With the special election for New York City public advocate set for Tuesday, Feb. 26, nine of the candidates vying for the post attended a UFT forum at the union’s Brooklyn borough office on Jan. 10 in the last in a series of four town halls around the city. The union organized the events to give its members the opportunity to hear and ask questions of the candidates. UFT President Michael Mulgrew, who served as the forum’s moderator, asked them for their thoughts on helping public school educators support the growing population of homeless students, getting more education funding to schools and classrooms, and holding charter schools more accountable. The Brooklyn forum coincided with the union’s #RedforEd day, so nearly all the candidates and many of the UFT members in attendance wore red to show their solidarity with striking Los Angeles teachers. Twenty-three candidates are vying for the seat left vacant when Letitia James became state Attorney General on Jan. 1.