Gale Brewer, Incoming UWS Council Rep, Drops Out Of Speaker Race

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The next Upper West Side representative in the City Council will not also be the Speaker.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer announced with four other candidates on Tuesday that she is dropping out of the race and endorsing Adrienne Adams (no relation to Eric Adams).

Adams represents southeast Queens in the Council.

Brewer is replacing the term-limited UWS Council Member Helen Rosenthal in January.

Brewer was a late addition to the Speaker race, and recently outlined her reasoning for why she would do well in the position.

The Speaker sets the legislative agenda for the Council, makes appointments to important Council committees, and is seen as a check on the Mayor's executive powers.

The Speaker also plays a massive role in producing the city's annual budget.

In a confusing development on Tuesday, both Adams and Council Member Francisco Moya declared themselves as the winner of the Speaker race.

Moyes has received substantial support from allies of Mayor-Elect Adams, while the coalition that formed around Adams (Council Member) Tuesday gave her a major push in the race.

The official vote for the Speaker position will take place in January after the 51 members of the new Council are officially sworn in.

Read More: Gale Brewer Outlines Why She Should Be Elected Council Speaker