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Flake withdraws name for Bush cabinet position

By Bryan Schwartzman

Political allies of Flake said he pulled out of the running for many of the same reasons he left Congress in 1998: to spend more time with family and to oversee the Allen AME Church in Jamaica, where he is the pastor.

Flake had mulled a 2001 bid for mayor but earlier in the year took a job as the head of the charter schools division of Edison Schools, the largest education management firm in the country.

Flake scored a major victory last week when Schools Chancellor Harold Levy announced five troubled city schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx would be given the option to convert to charter status under the management of Edison schools.

Flake did not return phone calls requesting comment.

Several of Flake's closest allies, including state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) and Patrick Jenkins, a liaison to Flake's successor, U.S. Rep Greg Meeks, said they had been elated at the prospect of having their friend and mentor serve in the cabinet but understood his decision.

“It would have been exciting,” said Smith, who is a longtime member of Flake's church.

In February Flake endorsed Democrat Al Gore for president during an appearance Gore made at Sunday services. There was speculation that Flake did not want to alienate his parishioners, many of whom were staunchly anti-Bush, by taking a post in his Republican cabinet.

Smith said Flake's parishioners were solidly behind him and would have supported his accepting the secretary of education slot.

Like Bush, Flake is a strong proponent of charter schools and helped get the Charter Schools Act passed in the state Legislature two years ago. The possibility of having five New York City schools come under the management of Edison Schools may have influenced his decision not to seek the post even though none is in Queens.

The schools are PS 161 in Manhattan, Chancellor's School 66 in the Bronx, and MS 320, MS 246, and IS 111 in Brooklyn.

A majority of the parents at each school must approve of the conversion of the charter school in order for the change to take place, Levy said.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani told a recent news conference that it was a good first step, although he thought more schools should have been on the list.

City Council Speaker Peter Vallone (D-Astoria) chastised Levy's decision, saying the chancellor was taking resources and accountability away from public education.

“Our system is not working,” said Smith. “We have to try something different.”

Flake said in an interview last week that his support of charter schools and public vouchers made him an ideal candidate for Bush's cabinet.

“Education is going to be a big part of his administration,” he said. “It will be about classroom standards and improving teacher quality.”