Third term’s a charm

The third term’s a charm in New York, now that the City Council has voted 29-22 to extend term limits for the themselves, the Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate and the Borough Presidents.
The vote, on Thursday, October 23, came about an hour after the Council voted down an amendment that would have called for a public vote in a special election to endorse their move. The amendment was voted down by the same 29-22 count.
Councilmembers who claimed to be undecided all voted in favor of the measure, “Intro 845,” which changed the City Charter to allow “three full consecutive terms.” The law also allows for repeal by a popular referendum.
Of the Queens delegation to the council, only James Sanders and Thomas White, who had been undecided in a Courier poll, changed their votes – to yes.
Three Queens councilmembers who are running for state office this year, Joesph Addabbo, James Gennaro and Hiram Monserrate all voted no.
Both Monserrate, who is running unopposed, and Gennaro, who is in a tough campaign to unseat Senator Frank Padavan, previously pledged not to run for a third term even if the law passed.
Addabbo, a Senate candidate for the seat held by Serphin Maltese, refused to say whether he would run. “I’m all about this year’s election,” he told The Courier recently. “I fully expect to win.”