With Morelle's exit, Heastie could be speaker by Tuesday

ALBANY – A Bronx legislator is poised to succeed embattled Sheldon Silver as speaker of the state Assembly.

Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, Monroe County, dropped out of the race for speaker Friday and endorsed Assemblyman Carl Heastie, D-Bronx.

The move means Heastie is all but certain to be the next speaker, and lawmakers said a vote to install him could come as early next week. The Legislature is back in Albany on Monday, when Heastie plans to address Assembly Democrats behind closed doors. Silver said Friday he would resign as speaker effective 11:59 p.m. Monday; he plans to stay in office. Morelle would remain majority leader.

The role of speaker is critical: The speaker decides which lawmakers receive leadership posts and the accompanying stipends. The speaker also sets the agenda for the conference and negotiates with the governor and the Senate.

"Carl and I have served together and have been close friends for 15 years. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to unite our members and move the institution forward. He will have my full support," Morelle said.

Heastie's quick ascension marked the end of a remarkable week at the Capitol. Silver, D-Manhattan, was arrested in a federal kickback scheme Jan. 22, and Assembly Democrats on Monday called for him to step down. He begrudgingly agreed, while also proclaiming his innocence. The Assembly said it would elect a new speaker by Feb. 10.

Heastie, 47, was first elected in 2000 and would be the first African-American speaker in state history. He swiftly picked up the endorsement of New York City lawmakers after the members left Albany on Tuesday night.

The only other challenger remaining is Queens Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, but party leaders in Queens are expected to back Heastie.

As speaker, Heastie said he and his colleagues would "work hard every day to build consensus, enact meaningful new reforms, and create opportunity for all New Yorkers. We look forward to starting a new chapter for the New York State Assembly and the people we all serve."

His press aides on Friday did not make him available for an interview with Gannett's Albany Bureau.

Morelle, who was trying to become the first upstate Democratic speaker since 1911, also tried to get the backing of city members, who dominate the Democratic conference.

But Heastie's support grew, and then suburban members started to back him too, leaving Morelle with dwindling votes in the suburbs and upstate — areas he would need to sweep in order to win the race.

"I think that with Carl, people are impressed by his reputation as being thoughtful and fair. He's someone who can listen to people and represent the diversity of the conference and of the region," said Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, D-New City, Rockland County.

Some upstate leaders were disappointed Morelle couldn't pull off the upset.

"An Assembly speaker from upstate would have been welcomed, without a doubt," said Greg Biryla, executive director of Unshackle Upstate, a Rochester-based business group. "But we hope that no matter what, when this process is over that there be a new era in the Assembly where upstate can have a bigger voice at the table."

Some good-government groups criticized the pace of the selection, saying the candidates haven't been fully vetted. They called for a public forum to hear from the candidates about their visions for New York.

"Our organizations strongly believe that democracy demands openness. Backroom dealing and secrecy undermine public confidence and breed public cynicism and apathy," the groups said in a letter to Assembly members.

Heastie will now have the task of restoring confidence in a chamber that has been rattled by Silver's downfall. Silver had been the speaker since 1994 and was one year shy of being the longest serving speaker in state history.

Many lawmakers view selection of a new speaker as an opportunity to reform operations in the Assembly and, particularly, hope members will be allowed a larger voice in how business is conducted and what bills make it to the floor for a vote.

About 30 lawmakers wrote a letter to potential speaker candidates asking for change. Heastie plans to meet with the group Monday.

"We believe that these reforms are the best way to restore faith in our ability to serve the public," the letter reads. "Any change in leadership must be accompanied by substantial reform in the way the State Assembly functions. Now is the time to move forward to build a better, stronger Assembly."

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What's next

The Assembly has put a Feb. 10 deadline on picking a new speaker, but the process is likely to be over by Tuesday. The Assembly plans to convene Monday, when Assemblyman Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, is likely to be elected as speaker.