Whatever happened to “I am not a very good politician”? That was so three years ago:

Mark Green — New York City’s public advocate from 1994 to 2001, who famously sparred with Rudolph W. Giuliani before narrowly losing the 2001 mayoral race to Michael R. Bloomberg in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks — formally declared on Tuesday that he was running to get his old job back.

Mr. Green made his announcement in a four-minute video and a letter addressed to his supporters and the news media on his Web site. “In a time of crisis, the City needs leaders who combine proven experience with new ideas,” he said.