By New York Times
William C. Thompson Jr. has put it in writing: He’s running for mayor.
In documents filed Wednesday afternoon with the city’s Campaign Finance Board, Mr. Thompson, the city’s comptroller, formally designated himself as a candidate for mayor, said an aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information is not yet public.
By checking the mayor’s box on the fund-raising forms, Mr. Thompson is “putting to rest any doubts about his plans,” the aide said. “He is running for mayor.”
Mr. Thompson, a Democrat who is the city’s chief financial officer, was roundly expected to drop out of the mayor’s race after the city’s term limits were extended this fall, clearing a path for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to seek re-election. Many predicted that the comptroller, a low-key, mild-mannered politician, did not have the stomach to take on Mr. Bloomberg.
Instead, Mr. Thompson has begun waging an unexpectedly aggressive campaign for mayor. Over the last month, he has created a Web site, held a series of fund-raisers and lashed out at Mr. Bloomberg in combative speeches.
In his filings with the campaign finance board, Mr. Thompson will report that he has raised roughly $5 million, or about $6.1 million with matching funds from the city. That would put him slightly behind his probable Democratic rival, Representative Anthony D. Weiner, who has raised $5.1 million, or about $6.6 million with matching funds.
Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire, is expected to vastly outspend both rivals; he has vowed to use at least $80 million of his personal fortune to stay in office.
Mr. Thompson’s fund-raising expenses dwarfed those of his Democratic peers during the last campaign finance reporting period. The comptroller held several expensive fund-raisers at high-end hotels in New York and Florida.
During the most recent reporting period, which ended this week, Mr. Thompson focused on raising smaller amounts of money at modest events, like an Upper East Bar called Evolve, aides said.
Mr. Thompson’s campaign finance filings will clear the way for candidates seeking his current office to push ahead with their campaigns. At least three members of the City Council, David Yassky, David I. Weprin and Melinda R. Katz, have announced their intention to run for comptroller, a citywide elected office.
