The Race To Be Useless

Adozen or so candidates are off and running in the race to replace Public Advocate Tish James — that is, to assume the most useless office in city government.

At a cost to taxpayers of $3 million a year, the office’s chief function is to hold press conferences and plan the occupant’s next political campaign. Every advocate but one has spent his or her tenure running for a higher position.

And why not? The post has few actual responsibilities, so there’s no pressure to actually achieve anything.

That’s why several councilmembers have introduced legislation to abolish the office. Good luck: Among those opposed is Mayor de Blasio, who used the job as a springboard to his current one.

And even if the bill passes, voters must still approve the change via public referen- dum, so the post will last until at least 2021.

That leaves the city facing a nonpartisan special election. City Councilman Jumaane Williams just jumped to the head of the pack with endorsements from the Working Families Party and other progressive powers.

Third time the charm? In the last few months, Williams failed first to become council speaker, then to win Democrats’ lieutenant-governor nomination. He plainly wants a new job — whatever he can get.

Note, too, that even the folks who want the post don’t seem to know what it entails: At a candidate forum this week, former Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito vowed to conduct investigations using the office’s subpoena power — which doesn’t exist.

Forget all the grand promises: We’ll back the candidate who vows to help eliminate this joke of an office.