Parsons to Bloomberg on 2009 Mayoral Race: "You're It"

Time Warner chairman Richard Parsons, rumored to be one of big business’s top hopes to run for mayor in 2009, has definitively denied that he will be throwing his hat into the ring, reports NY Magazine. 'I’ve never woken up a day in my life and said, ‘What I really want to be is mayor,’ ” Parsons said. Among those in favor of a Parsons candidacy was Bloomberg himself. While the mayor has said repeatedly that he has no interest in running for a third term, Parsons refused to let the issue die. The executive, sharing other business executives' sentiments, said, “My view is that Michael Bloomberg should be the mayor again, and we should work with him to change the term limits.”

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By Billy Parker in News on August 18, 2008 3:03 PM

Comments [rss]

JMH

"My guess is that no one really wants to be mayor in 2009 because the whole economy is crashing and it's finally starting to affect the city in a major way. It's like guaranteeing yourself a one-and-done term."

Anthony Weiner wants to be mayor; the problem is he's a terrible choice.

NannyState

Imagine Parsons standing next to Gov. Paterson: total body double.

jenspellnogood

term limits don't just prevent a candidate from running, they prevent them from serving.

EricGewiz

Long too long ago, in Long Beach, California, the outgoing mayor, because of term limits, was not on the ballot. However, she was victorious again as she was received enough write-in votes to beat the other candidates.

http://www.longbeach.gov/mayor/bio.asp

Now, I'm not saying that's going to happen here, but this anomaly has occurred before.

In any case, while I like Bloomberg as mayor, term limits do have precedence.

jenspellnogood

Parson's just proved why he isn't qualified to be Mayor with this example of piss poor judgment. Just another case of CEO's kissing each others asses.

bluerain

I agree with cwbuecheler totally. Someone with Bloomberg's savvy and luck could make a go of it, but not Richard Parsons.

BTW, just because RP said he's not going to run...doesn't mean he's not going to run.

This may be just a ploy to get placed in *gothamist*, right?

cwbuecheler

Just because a place has enjoyed relatively positive times during an administration's tenure is not a valid reason to call for a repeal of term limits. That's a ridiculously slippery slope to start down.

My guess is that no one really wants to be mayor in 2009 because the whole economy is crashing and it's finally starting to affect the city in a major way. It's like guaranteeing yourself a one-and-done term.

drewo

“My view is that Michael Bloomberg should be the mayor again, and we should work with him to change the term limits.”

Why not make him Emperor for life? Who really cares that New Yorkers voted for these term limits anyway? Twice.

What a maroon.