Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito was elected as speaker of the New York City Council, unanimously by all of the 51 council members, Wednesday afternoon.

Ms. Mark-Viverito was nominated as the only candidate for speaker on the floor, after her main rival councilman Dan Garodnick conceded the race moments before the votes were cast.

The move by the 20 members who supported Mr. Garodnick for speaker, until the very last minute, came after some sort of deal was struck, as council members anxiously awaited the delegation to enter the chamber, after a 45-minute delay of the City’s mandated charter time at noon.

Conceding the race, Mr. Garodnick urged unity and pledged to mend any rift that the speakership race might have caused.

A more detailed report will follow shortly.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)