, and is considering a run for mayor. De Blasio, who managed the 2000 campaign of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), lost an election for Council speaker last year. Join the Conversation: … [Read more...] about Term-limited Bill de Blasio joins Brooklyn borough race
Term limits to boot 36 members of City Council
The specter of term limits is once again haunting City Hall. The topic is especially disturbing to the 51 members of the City Council. Unless the current term limits law is changed, 36 of the 51 Council incumbents would be forced out of their $112,500-a-year seats come Dec. 31, 2009. The other 15 were elected more recently and won't be affected in 2009. Barring a change, the Council is facing a 70.5% turnover, whereas in normal election years it loses one or two incumbents at most. In 2005, it lost just one - the scandal-plagued Allan Jennings of Queens. Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan), who is among the 36 term-limited incumbents, was nudged into discussing term limits by a question from the audience at an Association for a Better New York breakfast. The questioner wanted to know whether the huge turnover in 2009 will allow unqualified people to flood into office. Quinn noted there were similar "predictions of doom and gloom" when the term-limits law kicked … [Read more...] about Term limits to boot 36 members of City Council
Quinn: Never say never on tweaking council term limits
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn Wednesday refused to rule out extending the eight-year term limit for Council members."We haven't taken a final decision yet on what we're doing on term limits," Quinn said. "We obviously, myself and my colleagues, have to come to a final decision soon."Of the 51 Council members, Quinn and 34 others will be forced out by term limits at the end of 2009 unless city law is changed to allow members to serve an additional four years.The Council could amend the law itself through legislation or could opt to request a voter referendum.Voters approved term-limits referendums in 1993 and 1996, and polls - including one taken by the Council last year - continue to show a majority supports retaining the existing term limits.Several Council members say extending term limits is unlikely. Many incumbents already are campaigning for higher offices, including Quinn, who is gearing up to run for mayor.Quinn made her comments after delivering a major … [Read more...] about Quinn: Never say never on tweaking council term limits
MIKE NIXES CHANGING TERM LIMIT LEGISLATION
DECLARING "CHANGE is good," Mayor Bloomberg voiced strong opposition yesterday to changing the law limiting City Council members to eight years in office. "The public has spoken twice and they've spoken quite clearly - I don't know that you should keep shopping for a different answer," said Bloomberg, referring to term limit referendums passed in 1993 and 1996. The mayor's remarks come one day after aides to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) disclosed that she commissioned an opinion poll on term limits, signaling the first step in a potential move to alter the law. Sandra Mullin, Quinn's communications director, said yesterday, "The speaker has long said she is interested in extending term limits and will work with members to explore possible options." Bloomberg said the benefits of term limits outweigh the drawbacks. "The little you lose in experience you more than make up in terms of fresh ideas - I don't know of any company that would allow their people … [Read more...] about MIKE NIXES CHANGING TERM LIMIT LEGISLATION
COUNCIL’S NEW SPEAKER AIMS AT TERM LIMITS
CHRISTINE QUINN WILL take over as the new City Council speaker today - and begin planning a legislative agenda that includes extending term limits for Council members from eight years to 12. After winning a selection process dominated by the Democratic county bosses, Quinn, 39, is set to be officially elected speaker when the 51-member Council meets at noon. She will make history as the Council's first female - and first openly gay - speaker. "I think it sends a great message," she said, on the eve of succeeding the term-limited Gifford Miller as City Hall's second-most-powerful elected official. The doling out of committee chairmanships won't be done until Jan. 18. The posts - which add from $4,000 to $29,500 to a Council member's $90,000 salary - were used as bargaining chips during the jockeying for speaker. Among the purported changes being contemplated by Quinn is naming Brooklyn City Councilman Erik Martin Dilan head of the Housing and Buildings Committee. That would … [Read more...] about COUNCIL’S NEW SPEAKER AIMS AT TERM LIMITS