Norman Siegel, Public Advocate Running For The Job He Already Does

In this 24/7, 365 days a year world of campaigning, the candidates are already shaping up for the city's next election in 2009. One of those offices that will be looked at besides the Mayor's race is for Public Advocate. For far too long, no one in that office has really looked out for the citizens of New York City. Norman Siegel has done a fantastic job of it, despite not having the official title. So in addition to mole333 at Daily Gotham, I would like to advocate for Norm's bid to take the seat two years from now. Here's what mole333 had to say.

From The Daily Gotham:

Many people are speculating who is going to be running. Names I have heard kicked around include Chris Owens (now eyeing Brooklyn BP), David Yassky (who really should run for Marty Connor's senate seat, many believe), and Marty Markowitz (who some people say should just give up the facade and go on Bruce Ratner's payroll).

But the name that most who really care about civil liberties are waiting to hear is Norm Siegel. Norm has run twice in the past. I have met him both times and found him to be the ideal man for the job. In fact, he has been our real public advocate for decades. He was Executive Director of the NY Civil Liberties union for 15 years. Since then, according to Democracy for NYC, he has done the following for New Yorkers:

Norman has advocated for and represented myriad groups including:

* the newly created Association of New York City Education Councils
* the Williamsburg community's right to keep its local firehouse open
* Prospect Heights, Brooklyn and Harlem communities working to stop the government from using eminent domain to take their homes for the enrichment of private developers
* firefighters and non-profits seeking the implementation of a skyscraper safety program and provisions for our firefighters to guarantee they have proper working communication equipment
* families who lost a loved one on September 11th, 2001, as they seek the public release of materials from that day, including 911 emergency tapes and transcripts (Norman argued this case in the New York Court of Appeals on February 9th).

Siegel already has a great record protecting citizens from big business, so there is no reason for him not to take the job for real. There are other great candidates that are positioning themselves to run, but Norman takes the cake.

I was able to see him live and in person at Democracy for New York City's Spring Bash last week and I was extremely impressed with his short speech. The crowd there obviously adored him, making for a nice little base to build support on. He placed second to that Betsy Who? character in 2005 and should easily beat should she run again.

Term Limits Create Permanent Campaigning In NYC

The campaign business is booming here in the city with a plethora of candidates gearing up for a shot at the Mayoral, Comptroller, Public Advocate and many other races to represent New Yorkers in some fashion. Term limits are forcing dozens of officials out of their jobs in 2009 and their potential replacements are working hard for the chance to take their place.

Many of them are already serving New York City in some fashion. Council members are running for city wide positions and a whole new crop will aspire to be in the 51 member City Council. Familiar names in your own neighborhood are raising money at record levels in order to be known city-wide. Thirty months before the election, candidates have raised almost $7 million dollars combined. That is an increase of $5 million in just two election cycles.

No matter what you think of the money, advocates of the term limits may not have achieved the equality of candidates they had dreamt of. State and Federal legislators have a definite advantage over their local NYC counterparts. They have no limit on their current office, allowing them substantial flexibility. It'll be interesting to see how this develops over the next two and half years. This might make New Yorkers crazy with a long race while we still have a national election to look forward to next year, but you won't hear any campaign staff complaining.

Weiner Explores A Second Run For Mayor

The 2009 mayoral election seems like eons away, especially with the Presidential nominations for 2008 receiving a tremendous amount of press. However it isn't too early for Congressman Weiner (D-NY) to file papers with the Elections Board in preparation for a possible run.

From The Empire Zone:

“I’ve got a great job now, and I’m committed to a lot of the same issues I talked about in 2005 and that still keep me up today,” Mr. Weiner said in a telephone interview today, citing education reform and the high cost of living. “It’s becoming a tougher and tougher place for many New Yorkers to live.”

A member of Congress since 1999, Mr. Weiner said he had not made a final decision on whether to run. “I’m not eager for a three-year campaign,” he said.

I wouldn't be eager for a three year campaign either. One of the key reasons for the Democratic failure to hold the Mayorship is that party infighting has held them back on several occassions. One of those was used by Giuliani to sneak in as mayor in order to become the most divisive stewards of the city New York has ever seen (that is until, 9/11 of course).

Nevertheless, Weiner would be an excellent candidate with plenty of credentials. Now in his 4th term as the Congressman from New York's 9th district in Brooklyn, Weiner has fought for Democratic values with tremendous charisma and conviction. His recent speech in Congress was incredible to say the least. Drum Major Institute gave him an A grade on his votes concerning the middle class and except for an announced regret for voting for the war in 2002, his record has made progressives proud.