Public Advocate hires Maloney Challenger

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has hired Reshma Saujani, the financial manager who ran a primary challenge against Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney.

Saujani, who contributed to WNYC's It's A Free Country politics site, will start tomorrow, as de Blasio's deputy advocate for special initiatives. Saujani will oversee a non-profit being run out of de Blasio's office.

Saujani's challenge to Maloney gained national attention, in part because of her notable supporters, including Maureen White, Steven Rattner and Diana Taylor, and for, generally, taking a pro-Wall Street stance when beating up on the industry was the trend.

De Blasio - whose ties to the Working Families Party and labor movement - make him a contender for the 2013 mayor's race, now, conceivably, has a bit more access to the Wall Street crowd, and a formalizes his ties to a young political operative with a demonstrated ability to raise money.

Her first day is tomorrow.