Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s bid to run for a third term got the “all-clear” Thursday when the City Council voted to allow term limits to be extended from 8 to 12 years. The council voted 29-22 in favor of the extension.

The Mayor had the following to say: “Today, the majority of the City Council decided to give the people of New York a fuller choice in the November, 2009 election.  I believe that was the right choice, and I want to thank Speaker Quinn for her leadership.  Those of us who work on both sides of City Hall must now move forward with the important decisions that face us, particularly finding ways to soften the fallout from the economic downturn and balancing our budget as revenues decline.  We have a lot of work to do together to get New York through these tough times.”

Bloomberg’s quest survived its first test when the City Council’s Committee on Government Operations voted it overwhelmingly out of committee earlier Thursday.

“I voted yes because this might be the last time to do something that’s in the best interest of NYC,” said Councilman Peter Vallone Jr.

It is a controversial issue that has generated a lot of high decibel opposition.

The debate over the mayor’s proposal is complicated by Bloomberg’s current popularity and the fact that term limits were enacted through public referendums in 1993 and 1996. So, while some consider it an argument against Bloomberg’s performance in office, others consider the very idea of term limits to be primary issue.

Others are open to changing the law, but believe it should only happen through another public vote. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is backing the mayor’s plan. She said she thinks the current economic crisis makes it more important to keep experienced leaders in place. She predicted it would pass, and pointed out that she, the mayor, and other Council members facing the end of their second terms would still have to stand for re-election to stay on.

Opponents, though, are hopeful that if they can’t stop the Council from voting on the term limit change, a court would rule against the move. Brooklyn Councilwoman Letitia James was among several in the Council who asked a state court judge to block the Council’s schedule vote on Thursday. The judge declined, but suggested the complainants might challenge the vote in court after it takes place. James said that’s exactly what she’ll do if it passes.

(WCBSTV)