de Blasio Snags Betsy
September 17th, 2009
This morning Betsy Gotbaum named a successor. She wants Bill de Blasio.
Just two days after the primary, the seat’s current occupant said she wants to see de Blasio as the next public advocate, because of his record fighting for regular new workers (his role in the term limits fight, homelessness and food stamps), and his ability to stand up to the all-powerful executive branch.
“He knows when to be critical and when to back off,” Gotbaum said this morning in front of the municipal building.
Though Gotbaum has a mixed reputation amongst New York’s politicos — many say she remained under the radar during her tenure as public advocate — the endorsement is of note. Whether it will sway voters in the Sept. 29 runoff between Mark Green and de Blasio, which is sure to be a nasty race, we will have to wait and see.
Gotbaum worked closely with de Blasio during the fight to extend term limits, but also worked closely with Eric Gioia on the fight to get food stamps to New Yorkers who are eligible. Now that Gioia is out of the pack, it makes sense she is going for de Blasio.
A Gotbaum staffer said the timing of the endorsement had nothing to do with Gioia now being out of the race. Before this, the office had been working on fixing its budget woes, he said.
By Courtney Gross on September 17, 2009, 12:52 pmIn category: City Hall, Gotham City | No Comments »
