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David Weprin & Speaking Of Speakers

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

For the past several months, I’ve been chatting with the folks who hope to lead New York City starting in 2002, when term limits present exciting opportunities for the city’s future.

During the spring, we met at our office with all four Dem candidates for mayor, and have started interviewing the comptroller and public advocate candidates. It’s been a marvelous trip.

As I meet the wannabes for citiwide offices and council,  I am more convinced that city government tomorrow will be more responsive to the people, more independent in vote and action, more committed to task and more dedicated to purpose than the Council is today or has ever been.

I’ll probably keep applauding the positive impact of term limits (coupled with campaign public matching funds) while repeating I’m not a convert in support of term limits. However, its effect and impact is wonderful for the political process, government, the people and the city.

The future city will be led by the three citywide elected officials and the new council, where 35 of the 51 members will be newly elected. Their leader, the speaker, will be a junior partner to the mayor in bringing about change.

Since the new charter (under court direction) abolished the Board of Estimate, the Council has increased in importance and power. A new council with nearly 70 percent of its member newly elected will allow the legislative body to form a new personality and role. Look for the younger (read newer) members to learn from the senior members but not necessarily follow them. A new class of 35 – with some cohesiveness – would be in control and very well might seek to select one of its own as speaker, bypassing the traditional weight of seniority.

In addition to the new class/old class split, leadership in the overwhelmingly Democratic Council will be impacted by county Dem organizations and perhaps ethnic alliances. Council members and council candidates are already out there campaigning for the body’s top slot. Perhaps it’s a bit early because alliances made today might fall victim to quick deals cut after a new mayor is elected.

Brooklyn has three speaker wannabes: Angel Rodriguez (Hispanic) and Tracy Boyland (African American) are both of the council class of ’98 and veteran legislator seeking election to the council; and there is African American Al Vann. Brooklyn Dem County leader Clarence Norman is not expected to be able to keep the largest delegation united, no matter which of the three he backs, presenting a major roadblock for any of Kings County’s hopefuls.

African American Bill Perkins (‘98) and Giff Miller (white, ‘96) both from Manhattan, where Dem Leader Denny Farrell rarely if ever attempts to keep the diverse borough united also come to the table without a solid block.

Ollie Koeppel (white) from the Bronx is hoping to win a council seat and the speakership based on his longtime service in a variety of positions. However, Koeppel’s dream will be unfulfilled since he doesn’t even have the support of his own county organization and its leader Roberto Ramirez.

 Staten Island — still part of NYC — is barely a player.

And Queens . . . the only borough to have all new members in this election and the one delegation that has demonstrated an ability to vote as a block . . . has yet to solidify behind anyone.

With fourteen new council members, what will the Queens Dem organization and the new Queens council members look for in selecting which of its members (if any) to back for speaker? Certainly if the delegation sticks together and Tom Manton and/or a Queens homeboy mayor aligns with another borough, the Queens candidate would look good.

Everyone would want competence: experience, including a depth of knowledge of government, fiscal responsibility and an ability to work with people. County leader Tom Manton – the likely deal maker — would want loyalty: an ability to work with the person. And naturally, the person has to be a winner — if you don’t get elected to the council, you can’t be the speaker.

In Queens, three such people quickly come to mind: Peter Vallone, Jr., Melinda Katz and David Weprin.

All three have both primary and general elections ahead of them, but all three will easily walk over the opposition — not to discourage others who are running, but there is no doubt that each will win and win big.

Pete, Jr. was raised at the knee of Pete, Sr., a council member since 1974 and speaker since 1986. Pete Jr. has been involved and has developed his own political persona leading his community’s fight against power plant proliferation. Pete has what it takes to succeed his father. But the city and the new council aren’t ready for the Speakership to be passed via bloodline. Furthermore, Pete, Jr.’s political rabbi will either be mayor – making the council leery of too much power in one political family – or a loser, lacking the clout to call in the political favors.

Melinda Katz, former assemblywoman, Democratic district leader, protégé to Alan Hevesi and major hoohah in the administration of Queens Borough Hall is another outstanding possibility whose political lineage is, in this case, a handicap. Hevesi, her chief political rabbi, like Vallone, will either be mayor or a loser and therefore Melinda, like Pete, Jr., will serve in the council but not likely be a viable speaker candidate.

Then there is David Weprin: Democratic district leader, former state deputy commissioner of banking, older brother of Assemblyman Mark and son of the late Assembly Speaker Saul. The astute politician who learned the game from his father has already scored big in the campaign season.

First, Dem County Leader Tom Manton used a judgeship to convince Bernice Siegel not to challenge Weprin. Then, when challenged in the primary only by ethnic newcomer J.D. Thakeral and in the general election by Republican Phil Sica who is in it to lose, rather than take it east this summer, Weprin gears up for a full fledged campaign. The guy, who is a shoe-in, is running hard.

He’s raising and spending money — he’ll max out under finance rules; he’s opening a headquarters; he’s taking time off from his law practice; he’s attending debates, candidate nights, and any dinner where there’s a camera;  and he is working the press.

David and I lunched last Friday at Joe Franco’s beautiful Caffe on the Green. I introduced Joe and David. Joe immediately acknowledged knowing who David was. Family depth and hard work does pay dividends.

Over salad, David shared his on- target political analysis and realistic attitude toward making government work. As the main course was served, we got down to the nitty gritty.

David had left a very lucrative position as an investment banker and opted to practice law and run for council taking a deep cut in salary.

Why?

After quipping, “that it must be  in the family’s defective genes,” David shared his enthusiasm.

“With a new mayor, comptroller, public advocate and 35 new council members,” Weprin explained, “it will be challenging and exciting. We can make a difference.” David, although not a devotee of term limits, acknowledges that he likely wouldn’t have chosen the new career path if term limits had not opened up the city.

He is shrewd, ready to take the correct independent stance while spinning it to fit within the system. “Certainly,” he explained, “it is wrong to spend public funds for campaign purposes,” but would not take on any abusers indicating, “There is often a proper reason for such actions.”

His number one issue, “education,” rings true in his district and citywide. His style is more of the quiet, effective negotiator than the flamboyant politician. He knows how to achieve his end without making enemies.

He’s able to sit on the fence without alienating both sides. He recognized that there were “clearly two valid sides” to the McLaughlin Park bathroom controversy that plagued his district earlier in the year. Rejecting terms like “racism,” Weprin expressed the need for quiet understanding and dialogue to solve sticky problems.

His network is based on relationships built by himself, his father and brother. He’s established his worthiness with Dem leader Manton. His family assembly network will certainly not hurt him.

I found him warmer and friendlier than his reputation. I enjoyed lunch. I enjoyed David. His insight into politics, his mature approach to government, his understanding of what makes the system run will make David Weprin a force to reckon with in the next council.

For those who play the game, put David Weprin on your short list of those who might be the next speaker of the New York City Council.

Shame On Speaker Vallone
Spending City $ To Run For Mayor

We’ve had it!

Years of public service does not entitle you to spend public money to run for mayor.

The very same mayoral candidate who showed up at our office on a campaign stop, with a fistful of New York City paid council staffers, continues to utilize city funds to write, print and mail material that is blatantly designed to further his mayoral election campaign.

This mailer, taking credit for keeping the streets safe, is filled with his name and picture. It seems the Speaker believes he single-handedly solved the public safety problem and has the right to spend your money to deliver that message in the middle of a mayoral campaign.

Vallone, who has been presented as a highly moral man, has resorted to the most abusive of practices of public officials – he is using public money for personal gain.

Shame on you Peter!

Not4Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

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Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com

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