Advocate ‘circus’
Many pols eye run for the public city office
Who isn’t considering a run for public advocate?
With Public Advocate Letitia James likely to become the next attorney general, the citywide position may become vacant this January — and a swarm of pols are already eyeing the nonpartisan special election that will likely be called to fill it.
James on Thursday won the Democratic primary for attorney general, and is favored to beat Republican Keith Wofford in November.
Among the likely hopefuls for her seat are two former City Council speakers, sources say. A source close to Melissa MarkViverito told the Daily News she is seriously considering a bid. Another source said Christine Quinn, who preceded Mark-Viverito as speaker, is also mulling a run.
Some Democrats have speculated that the strongest contender for the public advocate spot could be Councilman Jumaane Williams, fresh off a strong showing in the race for lieutenant governor Thursday night.
While Williams came up short in his bid to unseat Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, he put on a much stronger showing than the rest of his slate, largely thanks to support within the city — bringing in 166,924 votes in Brooklyn alone.
Williams isn’t the only Council member in the mix.
So, too, is Councilman Ritchie Torres, the chairman of the Council’s investigations committee, who said the field was likely to be a “circus.”
“I’m considering it, but no final decision,” Torres said. “The overarching question for me is: Where would I be most effective?”
Torres noted he may have more oversight authority in his role in the Council — and that the public advocate’s office has a budget set by the mayor, whose administration he has criticized.
Mayor de Blasio held the job before becoming mayor, and itg is widely viewed as a steppingstone to City Hall.
Councilman Robert Cornegy said Friday he was launching an exploratory committee.
“Over the next few weeks, I will be traveling borough to borough, speaking with constituents to hear what they are looking for in their next public advocate,” he said.
City Council members Rafael Espinal (D-Brooklyn) and Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) have previously said they were also thinking of running for the seat.
It’s not just Democrats in the Council — Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) is also considering a run. The special election will be nonpartisan — and if enough Democrats get into the race without voters rallying around one or two, a Republican candidate could find a path to victory.
“I think the public deserves someone in government giving things a second look, from a different perspective,” Borelli said. “It’s fundamental to democracy.”
Other names swirling around among Democrats include Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
"Adams is honored that so many of his fellow New Yorkers have expressed their desire for him to bring his public service to a citywide platform,” Adams spokesman Stefan Ringel said, adding that Adams would “continue to listen to the voices of his neighbors” but that his main priority was electing Democrats this November.
At least one beep isn’t looking to make a go of it — Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., widely thought of as a mayoral contender in 2021, is not interested in the public advocate seat, his spokesman John DeSio said.
The candidates will have to run the race at a frenetic pace.
James would vacate the office in January should she be sworn in as attorney general. From there, the city Charter requires the mayor to call a special election within three days — which would be held just about 45 days later, allowing for the date to be moved a week or two to avoid holidays and land on a Tuesday.
The victor would then have to run again in a primary and general election in 2019 in order to hold the seat through the end of James’ term, which ends in 2021.