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Boro’s Democratic leader orchestrates new speaker’s win

By Zach Patberg

“Queens once again was the powerhouse,” said Doug Muzzio, a public policy professor at Baruch College. “And Tom Manton once again proved he is the last of the remaining bosses.”With the ability to deliver about two-thirds of the 26-vote majority needed from the Council body to elect a speaker, the chief of Queens' Democratic organization prevailed over a group of party leaders from other boroughs already at the top of the candidates' courting lists.The heavy hand of Manton and his fellow party heads in Brooklyn and the Bronx was reminiscent of the last speaker election in 2001 when the Queens boss almost single-handedly picked Gifford Miller for the job.This year, in a race many saw as centered around two candidates-Quinn and Councilman Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn) – Quinn pulled ahead by currying favor with Democratic Party leaders rather than focusing on building support within the Council, as de Blasio did, according to Muzzio, who moderated a debate between the seven speaker candidates in November.”She made nice to Manton and Crowley,” he said, referring to U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), who is Manton's successor in Congress and perhaps as the eventual head of the Queens Democratic Party, and for whom Quinn held a fund-raiser in the weeks leading up to the speaker election. Crowley represents parts of the Bronx and thus could deliver crucial votes from that borough. “Queens was the key coalition,” Muzzio added, “and was and will be awarded accordingly.”The borough's biggest perk will most likely be keeping the status quo when it comes to committee chairmanships, since its members already head most of the powerful ones. Allies of Manton are also likely to be rewarded with prime staff positions in the Council.Of the five or so committee chairmanships now open, most will probably go to the Bronx and Brooklyn, with Councilman Erik Martin Dilan (D-Brooklyn) to possibly head the Housing and Buildings Committee. The Education Committee could either go to Councilman Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) or someone in Brooklyn, political insiders said. All committee assignments will be made by the Jan. 18 Council session.Some have criticized the immense sway of the party bosses in selecting a speaker and the traditional method of using committee chairs as bargaining chips.On Jan. 4, Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) abstained from an otherwise unanimous vote of approval for Quinn from the Council floor, charging that the flawed process allowed party bosses like Manton to handpick the speaker.Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) agreed, but shifted blame from the party bosses to his colleagues in the Council.”They're afraid to do anything without the leadership,” he said, “and at the end of the day that's how it has control.”A day before the speaker vote, the Citizens Union, a nonpartisan political watchdog group, also called for reform, suggesting five principles that should be adopted to ensure a more transparent and democratic council without the dominance of the Democratic machine.”The challenge for the New York City Council is how to make it more democratic and effective when it is so largely controlled by one political party,” said Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union, in a statement.As for the three Queens Council members who competed for the speakership — Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills), David Weprin (D-Hollis) and Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) — Muzzio and others saw them as never having been viable contenders for the office because it would have forced Manton to choose one over the others.”It's not that they weren't capable, but rather if you name one speaker, you tick off the other two,” Muzzio said. “It would produce too much dissension in Queens.””Plus,” he added, “(the Queens delegation) doesn't need a speaker. The speaker owes them.”The remaining two challengers for the post were Councilmen Lewis Fidler (D-Brooklyn) and majority leader Joel Rivera (D-Bronx).Now that a speaker is in place, one of the most talked-about issues facing the Council is bound to surface. On term limits, many of the members, including Quinn, have supported extending them, through a legislative act, from eight to 12 years. But others, particularly Avella, have been outspoken about keeping the limit to two terms.”I support Christine. She's one of the hardest workers in the Council,” Avella said. “But if she goes and tries to pass this through legislation, then we have a problem.”Avella did say he would stomach the change if it were to pass by a voter referendum, however, but only if it took effect when the next class took office in 2010.”So to not look like it is such a purely self-interested action,” he said.Reach reporter Zach Patberg at news@timesledger.com or ata 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.