Tuesday, September 25, 2001

NYC mayor considers extending term
By Timothy Williams
Associated Press

NEW YORK — On the eve of New York City’s rescheduled mayoral primaries, outgoing Mayor Rudolph Giuliani left open the possibility Monday that he may try to stay in office beyond the end of his term.

Giuliani, a Republican who has won widespread praise for his resolute leadership following the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center, said he wants more time to think about his political future.

He urged people to vote on Tuesday — but not for him.

“My advice to them is vote and to choose among the candidates that are there,” Giuliani said. “I need time to reflect on what I’m going to do and it would not involve the primary anyway.”

The mayor cannot run for a third term this fall because of term limits approved by city voters. But many have said Giuliani ought to stay on to guide the city through the crisis, and aides who spoke on condition of anonymity said ideas being discussed include extending his term past its conclusion Dec. 31 or rescinding term limits altogether.

For Giuliani to continue serving, the Legislature and Republican Gov. 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 to lift term limits.

Neither scenario is likely. 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 in 1993.

The noncommittal announcement by non-candidate Giuliani was easily the biggest news Monday in a primary that was postponed a few hours after it began Sept. 11 because of the terrorist attack. With more than 6,400 people still missing, the candidates have had a difficult and delicate time stumping for votes.

All six — four Democrats and two Republicans — suspended campaigning after the attacks and resumed just last weekend.

Giuliani’s statements silenced the praise from the Democrats, who are intent on retaking City Hall in New York, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 5-to-1.

One of the leading Democratic candidates, Public Advocate Mark Green, said the mayor has urged residents to get back to normal, and “normalcy should include democracy and the resumption of constitutional regularity.”

The majority leader of the state Senate, Republican Joseph Bruno, said it would be unfair for Giuliani to entertain more time in office. “I was perfectly willing to contemplate that a week or 10 days ago, but it’s too late in this election cycle,” he said.