Letitia James wins NYC Democratic public advocate runoff
NBC NEW YORK - Councilwoman Letitia James won the Democratic public advocate runoff on Tuesday, becoming the party's nominee and all but assuring she will become the city's elected watchdog, and the first black woman to hold citywide office...
Councilwoman Letitia James won the Democratic public advocate runoff on Tuesday, becoming the party’s nominee and all but assuring she will become the city’s elected watchdog, and the first black woman to hold citywide office.
James defeated state Sen. Daniel Squadron in incomplete and unofficial returns and faces a general election next month without a Republican opponent.
James and Squadron were the top two finishers in the Sept. 10 primary, but neither eclipsed the 40 percent threshold that would have avoided the costly runoff. The winners of the higher-profile mayoral and comptroller primary contests stayed above that mark, meaning the race to fill the little-understood public advocate position was the only one on the ballot.
“Over the weeks and months this has been an intense journey but one worth taking,” James said in her victory speech. “There’s so much more work to do because the next generation of New Yorkers are at risk of losing the opportunities that allowed us to make it in this city.”
The public advocate position has little real power and an annual budget of just $2.1 million, a small fraction of the $13 million it cost the city to hold the runoff, which was required by law.
But the post has become a springboard to higher office. The current public advocate, Bill de Blasio, is the Democratic nominee for mayor. He did not endorse anyone in the runoff.
De Blasio was one of many public officials who called for reforms to the costly runoff system.
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