When the state assembly meets on Monday it is a forgone conclusion by Monday afternoon the speakers seat will be vacant either by current speaker Sheldon Silver stepping down or being voted out by the assembly body. The field of replacement candidates have dwindled down as some candidates have taken their name out of the running for one reason or another.
Manhattan Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Keith Wright who many (including myself) thought was the front runner for the speaker's seat has decided to throw his support behind Carl Heastie. The reason, Wright wants to replace Charlie Rangel in the 15th Congressional district which has about 26 percent of the Bronx. This way the Bronx Democratic County organization should be backing candidate Wright for the vacant 15th Congressional district in 2016. .
Assemblyman Joe Lentol of Brooklyn has also withdrawn his name to back Heastie for speaker. Lentol is currently chair of the Assembly Codes Committee, so it is unclear what Lentol will gain from the endorsement.
Queens Democratic County Leader Joe Crowley has announced his support of Heastie for speaker which now drains Queens Assemblywoman Kathleen Nolan's bid to be the next speaker. This leaves only the interim speaker to be Assemblyman Joe Morelle in the way of Carl Heastie. As of this morning it is rumored that Heastie has or is very close to securing the 74 needed votes to become the next speaker of the New York State Assembly.
Our congratulations to the next speaker Carl Heastie.
However as it goes in politics "One never knows what will happen next".
