A judge has tossed out a lawsuit challenging Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bid for a third term, clearing the way for the billionaire mayor to run for another four years in office.
Judge Charles Sifton said the lawsuit's claim that the mayor and current second-term City Council members merely want to maintain their hold on power has no foundation in the record.
In his ruling, Sifton said it was not a conflict of interest for lawmakers to vote to extend their own terms.
The lawsuit challenged on constitutional grounds plans by Bloomberg to run for a third term as mayor. It was filed by the city's comptroller, its public advocate, several council members and various citizens.
Bloomberg recently signed a bill into law that changed the city's term-limits rules, thus allowing him to run for another term in 2009.
Bloomberg maintains that his business savvy will help guide the city through the economic downturn.
