2025 Primary Candidate Questionnaire

2025 General Election Candidate Questionnaire - New York City Council

Citizens Union - Local Candidates Committee
Congratulations on your decision to run for a seat on the New York City Council! 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 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 a week before your interview. 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. Given time constraints and the limited capacity of a member-based organization, we may not be able to evaluate all contests or candidates in this election cycle.

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
City Council District #*
Running as*

DemocratRepublicanWorking FamiliesConservativeOther
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
Instagram
Facebook
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. If elected, what is the first piece of legislation you would introduce? Why is that your top priority? If you are an incumbent, please also state what legislation you have passed which you are most proud of.

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3. In your view, what are the major needs of your district’s constituents?

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4. How long have you lived in the district in which you are running, and do you have any achievements or involvement in your neighborhood you are particularly proud of?

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5. 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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6. What do you think the role of the City Council is in city government this upcoming term?

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ELECTIONS AND VOTING
7. Do you support moving New York City’s elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, and will you publicly support the ballot question proposed by the Charter Revision Commission?
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 New York City Charter Revision Commission plans to place a question on this issue before voters on the November ballot.
Comments (optional)
8. The New York City Board of Elections (NYC BOE) has been a source of frustration for voters and candidates for years. The City Council appoints NYC BOE members and has the power to appoint commissioners who are committed to reform, but the most recent commissioners have been appointed behind closed doors. Do you commit to request a public hearing for BOE nominees, and to only vote for individuals who are publicly committed to reducing party-based patronage and supporting open hiring practices?
Comments (optional)
9. Do you support maintaining the use of Ranked Choice Voting in New York City’s elections?
Comments (optional)
10. 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, 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.

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CAMPAIGN FINANCE
11. 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)
12. 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
13. The recent pattern of 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.

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14. Incoming public servants must sever ties and divest from companies or other interests that have business dealings 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)
15. Some campaign consultants also work as lobbyists. Do you support restricting campaign consultants from lobbying the candidates they served for two years after the candidate won elected office?
Comments (optional)
16. Do you support moving lobbying oversight and enforcement from the City Clerk’s Office to another agency charged with ethics issues, like the Conflicts of Interest Board?
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.

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

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* 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.

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CHECKS AND BALANCES
18. 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)
19. Do you support allowing bills with strong support to go through the committee process and be put to a vote on the floor without needing the permission of the speaker?
Comments (optional)
20. 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 additional information on any actions that you have taken or plan to take to improve the system of checks and balances in New York.

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

Cancelof
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.

At the bottom of the preview page, you can
- get a copy of your answers by clicking PRINT, and
- submit the questionnaire by clicking SUBMIT.
IF YOU DO NOT CLICK SUBMIT, WE WON'T RECIEVE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE.

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If you have any further questions, you may contact us at candidates@citizensunion.org
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2025 General Election Candidate Questionnaire - New York City Council

GENERAL INFORMATION

Candidate info

Campaign contact information

INTRODUCTION

ELECTIONS AND VOTING

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

CHECKS AND BALANCES

ADDITIONAL INFO