Adversaries of the bill extending term limits vowed yesterday that the fight will continue, calling on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to not sign what they described as a self-benefiting piece of legislation.

“You have a chance to redeem yourself and respect the people’s process,” Councilman Charles Barron said. “Don’t sign it. Don’t sign your bill.”

Barron, fellow council members Bill de Blasio and Letitia James, and likely mayoral candidates City Comptroller William Thompson and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), joined other opponents gathered on City Hall steps and threatened to file another suit if Bloomberg signs the bill.

“We’ve seen in history when voters’ rights have been ignored, we’ve gone and turned to the courts,” Thompson said. “We are standing again together to say we are going back to the courts for justice.”

The pending suit claims that the bill would violate constitutional rights and state and local laws requiring a voter referendum to change limits, said Randy Mastro, attorney for the group.

A copy of the complaint wasn’t released yesterday.

Bloomberg, who is expected to sign the bill Monday, and his supporters have maintained that the council can legally change the term-limit law.

His signature would come about a month after the bill was introduced then passed by the City Council in a 29-22 vote.

Since Bloomberg began an effort to seek four more years, various groups have filed lawsuits. At least two complaints are pending in federal and state courts.

James and de Blasio filed a petition last week that was denied in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. The complaint sought to stop the vote, claiming it would violate the city’s conflict of interest law.

The city Conflict of Interest Board, which is comprised of mayoral appointees, had already ruled there was no violation, though 35 of 51 council members are nearing the end of their two terms.

The opponents argued that voters’ rights were trampled when the decision to extend limits was determined by the council and not voters, who twice in the 1990s supported limits.

“It is my belief and my argument … that it is blatantly illegal,” James said. “The people have spoken twice on two separate voter referendums and to change the people’s will without the consent of the people is unconstitutional.”

After Bloomberg signs his bill, it has to be approved by the U.S. Justice Department, which will determine whether it violates the federal Voting Rights Act.

Source: Newsday