Assembly members are strongly considering holding their speaker vote one week earlier than planned, sources say.
Assemblyman Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat, is on the verge of locking up the votes necessary to be elected the next speaker. After Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, the majority leader, dropped out of the backroom contest today, Mr. Heastie only has one opponent left: Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan of Queens.
The Assembly vote would be moved to this Tuesday, a week before the scheduled February 10 date. Sources cautioned that a February 3 vote, while increasingly likely, has not been finalized yet
“Carl is looking to move it up a week since he has the support,” an Albany source said. “They’re looking to do the vote on Tuesday.”
Mr. Heastie moved quickly to consolidate support after a top rival for minority votes, Assemblyman Keith Wright, announced he was leaving the race on Wednesday. Mr. Heastie secured the support of the Brooklyn and Queens Democratic parties yesterday and will also likely have the backing the 150-member Assembly’s sizable Black, Latino and Asian Caucus.
If elected, Mr. Heastie would be the first African-American speaker. He also leads the Bronx Democratic Party.
The current speaker, Sheldon Silver, is expected to resign Monday after he was arrested on corruption charges last week.
A spokesman for Mr. Heastie, Patrick Jenkins, did not say when the vote would take place.
