ASSEMBLYMAN POWELL ENDORSES GREEN FOR PUBLIC ADVOCATE

The #2 in a recent Marist poll for PA supports the leader in that Poll

New York -- Mark Green, New York’s first Public Advocate, received his first endorsement from an elected official when Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV of Manhattan officially announced his support at a noon press conference on the steps of City Hall.

"Mark's the 800 pound gorilla in this contest because so many New Yorkers rightly remember him as an effective, outspoken and gutsy Public Advocate and Consumer Affairs Commissioner," said Powell. "Just as Mark so often stood up when necessary to Mayor Giuliani on key policies like police misconduct, consumer rights, charter change and child welfare, he'll have the stature, smarts, and ideas to stand up for New Yorkers in these tough economic times.”

Powell had previously indicated an interest in running for Public Advocate, and was second in a February 20th, Marist poll, which put Green at 35%, Powell at 15%, Norman Siegel at 14%, Bill de Blasio and John Liu at 6% and Eric Gioia at 2%.

Mark Green responded: "I'm very grateful to Adam for his support. Adam is an important community and political figure in New York City politics and could have himself seriously sought this office. I'm proud of my record of accomplishment as the first Public Advocate and will promise Adam – and all New Yorkers – that I'll do even more in my next term if voters should elect me."

Green won the Public Advocate office in 1993 and then in 1997, getting more total votes than Rudy Giuliani each time. He is currently the president of Air America Media in New York City, recently taught at NYU's Arts & Sciences College, and this past January published his 22nd book, Change for America: A Progressive Blueprint for the 44th President.