The top contenders to become the next City Council speaker are beginning to emerge, days after campaign-finance filings revealed what kind of war chests each will bring into battle.
Front-runners include Councilmembers Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Corey Johnson, Mark Levine and Jimmy Van Bramer — all of whom have raised $200,000 or more each for their campaigns.
Ferreras-Copeland (D-Queens), the council’s Finance chair, is viewed by many insiders as the favored choice as a successor by current Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Mayor de Blasio, and has raised $325,635 so far for her run.
But Ferreras-Copeland has burned through $284,000 of that and could be facing a credible challenge from Assemblyman Francisco Moya.
De Blasio’s support also could become problematic if he or his staffers are implicated in any wrongdoing in two ongoing corruption probes.
“Money matters, for sure, but as long as people pass the threshold of being able to fund their [campaign] operation and give some money to other council members, it’s not the only thing,” one member said, citing the importance of already-formed relationships.
Johnson (D-Manhattan) has raised $291,310. Van Bramer (D-Queens) has raked in $387,228, and Levine (D-Manhattan) has collected $211,270.
Councilman Robert Cornegy (D-Brooklyn) is also considered a viable option by several council insiders, but has not yet submitted fund-raising numbers to the Campaign Finance Board.
Of those, Van Bramer has by far the most cash on hand — about $300,000. But Van Bramer, like Ferreras, doesn’t enjoy the support of Queens Democratic boss Rep. Joe Crowley, who will undoubtedly play a role in who gets the job.
The Queens and Bronx Democratic machines are expected to whip votes together. Still unclear is what role the Brooklyn party will play.
Other members considering a run include Vanessa Gibson (D-Bronx), Donovan Richards (D-Queens), Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) and Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn).