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07/13/2010 12:02 AM

Charter Commission Zeroes In On Term Limits

By: Grace Rauh

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With plans to do away with political primaries on the back burner, the city's Charter Revision Commission is focusing on term limits and moving ahead with plans to put the issue before voters this fall. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.

When voters head to the polls this fall they can expect to weigh in on term limits for city officials. New Yorkers twice voted in favor of a two-term limit, but in 2008 the City Council along with Mayor Michael Bloomberg approved an extension, allowing the mayor and many other lawmakers to run for a third term.

"There are a number of issues that need to be addressed if we are going to restore people's faith in government and term limits is at the top of the list," said Charter Revision Commissioner Anthony Perez Cassino.

The panel is still debating whether to ask voters to approve a two-term limit, a three-term limit, or a mix of the two for city officials, with the mayor limited to two terms, and City Council members allowed to serve three.

At Monday's commission meeting, the idea of having no term limits at all was also floated.

"I would love to see the possibility of putting on the ballot another option, which is not having term limits at all," said Charter Revision Commissioner Hope Cohen.

The commission is also mulling a plan to prevent a repeat of the 2008 term limit extension. Voters could be asked to block the mayor and City Council from ever again extending term limits for their own immediate benefit.

When asked about the proposal Monday, Mayor Bloomberg cautioned against restricting the Council's authority to override a voter referendum, as it did in the term limits case.

"California is the only state in the union that has referendums but no ability for the legislature to override public referendums. I think it’s fair to say, most Californians would agree with me, that it is not working," said the mayor.

Bloomberg added though that he sees the other side of the issue as well.

Term limits has so far eclipsed talk of moving forward on one of the mayor's causes to do away with partisan political primaries in favor of non partisan elections.

"I haven't heard much passion for taking this on at this particular time. There are other issues that have more center stage," said Charter Revision Commission Chairman Matthew Goldstein.

Despite their likely absence this fall, partisan elections will be up for debate at the commission's next meeting.

Proponents of the plan hope the discussion sets the stage for a change down the road.