Five candidates for City Council speaker offered differing opinions on key issues and boosted their different leadership skills during the first candidate forum, taking place in Jackson Heights on Thursday night.

The speaker wannabes included: Mellisa Mark-Viverito, Mark Weprin, Dan Garodnick, Jimmy Vacca and Annabel Palma.

The major candidates did their best to sell their own candidacies and distinguish themselves from each other.

“What I believe distinguishes me form the rest of the candidates is that I am the progressive candidate for City Council speaker … I am the most vocal, visible consistently on the issues that matter to all of us,” said Ms. Mark-Viverito.

But Councilman Weprin, who’s a serious contender for Speaker, would not let Ms. Mark-Viverito claim the progressive mantle all to herself. In a more spirited manner, he insisted that he was also dedicated to liberal causes, including immigration reform.

“I’m not gonna argue Melissa’s the most progressive of all of us, but I’ve got a 20 year progressive record and if you look at every vote I’ve taken in those 20 years, I don’t think you’re gonna find one that wouldn’t call a progressive vote,” he declared..

Mr. Weprin actually made a fair point, suggesting that unlike other candidates or previous speakers, he has no intention of running for mayor or seek any elected office after finishing his 3 terms as Council member. “I am not running for mayor of the City of New York. Ever,” he said.

He also noted the fact that he’s one of the few candidates who can serve for more than one term.

“I have the ability to run for a second term, unlike the rest of the panel here tonight, and the reason why that’s important is because I’m gonna be held accountable for my promises,” Mr. Weprin said. “I have to go back to my colleagues and say, ‘Hey, how am I doing? Do you want to keep me in the job?’ They could throw me out after four years and I want to tell them, ‘I’m going to be an advocate for them and that’s how you’re gonna judge me.’ ”

Mr. Garodnick, who as Ms. Mark-Viverito has only one term to serve, cast himself as a ‘problem solver.’ He also positioned himself as the only candidate not beholden to serve mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s agenda in full. “We also need to be able to stand on our own two feet,” he said.

“I think it’s important for the City Council to be a strong but respectful counterbalance to the mayor,” he said, adding the Council should “not just be responsive to somebody else’s agenda” but acts as an idea generator.

“The job of the speaker is to everyday work to help your colleagues succeed, help them deliver positive results in their districts, help them solve the many significant issues we have in the city,” he said of the job he’s seeking.

Ms. Palma, who is not yet considered a front-running candidate, made the case that her compelling personal story made her an ideal candidate. “What sets me apart from my great colleagues up here with me today is that most of the issues that we advocate for … I actually have either experienced them or lived them myself, whether it’s being a teenage parent, whether it’s being homeless, whether it’s getting my hours cut and not knowing where the next paycheck was gonna come from,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Vacca, who’s considered the most moderate candidate, touted his many years of public service knowing how to work with people. He pledged to make the City Council a more effective legislative body over performing motions on the floor, and performing meaningful oversight over City agencies

On the issue of member items, the five candidates offered differing visions for reforming the process that allocates discretionary funds to council members for non-profits in their districts.

Mark-Viverito said the earmarks, which total about $50 million a year, are “too politicized.” She, therefore, expressed her interest as speaker to encourage members to take ownership on a needs-based formula.

Mr. Weprin added that the entire budget should be needs-based, but that member items should be leveled for all districts rather than basing the allocations on the fiscal needs of each district. “The member item money, in my opinion, should start with a level amount for everybody because everybody has needs in their district,” he said.

“The problem with the allocation is that it embarrasses people. It gives the speaker the ability to humiliate someone, maybe for a reason that has nothing to do with anything appropriate,” he added.

Several forums are scheduled for next week. The Council will officially select the Speaker in January.

Photo: Ben Max – Twitter

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)