City Councilman and candidate for Public Advocate Jumanne Williams speaks at a meeting Monday evening at North Central Bronx Hospital. He took a few questions and photos with some of the people in attendance. When asked what does a public advocate do, he replied that the position really has been around since 1890 under different names. When the City Charter was revised in 1993 the position was created, and lately it has become a stepping stone to higher office. If he is elected he wants to have an office in every borough with local staff, but that the Public advocate other than having a Bully Pulpit really only appoints people to commissions and sits on the City Pension Board.
When I asked him why he is in the Bronx now, but was not at the Public Advocate debate at Lehman College his answer was that he had other commitments. I also asked his feelings about candidate Dawn Smalls, to which he replied that Ms. Smalls is going to be very hard to beat since she is very knowledgeable on the responsibilities of the job of the Public Advocate. Jumaane Williams said that he would be the winner on February 26th to be the next Public Advocate.
Above - Candidate Jumaane Williams answers a question from the audience.
Below - He poses with the host of the event Ms. Hernandez.
Above - Candidate Williams with the girls from BTE.
Below - Candidate Williams with Ms. Nicole Watson (L), and Ms. Sharien Perez.
