Friday, September 28, 2001

Giuliani obtains support for term extension
By Shannon McCaffrey
Associated Press

NEW YORK — Rudolph Giuliani obtained the support of two of the three mayoral candidates Thursday for a plan that would allow him to stay on at City Hall for an extra three months while he guides the city through the aftermath of World Trade Center attack.

Democrat Mark Green and Republican Michael Bloomberg agreed to go along with Giuliani’s proposal, which would postpone the new mayor’s inauguration until April.

Green “told the mayor that he would support legislation delaying the inauguration for up to three months, given the unprecedented World Trade Center catastrophe, the urgent need for a seamless transition and the importance of a united city,” Green spokesman Joe DePlasco said.

Giuliani said at a news conference that he had met with Bloomberg and that the Republican agreed to it immediately. The Bloomberg campaign confirmed its support for the deal.

Giuliani, a Republican, said he had yet to meet with the third candidate — Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, who will face Green in an Oct. 11 runoff for the Democratic nomination for mayor. Ferrer’s campaign did not respond to calls seeking comment on the candidate’s position.

Giuliani, who is supposed to leave office Dec. 31 because of term limits, said Wednesday he was discussing a plan with candidates vying for his job that would “unify the city” and provide him some role in New York’s recovery from the World Trade Center attack.

Giuliani has been acclaimed for his leadership since the Sept. 11 attack and has been urged by some New Yorkers to stay on to help guide the city through the crisis.

Various ideas have been floated about a Giuliani role. They include a three-month extension of his term, overturning city term limits to allow him to seek a full third termor giving him some kind of position in charge of recovery operations.

Giuliani made his strongest comments about his intentions in an interview broadcast Wednesday night on CBS’ “60 Minutes II.” He said he was open to the idea of staying past the end of his term if New Yorkers wanted him to stay.

“I want to do something that unifies the city because I love this city,” the mayor said.

Earlier in the day, Giuliani called Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to seek the powerful Democrat’s support on legislation that would extend his term.

Only the state Legislature or the Democratic-led City Council can overturn term limits.

While there has been support in the GOP-led state Senate, the Democratic-controlled Assembly has given it a cool reception.

She said Silver told Giuliani in their phone call Wednesday that he would bring it up with Assembly members. No date was set for such a discussion.