The marquee question at Wednesday night's New York City Public Advocate debate: Is the deal to bring an Amazon campus to Queens fine as is, worthy of improvement, or would you scrap it for good? 

Of the 17 candidates running for public advocate, ten were present for the debate, and only one candidate was unequivocally supportive. Queens City Councilman Eric Ulrich, the only elected Republican on the stage, said he thinks the deal is a good thing. 

"I support Amazon," Ulrich said. "I think it's wonderful that they are coming to New York City to create 25,000 good-paying jobs."

The other candidates opposed the current deal, though several needed to explain away a letter they'd signed more than a year ago urging Amazon to come to New York. Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake, former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Brooklyn City Councilman Jumaane Williams—all considered frontrunners—were among the signatories. 

"So when this letter came to me, I brought up my issues to the administration about Amazon, about their worker policies," Williams said. "I made it clear that I had issues but I would still sign this letter to begin a conversation."

Manhattan City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez also signed the letter, but says that now, he doesn't see a way for the deal to work.

Activist Nomiki Konst blamed them all for the $3 billion tax package offered to Amazon.

"As a resident of Queens I've been actively fighting Amazon," Konst said. "I don't believe in lying politicians like [Melissa Mark-Viverito] who signed a letter and are now against Amazon."

Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim described Amazon as a mega-corporation facing extinction

"They're not going to promise 25,000 jobs in 10 years," Kim said. "They're not going to be around in 10 years."

Brooklyn City Councilmember Rafael Espinal said he has always opposed the deal because of Amazon's track record elsewhere.

And attorney Dawn Smalls said the public should get 90 days to review the deal, while Manhattan Assemblymember Danny O'Donnell said community-based planning should have informed the process.

Officially, the public advocate does not have an role in the Amazon negotiations. But whoever holds the seat next is sure to voice an opinion and try to sway the debate.

On February 20, the candidates will meet again for a final debate before the February 26 special election. Here's a complete voter guide for the race.