TARGET: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver could face a challenge this winter. (Sipa Press)
(
)
Some foot soldiers in the state Assembly are whispering about something that hasn’t been tried in 10 years — a long-shot attempt to dethrone Sheldon Silver as speaker.
A few rank-and-file legislators — some of whom have Andrew Cuomo’s ear — have mused about a move against Silver if he becomes an obstacle to the governor-elect’s agenda.
“Some are monitoring the situation, but aren’t prepared to move forward without Cuomo,” said one Democratic assemblyman from the city. “The question is whether Cuomo is willing to go nuclear or not.”
Cuomo has told some lawmakers he’s concerned Silver will block the governor-elect’s push for financial and ethics reform, and his property-tax cap.
Assembly Dems will hold an informal vote in December.
No clear candidate has emerged, but the likeliest scenario for a coup, insiders say, is that the 31-member Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian caucus would join with an outer-borough delegation and a few upstate Democrats to plot an ouster.
Sources close to Cuomo said he’s not willing to back any coup against Silver and actually wants to keep him around — as long as the veteran pol stays cooperative.
For one thing, Albany insiders say, Silver is widely viewed as the most competent leader in the dysfunctional legislature.
“Silver’s word is solid in terms of delivering votes, whereas the Senate can’t even speak for its Democratic conference or deliver its votes,” said a veteran Albany watcher.
More likely than not, Silver will remain the speaker, said a city Democrat. “I don’t see the cohesiveness downstate,” said Bronx Assemblyman Peter Rivera. “I haven’t heard of any cabal plotting anything.”
Silver may voluntarily relinquish his leadership role after this term, said an Albany source close to the speaker.
“There is widespread speculation that this may be his last term as speaker, especially with the likelihood that Cuomo is going to try and pass the toughest ethics-reform law ever,” the source said.
That reform law would require Silver to disclose his law-firm income — something he has never volunteered to do.
The last coup attempt against Silver in 2000 ended in disaster for veteran Syracuse Assemblyman Michael Bragman. Silver brutally crushed Bragman and stripped him of his majority-leadership position and $34,500 stipend. His supporters lost their committee chairmanships.
Coup plotters would have to get a simple majority — at least 50 to 52 votes, depending on the outcome of four undecided races — at the informal vote in December. A speaker candidate would then need 76 votes at a full Assembly vote in January to win the coveted post.
NUMBERS GAME
New York State Assembly
Undecided: 4
Republicans: 49
Democrats: 97
50-52 Democrats needed to nominate a new speaker
31 Democratic minority caucus members