Yesterday’s Democratic debate for public advocate got personal.
Asked whether they had ever sexted someone, à la Anthony Weiner, the candidates all cringed — but denied doing it.
State Sen. Daniel Squadron, who refused to call on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Speaker to resign after a sexual-harassment scandal that rocked Albany, said he’s never done it, but wouldn’t fault his opponents if they didn’t answer the question. Reshma Saujani, thought the question was more important. City Councilwoman Letitia James, of Brooklyn, and Columbia University professor Catherine Guerriero, of Staten Island, also denied sexting.
“No, I haven’t,” he said, adding that he thought the “personal stories have overwhelmed the really important ones.”
“I disagree. I think your private life matters. When you choose to be a public servant, you don’t have any privacy anymore. We need to hold our public officials accountable,” she said, adding that she had not ever sexted.
The candidates also attacked each other’s election voting records. James voted in all city elections, but Guerriero hasn’t voted in the past three and Squadron didn’t vote in the 2001 or 2005 primaries. Saujani didn’t register to vote until 2006, after she lived in the city for four years.
After the debate, her campaign tweeted out that she registered in 2003 and voted in 2004.
Squadron also questioned whether his voter records were correct.
The foursome also all reluctantly said they would support Eliot Spitzer for comptroller if he beats Scott Stringer in the primary. “I think it’s critical we have Democrats up and down the line in the new administration, so yes,” said Squadron.