Last week's mayoral election was closer than anyone could have expected. While Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg eked out a five point lead over Democrat William Thompson Jr. to clinch the election Tuesday night, he seems unphased by the slim margin, a lead of only about 50,000 votes. The sixty-seven year old mayor, estimated to be worth $17.5 billion, announced this to be a "great week" at the Yankees World Series victory parade and seems confident heading into his next term.

Regardless of political opinion, this was a notable election in many ways. Bloomberg broke national records for both private campaign funding (he poured nearly $100 million from his personal fortune into his campaign), but also for re-election to a third consecutive term, an unprecedented move that required an amendment from the City Council. Many New Yorkers are now up in arms over what they see as a wealthy business man essentially buying himself a third term. New York City gossip blog Gawker reflected this opinion in their anti-endorsement saying, “[Bloomberg] has been unable to win any political battle with anyone he couldn’t literally buy off… He is personally a jerk. He is a thin-skinned, unpleasant, sanctimonious asshole…”

Despite this virulent criticism, Bloomberg has plenty to show for his first two terms in office. Shortly after winning his first term in 2001 with a margin of only three points, the mayor’s office quickly went to work gaining control of the public school system and banning smoking in restaurants and bars. Under his watch, test scores have steadily increased and crime rates continued to drop. Recent medical studies concerning the dangers of secondhand smoke have also made his battle for public health appear increasingly attractive. While some of his more ambitious dreams, particularly a massive football stadium on the Upper West Side of Manhattan intended to win the 2012 summer Olympics bid for New York, have gone unrealized, the mayor has gained a reputation for pushing through legislative opposition standing in the way of his agenda.

Many Democratic leaders believe the five point margin is a sign that Bloomberg needs to change the tone of his administration. Aides who served the mayor during the first two terms are leaving and Bloomberg has announced intentions to change the heads of various agencies. "I am who I am, I say what I believe," said Bloomberg. "My only focus is to try to make this city better."