With Sheldon Silver being pushed aside by his fellow Democrats in the state Assembly, the race is on to succeed him as speaker. NY1's Zack Fink filed the following report.
It’s been a madcap week at the state Capitol. Trapped indoors during a blizzard, Democratic Assembly members met behind closed doors to determine what comes next in the post-Sheldon Silver era.
Silver was arrested last week on corruption charges for an alleged kickback scheme involving a law firm where he was "of counsel." Once a rainmaker for the firm Weitz & Luxenberg, on Wednesday, Silver announced he was taking leave from the company.
Meanwhile, Silver’s forced leave from the speakership has launched a major race to succeed him. Majority leader Joe Morelle takes over as speaker on an interim basis beginning Monday. He is believed to be interested in the job on a more permanent basis, but has stopped short of declaring his candidacy.
"I think there are a great number of people in our conference who have exhibited great leadership in the last several days. They will make their decisions about what they will do in terms of seeking the office."
Morelle, though, is from upstate Rochester, and some Democrats feel the speaker should befrom New York City.
"I do believe that emphatically, that it is a New York City position," said Assemblyman Keith Wright of Manhattan. "Historically, it is a New York City position. Go back 40, 50, 60 years, the speaker has always come from one of the five boroughs."
One candidate making it official Wednesday is Cathy Nolan of Queens, although some members say she is too close to Silver at a time when members want the chamber to head in a new direction.
"Well, I certainly feel that the role of the speaker is to deliver on the issues that the Democratic majority expresses the most concern about," Nolan said. "Obviously, education is one of them. I served as the education chair now for a number of sessions."
The early frontrunner for the post is believed by insiders to be Carl Heastie of the Bronx, who issued a statement saying, "A new leadership team must step forward to earn back the public's trust. Voters deserve an Assembly that will not only fight for all New Yorkers, but will enact the type of lasting reforms that will increase accountability and transparency in our state government."
Codes committee chairman Joe Lentol of Brooklyn has also declared his candidacy for speaker.
On February 10, members will elect a new speaker. While it's unclear at this point who that will be, it is unmistakable that the reign of 20-year speaker Sheldon Silver has come to an inglorious end.