Party bigs tap Viv successor
THE VOTE for speaker hasn’t been taken yet, but City Councilman Corey Johnson may already be the winner.
Democratic county leaders were finalizing a deal Wednesday to back the Manhattan Democrat for the post, sources said — and their support will likely bring the votes of enough Council members to put Johnson over the top.
The 35-year-old Johnson (photo) is one of eight candidates in the running to replace Melissa MarkViverito. The speaker choice won’t be official until the Council votes in January, but sources said he and county leaders were telling allies Wednesday the deal was in place.
Queens party Chairman Joe Crowley and Bronx Chairman Marcos Crespo have thrown their support behind Johnson, sources said. Manhattan leader Keith Wright also supports him.
Johnson got a call from Crowley, a Queens congressman, affirming his support while meeting with the Uniformed Firefighters Association on Wednesday and told the labor group he secured the votes to win, sources said. The firefighters union also endorsed him.
The Council’s three Republicans are expected to support Johnson.
Johnson, who declined to comment, and his backers believe they have the support of at least 34 members on the 51-person Council, sources said.
Brooklyn’s Democratic Party organization, which has been backing Councilman Robert Cornegy, was not a part of the deal. “Nothing has happened between yesterday and today to change the dynamics in the speaker’s race. We continue to run our positive, vigorous campaign to make history,” said the Brooklyn pol, who would be the Council’s first black speaker.
Johnson was elected in 2013 to the seat representing Chelsea, Midtown and the Village. He’s gay and HIV-positive, and has spoken openly about past struggles with addiction. He grew up in Middletown, Mass., and made headlines for coming out while he was co-captain of his high school football team.
Johnson courted colleagues for the speaker’s post, and backers believe his combative style, coupled with his ability to turn on the charm, will make him an effective balance to de Blasio, though he has also alienated some with his highoctane style. The mayor refused to comment. Johnson also has turned on the cash, with his 2017 campaign donating the maximum allowed in an election cycle — $2,750 — to 19 Council members seeking reelection. He gave the maximum contribution to six candidates running for a Council seat for the first time. Johnson has also doled out $13,125 to local Democratic clubs.
The Daily News has reported the speaker candidate once piled up debts with a former landlord and was accused of having a former campaign volunteer pay his rent. Johnson’s campaign paid for a criminal defense lawyer last year to represent a former campaign manager.
Other candidates are Mark Levine, Donovan Richards, Ritchie Torres, Jimmy Van Bramer, Jumaane Williams and Ydanis Rodriguez.
Most — including Rodriguez, Richards, Van Bramer and Levine — supported Johnson Wednesday night. The City Council “will benefit from his passion, his fighting spirit, and his smarts,” Levine tweeted.
Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club and an LGBT activist, said Johnson “knows how to make everybody in the room feel important.”