By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Voters don't like public officials who defy voters, as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is finding out.

Background: Bloomberg recently convinced the City Council to overturn the city's voter-approved two-term limit so he could run again for mayor in 2009.

Now comes the deserved payback for the billionaire's haughty approach to governing.

A Marist College survey this week showed Bloomberg's approval rating had dropped 9 percentage points -- to 59 percent -- in just one month.

Bloomberg still has plenty of money to fend off Democratic attacks in the upcoming election. But even with pocketfuls of cash, Bloomberg may take a further hit in the weeks ahead, especially if he continues to have his "voter be damned" approach to government.

Potential Bloomberg opponents should be recording the stupid, anti-Democratic things he's saying.

Last month Bloomberg said NYC residents needed his deft touch at the helm during the ongoing financial crisis: "I don't think the city needs another campaign."

Spoken like a true politician who doesn't want to muddy his hands with actually campaigning for office.