If you need evidence that next month’s special election for New York City public advocate is vastly different than any ordinary election, look no further than Theo Chino — though you’ll have to search a bit to find his name on the ballot. Just four minutes before the Jan. 14 midnight filing deadline, Mr. Chino submitted his petitions to run for the position — the 22nd of 23 candidates to do so. Because ballot order in the Feb. 26 special election is determined by order of petition submission, Mr. Chino, 46, a self-described bitcoin entrepreneur, is slated to be listed next to last on a ballot that is likely to rank as one of the longest in city history. Welcome to New York City’s first citywide special election, necessitated by Letitia James’s win in the race for state attorney general in November. The contest is nonpartisan, so there will be no party primaries, and candidates must run under their own party lines — often hinting at a candidate’s priorities.

Source: New York Times January 21, 2019 17:08 UTC