October 6, 2009 --

For the past 15 years, including five years at this website, I have been urging our officials to take the advice of James Madison, in Federalist 57, to "pursue the common good of the society."

Circumstances now impel me to carry the Madison message into the political arena by means of a write-in candidacy for Public Advocate of the City of New York.

This position is elected on city-wide basis. Responsibilities of the Public Advocate include participation without vote in the proceedings of the City Council, and service as one of three trustees administering the city employees retirement fund. The office of public advocate also includes several staffers with the title "ombudsman," a term that originated in Sweden and came to refer to an official who would serve as intermediary between public officers and aggrieved citizens.

Madison, in Federalist 51, recognized the need of "auxiliary precautions" to guards against abusive officials. The post of ombudsman is, I believe, properly viewed in this Swedish/Madisonian context: a place where citizens can go for redress of grievances.

The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees, among other things, "the right of the people...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The First Amendment does not include this loop-hole for municipal residents: You cannot -- and will not -- fight City Hall.

Who would be an effective Public Advocate? Someone who is aware that the possibility of abusive government did not end with our independence from Great Britain. Someone who has seen evidence of callous government. Someone who has experienced the impact of arbitrary government. Someone who is sensitive to the use of the heavy hand by individuals in the public and private sector.

Former New York Public Advocate Mark Green, writing about the Office of Public Advocate in the New York Law School Law Review (42 N.Y.L. Sch. L. Rev. 1093 (1998) noted the post was seen,, in part, as a "vox populi." I believe that LPR qualifies as "vox populi." The candidacy of political insider Bill de Blasio (from whom I received two dismissive letters on the Dayton Seaside tax matter, ten years ago) for Public Advocate was, for me, a clarion call to enter the political arena.

I am reminded, writing these words, of the historical quote accompanying my high school year book photo, senior year. The words are from William Lloyd Garrison" editorial in the first issue of "The Liberator," January 1, 1831:

"I am in earnest: I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch: AND I WILL BE HEARD [caps in original]."

LPR clicksters: I too am in earnest. With God's help, I will be heard.

PS: Last week, I mistakenly got on the Sixth Avenue IND subway line in Manhattan instead of the Eighth Avenue IND line. Or was was I somehow directed to take the Sixth Avenue line -- for when I noticed that I might be on the wrong train, the fellow passenger who confirmed my mistake was Norman Siegel, who was among the Democratic candidates for Public Advocate. I gave Mr. Siegel a flyer about my campaign. He wished me "good luck." I mentioned that I had taken a photo of him at a press conference expressing concern about the treatment of protester arrested during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. I thanked him for his good wishes and hope he likes the photo posted here.

Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura: Proof positive that write-in election to city-wide office CAN BE DONE

Norman Siegel

Doris Kearns Goodwin: Ms. Goodwin, in her Pulitzer prize-winning "Team of Rivals," note that Abraham Lincoln would explain his approach to decision-making, telling people it was better to be patient and wait for a fruit to ripen than force it from the tree. And so with the David Zukerman write-in candidacy?

This is a solicitation-free "service to the people" candidacy. Get the word out. NOT your checkbooks.