Potential Speaker Candidates Pull in Campaign Cash

It may be a little early for most to start thinking about who will replace Melissa Mark-Viverito as New York City Council Speaker when she steps down at the end of 2017 because of term limits, but some see the most recent campaign finance filings as a premonition of a progressive-on-progressive showdown to replace her.

Manhattan City Councilman Corey Johnson reporting raising $110,740 over the past six months, leaving him with $113,946 in his account. Several sources said Johnson, a member of the Progressive Caucus, is preparing to mount a bid to succeed Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito when her term ends in 2017. His office did not respond to requests for comment.

Other progressives who are rumored to be eyeing the post are City Council members Jumaane Williams, Julissa Ferreras and Mark Levine.

Williams, who sought the speakership in the 2013, raised $60,160, leaving him with $54,514 in his campaign coffers, according to his latest campaign finance filing. Williams’ campaign said he was currently weighing several options for 2017.

Ferreras reported collecting $59,645 this past filing period. This leaves her with a balance of $54,435, Campaign Finance Board documents show. Ferreras’ campaign could not be reached for comment.

Levine listed his most recent haul as $69,835, which balanced out to $66,011 total in his campaign account. A spokesman for Levine said he was not thinking about an election that’s two years away, but focused on his daily duties as a councilman.   

The only non-Progressive Caucus member said to be pursing the speakership, City Councilman David Greenfield, reported raising $130,119 and amassing $157,262. Greenfield, who is technically serving his first full term after winning a special election in 2010, may forego a run in 2017 and instead eye the post in 2021.  His campaign did not respond to requests for comment.