2006: The Council's Beginning
Christine Quinn was elected as the new Speaker for the Council, after Queens County Chair for the Democratic Party, Tom Manton, threw his support behind her candidacy. Of course, there were other factors. The Dem county party bosses from Brooklyn and the Bronx, in addition to Manton, also went her way, but Manton was the kingmaker of this race. The other frontrunner in the race, Brooklyn's Bill deBlasio, quickly conceded the race to her.
Quinn was voted in as the new Speaker with 50 votes from the Council. The one missing was Charles Barron, who abstained. While abstaining, Barron was complaining about the process that put Quinn in power:
“Council members who want to challenge you to be independent; to be free from giving your vote to a county leader, a union, a business leader, or any other outside voices trying to control you,” said Barron. (From NY1
At least this time, Barron wasn't going around with racially charged words, as he often does. It sure didn't help his failed mayoral bid last year and I doubt many people ever bother to listen to his rants.
So what will this mean for the Council?
The Council will certainly be at least as combative against Bloomberg as it was under Gifford Miller. That check on Bloomberg can be a good thing, even if the Council is not as popular as Bloomberg is right now. That is not to mean that the Council and Bloomberg can't and won't work together. They will, on many things. However, even with the huge victory in November, Bloomberg will not have a rubber stamp Council waiting on him.
But will this be a Council like that under Miller? After all, Quinn was placed into this post the same way Miller was put in there at the beginning of 2002, by county party bosses. But that question will be answered in time, likely sooner rather than later.
One final note will be provided by The News Blog:
I can remember the last City Council President, which is what the Speaker's job was before the charter revision to eliminate the Board of Estimate. The guy's name was Tom Cuite and he was an Irish guy from Brooklyn who made it his sworn duty to prevent a gay rights bill from being passed in the City Council.
The fact, that in 20 years he can be replaced by a lesbian is a great thing. I've always trusted Quinn as a straightfoward pol and one who doesn't back down from a fight.
Further reading:
The Politicker
The News Blog
The News Blog again
Backroom Deal Breaker: We've Got Ourselves a New Speaker!
Backroom Deal Breaker: It's Official...
Backroom Deal Breaker: The Morning Line-up
Questioning Quinn (Gotham Gazette)
NY1
News Copy
Quinn was voted in as the new Speaker with 50 votes from the Council. The one missing was Charles Barron, who abstained. While abstaining, Barron was complaining about the process that put Quinn in power:
“Council members who want to challenge you to be independent; to be free from giving your vote to a county leader, a union, a business leader, or any other outside voices trying to control you,” said Barron. (From NY1
At least this time, Barron wasn't going around with racially charged words, as he often does. It sure didn't help his failed mayoral bid last year and I doubt many people ever bother to listen to his rants.
So what will this mean for the Council?
The Council will certainly be at least as combative against Bloomberg as it was under Gifford Miller. That check on Bloomberg can be a good thing, even if the Council is not as popular as Bloomberg is right now. That is not to mean that the Council and Bloomberg can't and won't work together. They will, on many things. However, even with the huge victory in November, Bloomberg will not have a rubber stamp Council waiting on him.
But will this be a Council like that under Miller? After all, Quinn was placed into this post the same way Miller was put in there at the beginning of 2002, by county party bosses. But that question will be answered in time, likely sooner rather than later.
One final note will be provided by The News Blog:
I can remember the last City Council President, which is what the Speaker's job was before the charter revision to eliminate the Board of Estimate. The guy's name was Tom Cuite and he was an Irish guy from Brooklyn who made it his sworn duty to prevent a gay rights bill from being passed in the City Council.
The fact, that in 20 years he can be replaced by a lesbian is a great thing. I've always trusted Quinn as a straightfoward pol and one who doesn't back down from a fight.
Further reading:
The Politicker
The News Blog
The News Blog again
Backroom Deal Breaker: We've Got Ourselves a New Speaker!
Backroom Deal Breaker: It's Official...
Backroom Deal Breaker: The Morning Line-up
Questioning Quinn (Gotham Gazette)
NY1
News Copy
posted by Will at 9:49 PM
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