New York Mayor to seek a third term
New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is barred by law from running for re-election this autumn, is trying to extend his term in office.
‘‘He is going to make an announcement about his efforts to continue his term,’’ a source said today. The announcement in expected today, he said.
Giuliani, widely praised for his handling of the city since the terrorist attacks, is scheduled to leave office on December 31.
It was unclear whether the mayor would try to amend those laws so voters could elect him for a third term or whether he would try to extend his current term.
The mayoral primary, which was postponed after the terrorist attacks, is now set for tomorrow.
The mayoral election is on November 6.
For Giuliani to be eligible to continue serving beyond a second term, the Legislature and Republican Governor George Pataki would have to enact emergency legislation to extend his term, or the City Council and city voters would have to amend the City Charter.
Neither scenario is likely because mayoral candidate and City Council Speaker Peter Vallone - as well as top legislative leaders - have said they do not want to override city voters, who enacted the term limits law in 1993 and again in 1996.
A bid to repeal term limits failed in the City Council at committee level in March. Giuliani was a strong supporter of term limits when they were first considered in the early 1990s.
