Candidates for Public Advocate

Democratic
* If there is an asterisk next to a candidate's name, s/he did not submit a profile or record a video.
Reshma Saujani
Democratic

Party Enrolled In: Democratic

Current Occupation: Founder, Girls Who Code

Previous Occupation(s): NYC Deputy Public Advocate, Attorney

Education: J.D. Yale Law School; M.A. Harvard Kennedy School of Government; B.A. University of Illinois

Organizational Affiliations: Board Member, Bronx Academy of Software Engineering

Prior Public Experience: NYC Deputy Public Advocate

1. What is the most important issue in the city you would address if elected?

Education is the issue I would focus on the most because it is the pathway to jobs and economic security. We must provide our teachers and schools the necessary resources for our kids to be prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow. I founded a national non-profit Girls Who Code that gives girls from underserved communities opportunities to learn high-tech skills, and I've seen how those skills can give entire families access to the American Dream.

 

2. What other important issues would you address if elected?

I will create New York's first-ever Seniors Advocate to stand up for our senior population; provide free legal housing services to protect tenants and help families avoid foreclosure; designate a Women's Advocate to fight for equal pay for equal work and combat sex trafficking; and appoint a Jobs and Economy Advocate to create and protect jobs by expanding our small business, tech and manufacturing sectors. Wherever and whenever Albany and City Hall fail, I'll step into the fight and demand the accountability we deserve.

 

3. What makes you the best candidate for this office?

I bring a new and outside perspective on how to make government work best for the people, will be the voice for all New Yorkers and will hold government and politicians accountable. As the daughter of immigrants who taught me to fight for every possibility until it is achieved, I know how to deliver real change for our kids, our seniors, and our communities. I have a track record of real results and a plan for real action. I will always stand up and fight to create real opportunities for all New Yorkers and will not stop until the job gets done.

 

Reprinted as supplied by the candidate. Participating in the NYC Campaign Finance Program.

 

This Guide lists all candidates who appear to be on the ballot for the primary election based on the latest information obtained from the New York City Board of Elections, even if a candidate did not submit a profile or record a video for the Guide. Profiles and video scripts were submitted to the CFB by the candidates and are reprinted as supplied, except in the case of egregious errors and minor formatting issues, which may be corrected by the CFB. Videos appearing in this Guide were recorded and approved for broadcast by the candidates. All the candidates have affirmed under penalty of perjury that the information in their profiles and videos is true to the best of their knowledge. Website and social media links were supplied by the candidates. The CFB is not responsible for non-working links, although it does correct or remove them to the extent practicable. The CFB removes links that are not campaign-related.

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