There are at least four veteran Assembly members ready to run for speaker if Sheldon Silver resigns to fight federal corruption charges, sources said.
Potential candidates include Manhattan Democratic Party Chairman Keith Wright and Bronx Democratic leader Carl Heastie.
Also in the mix are Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle, of Rochester, the second-highest ranking Democrat, and Brooklyn Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, a well-liked Democrat from the state’s most populous county.
All four treaded carefully on Thursday and pledged their continued support for Silver, even as rumors swirled around Albany of members trying to line up support to take over Silver’s spot.
“I believe in innocent until proven guilty. The Democratic conference stands by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver,” Wright said.
A source familiar with Wright’s thinking said the Harlem assemblyman has long thought about running for speaker, if and when Silver decided to retire. But more recently, Wright said he might take a shot at running for Rep. Charles Rangel’s congressional seat next year.
Wright, who has close union ties, also has worked with Gov. Cuomo as state Democratic Party co-chair.
Heastie declined to comment.
Democratic insiders said Heastie has friendly relations with both Mayor de Blasio and Cuomo, as well as ties to labor.
Lentol, the Codes Committee chair, said he’s sticking with Silver, who is entitled to a “cloak of innocence.”
“Would I be interested in the future, if Shelly were to step down? Sure. But at the moment, I’m supporting the speaker,” Lentol said.
Morelle, who called it a “troubling day,” said Silver will have a chance to address the 105-member Democratic conference on Monday.