Citizens Union 2025 Candidate Questionnaire

Citizens Union 2025 Candidate Questionnaire - New York City Mayor
Congratulations to you on your decision to run for New York City Mayor! Citizens Union appreciates your commitment to serving the public.

For over 125 years, Citizens Union (CU) has been devoted to holding our local government accountable with the highest ethical standards and fighting for political reforms that improve New York democracy (https://citizensunion.org/issues/). To promote a competitive and diverse political culture, a fair and open political process, and an accountable and responsible government, we evaluate candidates running for office and back those who strongly support reform. Our evaluations are done through questionnaires, independent research, and interviews conducted by our Local Candidates Committee. (https://citizensunion.org/portfolio-item/citizens-union-2025-candidate-evaluation-info-for-candidates/).

As a prerequisite for receiving the support of Citizens Union, please complete the following questionnaire and submit your response by Sunday, March 23, 2025. As you complete the form, you can click “Save” and return to the form later. Once you have completed the questionnaire and submitted your response to us, you will receive a copy of your submission. Your submission will be posted on our website (with the exception of contact info).

Upon receipt of your submission, we will reach out to you or your staff to schedule a virtual interview with members of our Local Candidate Committee. The interview will not be recorded. Shortly thereafter, we will announce our support in key priority races to our members and on our website and other channels.

Please feel free to reach out to Citizens Union with any questions or comments at candidates@citizensunion.org.

Thank you very much. We look forward to your response.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Candidate Info
Name*

First NameMiddle NameLast Name
In which primary*
Age
Education
Current job, position, or occupation
Other positions or offices
Previous jobs or positions
Campaign Contact Information
Email*
example@example.com
Campaign Manager Name*
Campaign Manager Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Website
X
Facebook
Instagram
Bluesky
Other social media platforms

INTRODUCTION
1. What are your top three campaign promises or goals, and what action will you take to achieve them if elected?
2. What experience have you had with good government and reform issues? (e.g., voting and election reform, campaign finance, ethics, police accountability, government transparency). If you've worked to advance these goals, we'd love to hear about it.

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ELECTIONS AND VOTING
3. Do you support moving New York City's elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, and will you publicly support efforts in Albany to implement this reform?
Voter turnout in New York City elections is exceptionally low, as they are held “off-cycle” in odd-numbered years. To boost local voter turnout and reduce participation gaps, the Legislature passed, and Governor Hochul signed, a law that moves county and town elections to even-numbered years, and lawmakers are supporting a constitutional amendment that would do the same for city elections, including New York City’s. Citizens Union is leading a coalition of groups advocating to move New York City’s elections to even-numbered years, and the City Council is considering a resolution in support of that shift.
Comments (optional)
4. The New York City Board of Elections (NYC BOE) has been a source of frustration for voters and candidates for years. How will you use your power as Mayor to improve the operations of the NYC BOE and ensure that its operations are transparent and accountable to the public?

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5. Do you support maintaining the use of Ranked Choice Voting in New York City elections?
Comments (optional)
6. New York City is one of the few cities that maintains a closed primary system, in which only registered party members can vote in the primary election. Do you believe New York City should shift to a form of completely open primaries, allowing all registered voters to vote in one primary where the top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election? 
Comments (optional)
* In the box below, you may provide additional information on any actions that you have taken or plan to take to improve elections and voting in New York City.

0/250

CAMPAIGN FINANCE
7. Individuals with business ties to city government and registered lobbyists can bypass their donation limits by “bundling” donations from other people. Do you support limiting bundling by people on the “Doing Business with the City” database?
Comments (optional)
8. Are you a supporter of the City’s public campaign matching funds program, and do you commit to protecting the independence of the program and ensuring that the Campaign Finance Board has sufficient resources to run the program?
Comments (optional)
* In the box below, you may provide additional information on any actions that you have taken or plan to take to improve New York City’s campaign finance system.

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ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT
9. The recent indictments and resignations surrounding City Hall has exposed serious ethical problems in City Government. Please describe how you will maintain the highest ethical standards in office.

0/250
10. Incoming public servants must sever ties and divest from companies or other interests that have business dealing with the City; but they are not required to recuse themselves when working on matters involving their former business partners, clients, employer, etc. Do you support forbidding public servants to work on matters relating to their former business partners, clients, employers, and other interests for a set period of time?
Comments (optional)
11. Some campaign consultants also work as lobbyists. Do you support restricting campaign consultants from lobbying their former clients for a period of two years after their client has won elected office?
Comments (optional)
* In the box below, you may provide additional information on any actions that you have taken or plan to take to improve ethics standards in New York City government.

0/250

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
12. Who do you think should have the final decision on discipline in the New York City Police Department? (i.e., Place the final decision with the Police Commissioner; the Civilian Complaint Review Board; Mayor or Deputy Mayor for Public Safety; or another individual or entity.)

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13. How do you view the role of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety?

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14. Do you support making the appointment of the New York City Police Commissioner subject to the advice and consent of the City Council?
Comments (optional)
* In the box below, you may provide additional information on any actions that you have taken or plan to take to improve police accountability in New York City.

0/250

CHECKS AND BALANCES
15. The Mayor currently has the power to block charter revision ballot questions (proposed by the City Council, other charter commissions, and citizen petitions) by establishing their own Charter Revision Commission. Do you support removing this Mayoral power?
Comments (optional)
16. Please provide your views about the New York City Council's "advice and consent" powers. In what cases, if any, should a mayor need the Council’s approval for an appointment of a high ranking Mayoral official, such as an agency commissioner?

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* In the box below, you may provide any additional information on any actions that you have taken or plan to take to improve the system of checks and balances in New York City government.

0/250

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please feel free to attach any additional information such as resume, campaign brochures, or issues statements.

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Please provide any other info you would like us to know about you and your candidacy.

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Please review your answers by clicking PREVIEW ANSWERS below. You can submit the questionnaire at the bottom of the preview page by clicking SUBMIT.

Once you click SUBMIT, you will receive a confirmation email with a PDF file containing your responses. If you don't see the email, please check your spam box.

If you have any further questions, you may contact us at candidates@citizensunion.org.
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Citizens Union 2025 Candidate Questionnaire - New York City Mayor

GENERAL INFORMATION

Candidate Info

Campaign Contact Information

INTRODUCTION

ELECTIONS AND VOTING

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

CHECKS AND BALANCES

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION