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Besides the mayor himself, Chirlane McCray has been the most visible figure of the de Blasio era–seen at the mayor’s side for important events, introducing him at major speeches, or headlining her own initiatives. Her exact role has been the subject of speculation and some criticism; de Blasio came in for a drubbing recently when he suggested that, given the amount of work McCray contributes, she should be paid (a suggestion the first lady herself took issue with). Recently she has told interviewers that she is considering a run for public office herself.
McCray told the Max & Murphy podcast on Monday that seeking office is just one possible future for her, and said she had not identified what she might run for, although she didn’t dispute the idea that running for mayor is off the table. She also had little to say about what she wants her husband’s next act to be, although she joked that she would like a better “work-life balance.”
The first lady offered more details on her own rarely discussed career between the Dinkins City Hall and the de Blasio one, and about the extent of her work with ThriveNYC. She addressed criticisms of that effort, concerns about the conflicts that could be present in her role as head of the Mayor’s Fund, and her leadership in the city’s fight to reduce domestic violence–where she addressed the delicate issue of the part that cultural traditions can play in setting the stage for abuse in the home.
Asked about the unending headlines about the mayor’s relationship to his campaign donors, she blamed tabloid journalism, saying she never had any worries about legal action against de Blasio because, “I’m married to a boy scout.”