NEW YORK, NY December 02, 2008 —Candidates running for city council for the first time are suing the city's Campaign Finance Board, saying it is favoring incumbent council members who decided to run for re-election after the term limits law was changed.

The board is allowing those council members to keep money they had raised to run for higher office. Joanne Simon, one of the plaintiffs, is running for David Yassky's council seat.

YASSKY: We would like that all candidates participate in the campaign finance program and we just want to ensure that the playing field is level for all candidates.

REPORTER: Simon says if Councilman Yassky decides to run for re-election, instead of for city comptroller, he will have far more money in his war chest than she is allowed to raise for HER campaign.

A spokesman for the city's Campaign Finance Board says it's reviewing the lawsuit.