The Public Advocate's office, though not well-defined, gave the current incumbent, Mark Green, a platform for raising his visibility and launching his campaign for mayor. The winner of this year's election will automatically become a major voice in the city's political discourse as well as a potential candidate for higher office. Each of the major candidates would reshape the public advocate's office in ways that conform to his or her past experience. Stephen DiBrienza, who is chairman of the council's General Welfare Committee, sees the job as the city's "chief of research and development." He would use the office's legislative role-the public advocate presides over the City Council-to investigate systemic problems in city government. Betsy Gotbaum, who has served under three mayors, wants to expand the public advocate's ombudsman role so that she can work with the new mayor and other city officials "to make government work better." Norman Siegel, who ran the New York Civil Liberties Union for 15 years, wants to turn the office into a combination of an inspector general's office and a public interest law firm. He would send hundreds of private lawyers working pro bono into housing projects to listen to complaints. And Scott Stringer, who cut his political teeth on Upper West Side politics, wants to use the office as a "soapbox" for playing a role in such issues as education, housing, transportation and planning. Political observers say the contest will likely be decided by TV ads and endorsements from unions, politicians and especially newspapers, which are very influential in races that get little attention.
The Public Advocate's office, though not well-defined, gave the current incumbent, Mark Green, a platform for raising his visibility and launching his campaign for mayor. The winner of this year's election will automatically become a major voice in the city's political discourse as well as a potential candidate for higher office. Each of the major candidates would reshape the public advocate's office in ways that conform to his or her past experience. Stephen DiBrienza, who is chairman of the council's General Welfare Committee, sees the job as the city's "chief of research and development." He would use the office's legislative role-the public advocate presides over the City Council-to investigate systemic problems in city government. Betsy Gotbaum, who has served under three mayors, wants to expand the public advocate's ombudsman role so that she can work with the new mayor and other city officials "to make government work better." Norman Siegel, who ran the New York Civil Liberties Union for 15 years, wants to turn the office into a combination of an inspector general's office and a public interest law firm. He would send hundreds of private lawyers working pro bono into housing projects to listen to complaints. And Scott Stringer, who cut his political teeth on Upper West Side politics, wants to use the office as a "soapbox" for playing a role in such issues as education, housing, transportation and planning. Political observers say the contest will likely be decided by TV ads and endorsements from unions, politicians and especially newspapers, which are very influential in races that get little attention.