Term Limits Create Permanent Campaigning In NYC

The campaign business is booming here in the city with a plethora of candidates gearing up for a shot at the Mayoral, Comptroller, Public Advocate and many other races to represent New Yorkers in some fashion. Term limits are forcing dozens of officials out of their jobs in 2009 and their potential replacements are working hard for the chance to take their place.

Many of them are already serving New York City in some fashion. Council members are running for city wide positions and a whole new crop will aspire to be in the 51 member City Council. Familiar names in your own neighborhood are raising money at record levels in order to be known city-wide. Thirty months before the election, candidates have raised almost $7 million dollars combined. That is an increase of $5 million in just two election cycles.

No matter what you think of the money, advocates of the term limits may not have achieved the equality of candidates they had dreamt of. State and Federal legislators have a definite advantage over their local NYC counterparts. They have no limit on their current office, allowing them substantial flexibility. It'll be interesting to see how this develops over the next two and half years. This might make New Yorkers crazy with a long race while we still have a national election to look forward to next year, but you won't hear any campaign staff complaining.