Democratic Brooklyn City Councilmember Bill de Blasio will be the next Public Advocate.
De Blasio, a two-term City Councilmember who led the fight against a term limits extension last year, received 77 percent of the vote compared to just 18 percent for Republican Alex Zablocki. The other three candidates earned a total of five percent of the vote.
For de Blasio, the large margin of victory on Election Day was not much of a surprise, with Democrats outnumbering the Republicans in the city by a six to one margin. In September, de Blasio rode a wave of momentum leading up to the September 15 Democratic primary and he soundly defeated former Public Advocate Mark Green in a runoff election.
The Public Advocate, which answers complaints about residents’ problems with city government, investigates ineffective agencies and programs and helps communities gain better access to government, is next in line to succeed the Mayor. The post is also used as a bully pulpit, and de Blasio has said that he would not be afraid to take on the Mayor when the time arises.
“The Public Advocate has to be resourceful and creative and be able to take on any of the powers that be to protect the people’s interest,” de Blasio told The Courier, in an interview during the primary.
In addition, the position, which is currently held by Democrat Betsy Gotbaum, who did not seek reelection this year, saw its budget slashed by 40 percent last year, and many legislators have called for the elimination of the post altogether.
However, de Blasio believes he can breathe new life into the office.
“The Public Advocate has to be resourceful and creative and be able to take on any of the powers that be to protect the people’s interest,” de Blasio said in September.
