The city's public advocate position acts as a go-between, monitoring the public information and complaint programs of city agencies and investigating and trying to resolve complaints about city agencies. If the mayor is absent, the public advocate acts as the mayor and would serve as the mayor in case of a vacancy until a special election is held.
The public advocate presides over city council meetings and can sponsor legislation. The public advocate earns an annual salary of $165,000.
Here are the candidates running for New York City Public Advocate:
Bill de Blasio
Maura DeLuca
William J. Lee
Jim Lesczynski
The non-partisan video voter guide is a partnership between the voter assistance commission, WNBC, NYC-TV and the campaign finance board. Some candidate for public office declined to participate. To see a transcript of the video voter guide in English and other languages, please go to www.nyc.gov/videovoterguide. All translations will be be available by Sept. 1, 2009
