Gale Brewer eyeing speaker bid in second coming on NYC Council

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Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is eyeing a potential run for City Council speaker upon her likely return to the chamber, The Post has learned.

The veteran politician is considering the bid after a decisive win in the June 22 Democratic primary to represent Upper West Side at City Hall, according to three sources.

Winning the nomination makes her the prohibitive favorite to carry the district in the coming November general election race.

“We’re not there yet,” said Brewer, responding coyly to questions from The Post. “I haven’t decided.”

Political observers say that Brewer is one of the few incoming new members who could likely mount a speaker bid — in large part because she is not a true freshman, having served on the Council for a decade in the 2000s before being ousted by term limits.

Manhattan  Borough President Gale Brewer speaking about the art on the plywood boards protecting Soho businesses from looting in front of 500 Broadway, saturday afternoon.
Gale Brewer has been the Manhattan Borough president for the last seven years.
William Farrington
Council member Carlina Rivera is among the candidates running for Council Speaker.
Council member Carlina Rivera is among the candidates running for Council speaker.
William Farrington

She would join an increasingly crowded field for the powerful post that four incumbent lawmakers have designs on — Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), Councilwoman Adrienne Adams (D-Queens), Councilwoman Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan) and Councilman Keith Powers (D-Manhattan).

“She’s the only new member who could conceivable take it,” said one political consultant.

However, the person warned that the possibility Brewer could win a second term as speaker could also limit her appeal in the race against other candidates, who are termed-out in 2025.

Brewer was on City Council from 2002-2013.
Brewer was on City Council from 2002-2013.
Stephen Yang

The other incoming 34 newbie lawmakers, the person added, “would lose their opportunity to shine.”

Two sources pointed to Brewer’s decision to hire a top figure from Andrew Yang’s mayoral campaign, Trip Yang — no relation — to assist with her primary and general election campaigns as evidence of her interest in making a bid for speaker.

“We have been retained by Gale Brewer’s campaign to consult on her City Council race, for her primary and then her general,” Yang told The Post.

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