By Nathan Duke
Gioia, who will be term limited out of office next year, said his next bid for higher office will be a carbon-neutral campaign that will promote the use of recyclable paper and encourage volunteers to use public transportation or walk.”We need to do more to clean our air, improve our environment and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” he said. “For too long, children in our neighborhoods have had their pockets bulging with asthma inhalers on their walk to school. I'm proud to run [the city's] first carbon-neutral campaign and I urge all candidates to do the same.”Gioia has not yet officially announced his bid for higher office, but it is widely believed he will run for the city office of public advocate. The councilman has raised more than $1.6 million in private funding as of Jan. 15, according to the city's Board of Elections.The councilman said his future bids would incorporate a number of environmentally friendly practices, such as using recyclable paper for campaign materials, cutting down on automotive emissions by encouraging campaign volunteers and employees to walk, bike or take public transportation rather than drive to campaign stops and reducing campaign supplies, such as buttons and mass mailers.Gioia said he would contact other 2009 candidates for city offices and urge them to follow his lead.New York Civil Liberties Union President Norman Siegel has officially declared his third bid for public advocate. Siegel, who is thus far the only person to have officially announced his candidacy for the office, has raised a total of just over $80,000, according to the Board of Elections.Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
