NEW YORK, NY August 24, 2005 —Four candidates seeking the democratic nomination for the City's Public Advocate faced off in their first debate. The challengers spent most of their time attacking the incumbent Betsy Gotbaum. WNYC's Richard Hake reports.

Public Advocate Gotbaum defended her track record at standing up to the Mayor and acting as the government watchdog. She's also touting her 30 years in public service.

Yet her opponents say she's not doing enough. They say New Yorkers are unfamiliar with the office because of her lack of creativity. Gotbaum is facing civil rights lawyer Norman Seigel who's been representing 9-11 victim's families in court.

Andrew Rasiej who's running on a platform of bringing the city up to date when it comes to technology. And Jay Golub, a Queens dentist, who says the public advocate's office needs new ideas and change. For WNYC, I'm Richard Hake.