Voters Guide: The likely winner in the race for public advocate

Letitia James is running for public advocate on the Democratic and Working Families party lines. She has no Republican opponent, so it is likely she will become the first African-American woman to hold citywide office.

BACKGROUND:
James, 55 is a City Council member representing Brooklyn’s 35th District, which includes Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, parts of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was elected in 2003 and is chairwoman of the Economic Development and Sanitation committees. James won the Democratic runoff on Oct. 1 against state Sen. Daniel Squadron, 59% to 41%.

James was born in Brooklyn, where she lives. She attended New York City public schools and received a bachelor’s degree from CUNY’s Lehman College and a law degree from Howard University. She worked as a public defender and assistant New York State attorney general.

ISSUES:
James says she will focus on affordable housing and champion the concerns of public school parents.

OTHER PUBLIC ADVOCATE CANDIDATES:
Robert Maresca, Conservative Party
Michael Lloyd, Freedom Party
James Lane, Green Party
Alex Merced, Libertarian Party
Deborah Liatos, Socialist Workers Party
Mollena Fabricant, Students First Party
Irene Estrada Rukaj, War Veterans Party