Photo: Rob Bennett for the Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio
More than 70 percent of New York City voters say Mayor Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray,should have a "minor role" or no role at all in shaping public policy, while 24 percent of New York City voters, including 26 percent of women, say the mayor's spouse should have a "major role," according to a Quinnipiac poll released on Wednesday.
The mayor's spouse should not have a chief of staff, voters say 61 - 31 percent, including 55 - 34 percent among women.
"Mayor Bill de Blasio is making his job a family affair and voters aren't enthusiastic. Most New Yorkers think the mayor's spouse should have a minor role in government - or none at all," said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll. "And voters don't think the mayor's spouse needs a chief of staff."
However, in response, de Blasio pointed out that his wife is unpaid and that her work at City Hall will continue, as will her staff.
"I am a local official, I'm a humble local official, nowhere near that impact, but I try to do a lot for the people of this city," said the mayor. "And the person who is my partner in everything I do is my wife. And she is my top advisor and she is the person who I've built everything I've done with."
"I think if you start with a highly effective public servant you get for free," he said, in reference to his wife, "you're ahead of the equation right there."
Before his divorce, Mayor Rudy Giuliani's wife Donna Hanover had a chief of staff and three other employees.
