A behind-the-scenes battle is brewing over the city clerk’s job, one of the top patronage appointments in city government since it comes with a $174,399-a-year salary.
The term of incumbent City Clerk Victor Robles expired May 12, providing City Council Speaker Christine Quinn with an opportunity to name someone else and pay back political favors.
“Queens has been getting everything,” said one insider, referring to Queens Democratic leader Tom Manton, who played a key role in Quinn’s ascendancy and was dutifully rewarded when several allies landed on the council payroll.
Sources said Bronx Democratic officials expect they’re going to make the call on the clerk’s job, which had been in The Bronx’s domain before Robles took office in 2001.
But Brooklyn council members are rallying to the side of Robles, a former councilman from the borough.
“Brooklyn wouldn’t support anyone but Victor,” declared one source. “It would be war.”
That presents a problem for Quinn because the Democratic leaders of both Brooklyn and The Bronx – Vito Lopez and José Rivera, respectively – joined in pushing her for speaker.
Unless a deal is struck, she risks offending one or the other.
The city clerk’s chief duty is to oversee the municipal Marriage Bureau, not the toughest of assignments. Best of all, the term of office is five years – longer than just about anyone else’s in government.
Quinn aides insist she’s been busy with budget talks and hasn’t focused on the clerk’s appointment.
“We have not looked at that issue,” said spokeswoman Maria Alvarado.
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Just because it’s a nonprofit doesn’t mean it isn’t profitable.
Last week, city Comptroller Bill Thompson issued a report questioning some practices at Homes for the Homeless, which has a $15.9 million, two-year city contract to provide shelter to 222 families in Queens.
Records show Ralph Nuñez, the executive director, was paid $324,046 in 2004 to run the $13 million nonprofit agency and two subsidiaries. That’s $129,046 more than Mayor Bloomberg would earn if he accepted his $195,000 salary.
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Even when he endorsed Fernando Ferrer for mayor last year, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion didn’t go on the attack against Bloomberg.
That turns out to be a good thing.
Because last week, at a Bronx Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Carrion said Bloomberg could well be “one of the greatest mayors – if not the greatest – in our history.”
Carrion looks like he’s going to run for City Hall himself in 2009. “What motive would any Democrat have who wants to run for citywide office to get Bloomberg mad at them?” said one political consultant.