Green and de Blasio Pull No Punches in Debate
New York, NY —
The two remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination for New York City Public Advocate faced off in one last debate last night, and it was a contentious one. The debate began with the two men accusing each other of negative attacks...and rarely left that subject during the hour-long event.
REPORTER: Mark Green repeatedly challenged Bill de Blasio on the issue of campaign contributions the city councilman took from groups that received city council funds from de Blasio.
GREEN: Will you give back money that you took from members of groups that you gave taxpayer money to? You give our money to them and these are fine people who may feel coerced to give money to you to maintain the item.
REPORTER: But De Blasio said he was proud of the work he supported through council funds, and that citizens should be allowed to contribute to the candidates of their choice. He tried to paint Green, who was the city's first public advocate in the 90s, as a constant candidate who tries to tear down his opponents.
DE BLASIO: I feel I may be in very good company considering he attacked Chuck Schumer that campaign, Geraldine Ferraro, Andrew Cuomo, Feddy Ferrer, it's a long history.
REPORTER: Green said he was happy to compare his record in both the public and private sector to de Blasio's, whom he called a political insider.
The run-off election is Tuesday, along with the Democratic primary run-off for city comptroller.
