Sheldon Silver's 21 years as the leader of the New York State Assembly will come to a close Monday night when he steps down following federal corruption charges.
The Manhattan Democrat's resignation will be effective at 11:59 p.m., an unceremonious end to the second-longest tenure by a current speaker in any U.S. statehouse. One of the most powerful men in New York state, Silver was known as a shrewd negotiator and the ultimate insider in a capital city long known for its backroom culture.
Two lawmakers are vying to replace him. Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie is considered the front-runner, though Queens Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan said she hopes that changes as lawmakers have a chance to weigh each candidate.
The vote to select the next speaker is expected Tuesday -- even though lawmakers initially said they would wait until Feb. 10 to encourage an open and deliberative process.
Democrats will discuss the timing of the vote at a closed-door meeting Monday afternoon. Nolan said there is no need to rush.
"I'm trying to push back on the train-leaving-the-station mentality,'' she told The Associated Press.
Heastie on Monday proposed a series of ethics reforms _ something many lawmakers had said was required for their support.
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The proposals include a new Office of Ethics and Compliance led by a nonlegislator, new limits on how much outside income lawmakers can earn and greater disclosure of outside income and legislative stipends.
Heastie also said that if elected speaker, he would forgo any outside income and resign as chairman of the Bronx County Democratic Party.
"We must seize this opportunity for reform and enact the type of lasting change that will make the Assembly more open, transparent and accountable to the voters,'' he said in a statement.
Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle of Rochester will serve as acting speaker until the next speaker takes over.
Silver was arrested Jan. 22 and faces charges that he took nearly $4 million in payoffs and kickbacks. He has said he expects to be exonerated and plans to keep his Assembly seat.
Silver, 70, initially tried to keep his position by offering to temporarily cede power to a handful of senior lieutenants. Assembly members balked at that idea, and following two days of closed-door hearings, they announced that Silver had to go.
His spokesman, Michael Whyland, announced Friday night that Silver had filed his letter of resignation.
Democrats hold two-thirds of the seats in the 150-member Assembly.
A group of reform-minded lawmakers have said the selection of a new speaker provides an opportunity to change Assembly rules to allow for greater government transparency and more input from rank-and-file legislators. They're expected to meet with Heastie and Nolan on Monday to discuss their proposals.
