A Democratic Committee in Lower Manhattan has chosen a candidate to run in the April special election to fill former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's now vacant seat.
The Committee members tapped Alice Cancel as their choice to represent the 65th district, which covers the Lower East Side, Chinatown and the Financial District.
Silver was convicted on seven counts of federal corruption last November.
While Silver was not present for the vote, his former Chief of staff Judy Rapfogel was part of the selection process.
Rapfogel and Silver supported Cancel who won the overwhelming majority of votes in the first round of the committee's meeting.
"Oh my God, this is historic for our district. This is wonderful and I can actually bring everyone together for the years I have been a district leader," Council said.
In a surprise move, candidate Yuh-line Niou, who has the backing of the Working Families Party, dropped out of the Democratic race just before voting got under way.
Niou will remain on the ballot in April on the Working Families party line, setting up a race between her and a candidate supported by Silver.