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November 11, 2008 10:30 AM
Gibson Dunn's Mastro Leads Term Limits Suit Against Bloomberg
Posted by Ed Shanahan
From The Am Law Litigation Daily
A diverse group of folks has filed a suit against New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, challenging the constitutionality of the recently passed legislation that will permit him to run for a third term. The coalition suing the mayor includes elected officials, private citizens, and public interest groups. Not surprisingly, one of the group's lawyers is Randy Mastro of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, who once served as Rudy Giuliani's deputy mayor. As we reported last month, Mastro first signed on to represent two City Council members who had filed a petition for a temporary restraining order to halt the Council's October 23 vote.
Given his loyalty to Giuliani, Mastro's work on the legal campaign to block Bloomberg's efforts had already raised eyebrows even before he coauthored the coalition's complaint. "If Mastro succeeds in derailing Bloomberg's plan for another four years, he'd embarrass [Bloomberg]," wrote Jacob Gershman in a recent New York magazine story. "Taking Bloomberg down a peg could only help Giuliani, who's positioning himself to mount a comeback by seeking to unseat [New York governor] David Paterson in 2010."
In the same article, one veteran political operative jokingly described Mastro as the "Luca Brasi" of the term limits operation. But Mastro denied that his firm's pro bono work in support of term limits was influenced by his ties to Giuliani. "It has nothing to do with anyone I worked for in the past," Mastro told the magazine.
Mastro sees the term-limits move by Bloomberg and the Council members supporting it as "an assault on our democracy," he told The Am Law Daily last month.
The complaint also lists Gibson attorneys Jim Walden, Richard Bierschbach, and Gabriel Herrmann, and solo practitioner Norman Siegel. Lovells attorney Pieter Van Tol is listed as counsel to the New York Public Interest Group.
Download Term Limits Complaint
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There does not seem to be much difference between what Hitler did to gain power and what Bloomberg is doing. If Mr. Bloomberg thinks with his large ego that he is the only one to save NYC, then why cant he volunteer his services. I am sure that if another person was mayor they would listen to his advice. Or is it the 1st rule of power, which is to keep it. A referendum is the voice of the people, which in the past Mr. Bloomberg was all for. That is until it got in the way of his ambitions. Dictator: a person exercising absolute power, esp. a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession. One who imposes or favors absolute obedience to authority. A ruler who is unconstrained by law.
Does it sound familiar Mr. Bloomberg, or should people start calling you mien fuehrer instead of mayor.
Comment By Ogel - November 11, 2008 at 2:44 PM