1993 New York City Public Advocate election

An election was held on November 2, 1993 to elect the New York City Public Advocate, an office created for this election following reforms to the city charter which held some of the devolved powers of the defunct office of New York City Council President following the disestablishment of the New York City Board of Estimate in the Supreme Court case Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris. Democratic incumbent City Council President Andrew Stein initially did not seek re-election to the office, opting instead to challenge incumbent mayor David Dinkins in the Democratic primary. However, he dropped out of the mayoral race and ran for Public Advocate before withdrawing from that race, too. Mark Green won the Democratic primary over a large field led by Harlem state senator David A. Paterson. == Democratic primary == === Candidates === Susan Alter, City Councilwoman from Brooklyn (also running as Republican and Liberal) Mark Green, Consumer Affairs Commissioner of New York City and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1986 Donald Halperin, State Senator from Brooklyn David A. Paterson, State Senator from Harlem Roberto Ramirez, State Assemblyman from the Bronx Ronald W. Reale, president of the Transit Police Benevolent Association ==== Withdrew ==== Andrew Stein, incumbent City Council President since 1986 === Campaign === Although the new office of Public Advocate was less powerful than the City Council presidency which it replaced, it drew an uncommonly large number of candidates. Many analysts predicted that despite the reduced powers under the revised charter, the office would still provide its holder citywide name recognition and a springboard for higher office. While most candidates in the race sought to address core racial or ethnic constitutencies, Green campaigned vigorously in every neighborhood and among every ethnic group. His chief opponent was David A. Paterson of Harlem, who expected to capitalize on black voter turnout with David Dinkins on the ballot and force the race into a run-off. Dinkins declined to endorse any candidate in the primary, viewing both Green and Paterson as allies and seeking to avoid alienating the large Hispanic constituency which supported Ramirez. Susan Alter, who was also running on the Republican and Liberal ticket of Rudolph Giuliani, actively campaigned against Dinkins. === Results === By receiving over 40 percent of the vote, Green was able to win the nomination outright and avoid a run-off election against Paterson. The strength of his victory came as a surprise to political observers, who expected a run-off between Green and Paterson. == General election == === Candidates === Susan Alter, City Councilwoman from Brooklyn (Republican and Liberal) Al Duncan (Socialist Workers) Bob Falk (Libertarian) Marjorie Barrett Garvey (Right to Life) Mark Green, Consumer Affairs Commissioner of New York City and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1986 (Democratic) Ronald W. Reale, president of the Transit Police Benevolent Association (Conservative) === Results === == References ==