ABOUT BILL DE BLASIO

On November 3rd, 2009, Bill de Blasio was elected New York City’s third Public Advocate. For the prior eight years, de Blasio served in the New York City Council where he fought to make City Hall more responsive and accountable to New Yorkers.

Bill de Blasio began his work in New York City government as an aide to Mayor David Dinkins. During the Clinton Administration, de Blasio was appointed Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he served under former Secretary Andrew Cuomo. In 1999, de Blasio was elected to the School Board for District 15 in Brooklyn. In 2000, he managed Hillary Rodham Clinton's successful campaign for U.S. Senate. The following year, de Blasio was elected to the New York City Council where he represented District 39 in Brooklyn for eight years.

In the City Council, Bill de Blasio fought to improve and protect public education and child care. In the spring of 2008, de Blasio organized a successful coalition of elected officials, parents, students, and advocates to win back millions of dollars in classroom funding slated for cuts.

De Blasio has also been a dedicated advocate for affordable housing, sponsoring a City law that prevents landlords from discriminating against tenants who depend on Section 8 vouchers to help pay for housing.

As the Chair of the Council's General Welfare Committee, Bill de Blasio spent the past eight years working to protect New York City's most vulnerable populations, including children and the homeless.

Bill de Blasio holds a Bachelors degree from New York University and a Masters in International and Public Affairs from Columbia University. De Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, met while working together in the Dinkins Administration. They live in Brooklyn with their two children, Chiara and Dante.