The race for speaker of the City Council has narrowed down to two as the day passes by. Earlier the day, Queens councilman Mark Weprin dropped out of the race and threw his support for Dan Garodnick, as well as Councilwoman Annabel Palma, who told Capital today that she’s ending her speaker campaign and backing Garodnick. Brooklyn councilman Jumaane Williams tweeted he will support Mark-Viverito.

But the story of the day is Brooklyn. After an aggressive effort by Bill and Chirlane de Blasio, Brooklyn County leader Frank Seddio cut a deal with the Progressive Caucus to support Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito for Speaker, granting her on paper a super-majority ahead of the January 8th vote.

According to a source who spoke to Capital New York, Brooklyn Democratic chair Frank Seddio made the decision to throw the county’s backing to Mark-Viverito after a de Blasio aide pressed him to do so in a meeting. “Frank wanted to unite Brooklyn, Bill de Blasio is from Brooklyn, so this sort of cements Brooklyn’s relationship with the administration,” said the source.

Another source, who spoke to YWN on the condition of anonymity, said Brooklyn County leaders had only 8 committed members united on their side, with two newbies Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo and Councilman Chaim Deutsch opting out and acting independently. Both camps claimed Tuesday they have the Brooklyn freshman on their side.

The deal with Mark-Viverito now seems to have been sealed, as the county and Brooklyn’s progressive members agreed to work as one and rebuild Brooklyn as a superpower, according to the source close to the negotiations.

Mr. de Blasio tried to cover up his involvement in the race for speaker, dodging questions directed at him at a Brooklyn press conference. “I want to just say this very clearly,” he said. “I respect the fact that the council members make this decision. I can offer my own observations but they make this decision. I think it is well known I know, like and respect Melissa greatly. But this is a decision that council members make.”

As of Wednesday evening, Dan Garodnick insisted he’s staying in the speaker’s race and that he can win.

“Not only am I still in it, I am so grateful to have the support of a great leader like Annabel Palma and very much look forward to working with her in the next term,” Garodnick told Capital New York.

“This is a campaign that has three weeks to go, and I’m feeling really good about where we stand,” he told the Daily News.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)