Mayor Bloomberg and a large contingent of city council members are currently mulling over a possible plan to extend their current 8-year (2-term) limit in office by adding an additional 4-year term. Bloomberg was originally for term limits when he came into office, but as his adminstration’s expiration date rapidly approaches, he seems to be refining this position. Term limits only came into existence in NYC in the last decade when the citizens voted twice, in ‘93 and ‘96, for a 2-term limit on many elected positions including the Mayor, City Council, and others. It is suspected that if the council seeks to overturn the term limits it will do so not by consulting you, the voter, but through the passage of legislation voted upon by the very members whose political future it determines (this is within the council’s power, but it’s a move many worry will be wildly unpopular).

The council is split on this issue and where each member comes down is largely determined by what stage in his political career he’s at. Those members who are going to be forced out and have relatively few prospects for political advancement elsewhere in the city or state are calling for an extension of term limits (because, they argue, with 8 years of experience under their belts they are even better suited than before to continue fighting for you, the people). Members who were planning to run for political positions that, if term limits are extended, will no longer be up for grabs (ex: the Mayor’s seat, Comptroller’s seat, etc.) are calling for term limits to stand. Anything else they argue would be undemocratic and “a step towards dictatorship.”

Both those arguing for, and against, term limits appear to be doing so simply to advance their own careers (not out of any sense of representative responsibility). If the current term limits are going to be altered, the same group that voted for them in the first place should handle this task: the citizens of New York City. Another referendum would let the people, not the politicians, decide if they get to remain in their offices for 4 more years.

Photo by Flickr user RSeanes used under a Creative Commons license.