Meet the minor party candidates for New York governor

While much of the race for governor has focused on candidates Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino, Monday night's debate at Hofstra University will also put the spotlight on those running on the periphery - a motley cast that includes a Teamster who unloads trucks for UPS and a former madam who claims to have provided prostitutes for ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Here are the five minor-party candidates:

Charles Barron, Freedom: Barron, 60, of East New York, is a former Black Panther turned New York City councilman.

"We need my kind of leadership, that's not going to be afraid and be bold enough," he said.

If elected, he would seek to impose a commuter tax and close corporate loopholes because "too many corporations get breaks on their profits."

Kristin M. Davis, Anti-Prohibition: Davis says she was in the process of shutting down her escort service at about the time of the Spitzer scandal when she was arrested. She later pleaded guilty to a third-degree charge of promoting prostitution.

She had never envisioned setting her sights on Albany. But she decided to run "to highlight inequities" and push for legalization of prostitution and marijuana.

Davis, 35, of Manhattan said her experience in the escort service business is an asset. "Albany is the biggest group of whores out there," she said. "That makes me far more qualified than any of the candidates out there."

Tonight's debate will be her first. "I'm actually quite shy." she said. "This should be fun."

Howie Hawkins, Green: He joined the U.S. Marines in college but says he was never called to duty because he was an anti-war organizer. He now works for UPS.

If elected, Hawkins, 57, of Syracuse, will aim to guarantee a job to anyone who wants one.

Over the weekend, he planned to practice answering debate questions. "To me, it's like sports," he said. "You practice and if you've got a technical weakness . . . you work on it. But when it comes time for the game, you forget about it and just play the game."

Jimmy McMillan, Rent is 2 Damn High: Though he claims to be more than a single-issue candidate, McMillan has major concerns about expensive rents.

"If you can't pay your rent . . . you can't afford to feed your children in the morning," McMillan, 64, of Flatbush, said.

The retired letter carrier's debate-preparation strategy involves staying away from television news. "I don't want to hear anything about Paladino, Cuomo or anyone," he said.

Warren Redlich, Libertarian: Redlich, 44, of upstate Guilderland, was born in Syosset and moved away when he was 3. He has been a Guilderland town board member since 2007.

He owns a law firm where he handles traffic, criminal defense and personal injury cases. He also runs a website that lists traffic courts nationwide.

During the debate, he hopes to highlight how government wastes money, while closing parks and laying off teachers. "I'm running because we've got to stop wasting money," he said.