By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

Last Friday afternoon, I met the public advocate.

No, I’m not talking about Mark Green. He’s the present elected Public Advocate. I met Mark years ago and he stopped by the office and we chatted about his race for Mayor about a month ago.

Michael Schenkler & Norman Siegel

I’m talking about my Friday afternoon visit from a man who knows what public advocacy is all about. You’ll notice that I said, "I met the public advocate" — small p, small a.

The man who seems to embody the job stopped by the Trib office to chat about his first venture into electoral politics.

Now this is not an endorsement column.

Gosh, I hardly know anyone in the field and haven’t gotten to evaluate the other candidates. I never met Councilmembers Steve DiBrienza or Katherine Freed, very casually know Assmeblyman Scott Stringer — chatted on the phone with him last week, have met and talked with Betsy Gottbaum a couple of times, and Friday was my first meeting with former NYCLU Executive Director Norman Siegel.

But if first impressions count for anything, Norman Siegel is my kind of guy. He takes me back to my days of civil rights picket lines and protests. More importantly, Norman Siegel is truly a public advocate.

Rather, Norman explains, "I’ve been the private advocate, now I want to be the Public Advocate."

For well over 20 years, he’s been an advocate for New Yorkers, the last 15 as executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Among his recent victories were the successful defense of the Brooklyn Museum’s right to exhibit provocative art and his challenge of the restricted access to the steps of City Hall. He fought for taxi drivers, young people and people with AIDS to have the right to assemble and bring their concern to the city’s attention. His causes included defending street vendors, challenging restrictive zoning laws and a demanding accountability in the face of fatal police misconduct. He led the fight to establish the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Siegel fought 27 court challenges against the Giuliani administration on First Amendment violations and won – in full or part – 23 times.

Norman has become one of our city’s most well-known advocates and views the job of Public Advocate as an Inspector General, protecting the people from the government, when necessary.

"I’ll sue the city if I have to," he explains.

His platform is simple: improve race relations; improve police-community relations; and promote quality public education, affordable housing, and freedom of speech for all New Yorkers.

Although he’s running in the Democratic Primary, Siegel likes to tell groups he’s a member of the "Shake ‘Em Up Party of New York." When asked about some of the issues that impact the city, Siegel readily admits, "I have to learn more."

"I don’t believe in ‘off the record’" the straight-shooting Siegel told us.

"I want to be the ‘People’s Lawyer,’" Norman says with compassion.

Norman is the consummate ‘outsider.’ Although he hasn’t run for office before and is likely to be outspent by some if not all of his opponents, Norman Siegel is in this race. He’s raised substantial bucks, has qualified for matching funds and is prepared to defend his petitions from party organizational challenges.

His is a people’s campaign. What he doesn’t have in professional consultants, Norman will make up for in "fighting energy." Siegel doesn’t back down from a fight. And this fighting advocate of the people may just surprise the establishment and win a job he’s been doing for years.

The Queens Chamber of Commerce has unveiled plans for its Annual Golf Outing — at the North Hills Country Club in Manhasset. Last year, when this column criticized the organization – whose mission it is to promote Queens business development – for going outside of the borough for the golf outing, they responded the facilities were better there.

We still wonder if location should matter to the Queens Chamber?

Did they even talk to the folks at Clearview and Caffe on the Green or Douglaston Manor & Golf Course?

Next meeting, at a fancy Manhattan Hotel?

Hey guys, your first name is Queens!

Wear it with pride!

The letter read:

GEORGE E. PATAKI, Governor"

Now, maybe this is not a great column for business. However, I can think of no more annoying, intrusive business practice than the continual badgering phone calls that I get at home during dinner hours from stockbrokers pitching their sure win latest IPO of the month. Telemarketing calls have become too aggressive, too intrusive and too frequent.

So, I logged onto the NYS Consumer Protection Board website and took the two minutes and filled out the form. I received the letter above and now those really obnoxious telemarketers can’t get me.

Well, not quite. Although, you are protected from most high-pressure sales calls, there are exceptions: charitable organizations, religious corporations, political parties and committees (of course those legislators would give themselves a free pass), companies with which you have a prior business relationship, and telemarketers who wish to arrange for a face-to-face meeting before concluding a sales transaction.

Telemarketers who violate the law by calling a registrant more than 30 days after their number appears on a quarterly Registry will be subject to penalties of up to $2,000 for each violation.

If you want to join the Do Not Call Registry, simply visit their website at: www.nynocall.com; by telephone toll free at 866-887-5478 or 800-697-7220; or by mail, "Do Not Call" Registry, NYS Consumer Protection Board, PO Box 2078, Albany, NY 12220-0078.

It’s free!

Last week we asked:

"If it’s not easy being green, does the green guy deserve extra points?"

We invited readers, voters, candidates, rabbis, ministers, gay, black, white and green, Asian, Latino, Jewish and Christian, Muslim, to share their opinion.

When people cast their votes, should they consider race, religion, sexual preference, etc?

Several e-mail responses:

¨So, what’s wrong with being a liberal (big or small L)? If liberal means being fair and evaluating things on their merit, then people should be proud to be considered liberal.  

I agree with you that people should be color and religion-blind when it comes to voting for candidates, unfortunately many of the candidates play this exact ethnic card. People should study and evaluate a candidate’s positions, views and actions — but VERY few do.

After all, only about 50% even vote.

— Richard Brody

¨Although at one time I considered myself a "Liberal" — I now consider myself a Centrist.  To me being in the center is truly considering people on merit with no points given to anyone for any reason other than ability and promise.  

Being a realist, I realize that people do consider people they think of as being "them" more qualified because they feel they know the thinking of their own racial or ethnic group. This is a political reality that all of us should recognize.  Just check the voting patterns throughout Queens.  

Is this right? NO.  Is this a fact? YES.  

— Marsha Livson

¨In my opinion, I think we should vote for whoever is the best candidate for the job.  Not to vote on a person’s religion, race or otherwise.  

Thanks for all your opinions.  I don’t always agree, but that’s fine with me.

Thanks again.

— Leonore Haslbauer

Share your opinion by fax (718) 357-0972; by mail M. Schenkler, 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY, 11365.
Or, e-mail: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com

Attn: Candidates, Final Notice

To Queens Council Candidates

The deadline has passed! Please email the following to us:

1) Your bio – under 200 words

2) Your photo – jpg or tif

3) The three most important issues facing your district and how you plan to resolve them – under 200 words total.

4) Are you or do you plan to enroll in the CFB’s matching fund program. How much have you raised to date? How much have you spent? How much – in total, including matching funds – do you plan to spend between now and Primary Day?

5) E-mail, web & phone contact

Material to: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com immediately.