Melissa Mark-Viverito was elected Wednesday as the next speaker of the New York City Council in a unanimous vote, concluding a protracted drama that went down to the wire.
Our Erin Durkin reports and our James Keivom photographs:
The East Harlem Councilwoman is a staunch liberal and ally of Mayor de Blasio, whose intervention in the race on her behalf was decisive.
“I am very honored and humbled by this day,” said Mark-Viverito. “We unite for a more equal and just New York.”
It was clear Mark-Viverito would prevail going into Wednesday, but her supporters and those of rival Dan Garodnick huddled separately before the vote to determine whether there would be a deal for a unified vote or a fierce floor fight.
Garodnick had pressed his candidacy even after Mark-Viverito declared she had majority support last month, and the Bronx and Queens Democratic chairs, with 20 Council members on their side, resisted de Blasio’s pressure to get on board with Mark-Viverito.
But at the last minute, knowing they did not have the votes to win, Garodnick and his team agreed to back Mark-Viverito.
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As the crowd waited in suspense, Garodnick finally arrived at City Hall half an hour after the vote was scheduled and hugged his former rival, mouthing “congratulations.”
“Over a year ago I offered myself as a candidate to be the speaker of the City Council because I believed I could offer progressive leadership and independence to a body to which I am deeply committed.
“In the spirit of strengthening the Council, which animated my candidacy from the start, I want to formally concede to the next speaker of the City Council, my colleague, Melissa Mark-Viverito,” he said.
“It is not lost on me that this became a tense and grueling process for many of us,” he said, stressing the Council should be a “respectful and strong counterbalance to the mayor” and saying he’d work to heal the rifts the bruising race has created.
Mark-Viverito will be the first Latina and first person of color to serve as speaker.
“This is a historic moment,” said Councilman Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx), who formally nominated Mark-Viverito, calling her “someone who has never hesitated to speak truth to power.”
