The race is underway for the next speaker of the Assembly, with Sheldon Silver leaving the post because of federal corruption charges. There are reports that Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie is the clear front-runner...although he is still being challenged by Rochester Democrat Joseph Morelle, the Majority Leader and Queens Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. The Assembly will elect a speaker on February 10th, with Morelle to serve as acting speaker starting on Monday.
