http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/03/nyregion/metrocampaigns/03speaker.html

The New York Times

January 3, 2006

Council Ready to Fill the Job of Speaker

By WINNIE HU

City Councilwoman Christine C. Quinn's candidacy for Council speaker received the support of the powerful Democratic organizations in Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn yesterday, all but ensuring that she gets the job.

While the speaker will not be officially chosen until tomorrow, by a majority vote of the 51-member Council, Ms. Quinn had enough votes last night to make the election a formality, Council members and Democratic leaders said.

Ms. Quinn did not return phone calls yesterday, but issued a statement through an aide. "I am gratified for the support of my colleagues," she said. "I look forward to the vote on Wednesday, and to working with them to improve the lives of all New Yorkers."

Ms. Quinn, 39, represents the Manhattan neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Clinton and parts of SoHo and Murray Hill. She would succeed Gifford Miller, who is leaving the Council under the city's term limits law after his unsuccessful bid for mayor. She would be only the third speaker - and the first woman and first openly gay council member - to serve in the position since it was created by the 1989 City Charter revisions.

After months of maneuvering, Ms. Quinn emerged as the likely winner after Democratic leaders in Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn decided over the weekend to support her instead of her closest rival, Councilman Bill de Blasio of Brooklyn.

Five other Council members had also vied for the position: Lewis A. Fidler of Brooklyn; Leroy G. Comrie Jr., Melinda R. Katz and David I. Weprin of Queens; and Joel Rivera of the Bronx.

In a statement last night, Mr. de Blasio thanked his supporters and urged them to support Ms. Quinn. "I've given this race my all, but my colleague Christine Quinn has the support to win," he said. "Now it's time to unite the Council and ensure a strong speaker, so I am supporting Chris."

The speaker's position has taken on increasing importance in recent years as a counterbalance to the mayor, and under Mr. Miller, the Council approved a flurry of legislation that reshaped a host of policies, including the city's campaign finance laws and noise and building codes. In addition, the speaker wields enormous influence over the city's $50.2 billion budget, and most land use and zoning issues. The speaker, widely regarded as the second-most-powerful city official, earns $29,000 a year in addition to the $90,000 salary earned by members of the Council.

Ms. Quinn, a close ally of Mr. Miller's, is perhaps best known for rallying opponents against the Bloomberg administration's plan to build a football stadium in her West Side district. Since joining the Council in 1999, she has championed socially progressive health and worker benefits laws.

As in the last speaker's race, in 2001, the selection was largely determined by an alliance of the Democratic organizations in Queens and the Bronx, which can deliver the votes of as many as 21 council members. In return, those members are expected to be rewarded with key leadership posts in the Council.

Ululy Rafael Martinez, a spokesman for the Bronx Democratic Party, said he expected his county's members to once again reap the benefits of supporting the winner. But he added, "In terms of the spoils, and what gets distributed, that's yet to be decided."

This year, Brooklyn Democratic leaders also played a role in selecting the next speaker. Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, the new Brooklyn Democratic leader, said he had called party leaders in Queens to pledge his support for Ms. Quinn.

"I wanted to make sure that we sat at the table," he said. "Last time around, most of the members were shut out because they were backing the candidate who lost."

Mr. Lopez and the other county Democratic leaders began placing calls yesterday to individual council members urging them to support Ms. Quinn, effectively bringing an end to the speculation and gossip that had preoccupied members, their aides and lobbyists.

Councilman John C. Liu of Queens, who had preferred Mr. de Blasio, said he would support the decision of the Queens party. He said both Ms. Quinn and Mr. de Blasio were strong leaders, with similar public policy agendas. "It's almost like choosing between chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate swirl ice cream," he said. "In the end, both are equally pleasing to my palate."

Several council members described Ms. Quinn as a hard worker who not only listened to her colleagues but was politically savvy enough to collaborate with them on legislative issues and to share credit. "She understands the need to compromise," said Councilman Tony Avella of Queens. "The nature of legislation is putting a good idea forward."

Mr. Fidler, who had also sought the speaker's position, said Ms. Quinn was the candidate who had appeared to be "most acceptable to everybody" in part because she was well-liked and respected by the other members. "When I shake her hand, I know that her word is good, and that's very important," he said.

Copyright 2006The New York Times Company

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