The Speaker of the Council Guessing Game continues and nothing is new. Brooklyn keeps claiming Angel Rodriguez has it almost locked up. As we’ve reported previously, those in the know credit Queens Dem leader Tom Manton as being able to make the next Council king.

Manton, according to reliable sources, is back on good terms with Bronx boss Roberto Ramirez, who had previously been persona non grata. Ramirez, who had abandoned Manton and Queens during an Albany Speaker coup last year, added fuel to the fire when he sat on his hands during the recent Mayoral election after believing Mark Green dissed Freddie Ferrer. Well Bloomberg, the faux Republican, won and Roberto didn’t care. Now is he trying to woo his way back into the good graces of the City Democratic power structure by throwing his handful of Council votes in with Queens?

If he has and Manton is prepared to trust him, watch for Manton to play it close to the vest until the very last minute. Then, there seems to be only four possibilities.

Angel Rodriguez, the choice of Brooklyn leader Clarence Norman but seemingly unpopular with most of the Queens fourteen, no longer looks as strong. In a recent debate among Council Speaker hopefuls, it has been reported that Rodriguez showed poorly, while Gifford Miller, Bill Perkins and Melinda Katz were impressive. If Tom has the Bronx, he doesn’t need Brooklyn although he’d like to cement an alliance with Clarence Norman.

Giff Miller, based on quality and competence the choice of the members of the Queens delegation, could be the beneficiary of the new alliance.

However, that Manton alliance will include Dem State chair-to-be Denny Farrell who has another saleable Manhattan Speaker candidate. Bill Perkins’ star is also shining brighter.

All of this speculation, however is based on the assumption that Manton will not go with a Council newcomer as Speaker. He’d have a hard time selling his choice (assume David Weprin) to the rest of the Queens delegation because he’d have to give away plum committee chairs that Katz, Avella and company expect. He also could be quite content having Queens make the king, claim the chairs of the major committees and come back in two years to play again when the Speaker is term limited.

COUNCIL STAFFING

While pundits all watch the battle for Speaker, some of the Council freshman are preparing their own operations. Armed with boxes of material prepared by a Council central staff aiming to impress and inform, the newcomers have their work cut out for themselves. Some of the newcomers have quickly signed on experienced, sophisticated staff members to enable them to hit the ground running.

David "Finance Chairman in Waiting" Weprin, has hired two heavyweights: Arthur Flug, former executive director of the American Jewish Congress who previously spent a decade as chief of staff to Congressman Gary Ackerman, and Jeff Gottlieb, the experienced Council pro who most recently headed Morty Povman’s Council team. Gottlieb bowed out of a Council race of his own earlier this year at the urging of County Leader Tom Manton. Some are still shaking their heads over that one.

If David doesn’t get the expected chairmanship, Arthur and Jeff may have to wash dishes to pay their way.

Peter Vallone, Jr. has hired as his chief of staff George Mihaltses, who Pete describes as a very bright guy. George is making a career change to work with Jr. He’s also the husband of the present Council Finance Director Haeda, so he’s been around this game for a long time.

Queens lost a controversial and meaningful figure last weekend when political columnist Arthur Nitzburg died suddenly of a massive heart attack.

Arthur had recovered from a life-threatening illness several years back and friends tell me he was recently in good health. Arthur and I were not friends, however, we had a relationship in which we crossed paths, pens and occasional swords over the past two decades.

This is not intended as a formal obituary,
but my personal reflection and reaction based on the recollections of two of his former editors David Oats and Tamara Hartman. Arthur and I shared not only
David and Tamara but my Tribune colleague Mike Nussbaum who, in another life, was business partners with Arthur.

Arthur wrote a weekly political column, first in the Bayside Times and then for quite a number of years in the Courier. His column is why I read the Courier — why a lot of political insiders and elected officials read it. Many of us didn’t agree with Arthur’s weekly analysis, presentation of the facts or even his political reality at times, however we knew he was bright, perceptive and worked his network. Arthur was tuned in.

Arthur got upset whenever I would kid him that he was the second best political columnist in Queens – so I did it as often as I could.

He began his political life as an aide to Bella Absug long before he was a candidate for a Queens local school board almost two decades ago. Although, as I saw it, Arthur, who in earnest wanted elective office, found a niche writing about the game of politics he loved. He loved to probe, scoop and challenge. He took on the Queens Democratic political organization and frequently alienated some rather important political figures with reporting they felt inaccurate.

Although, I too, occasionally disagreed with Arthur’s portrayal of politics, the political hoohahs that he and I wrote about almost always cry foul when a newspaper account makes them look less than saintly.

I don’t think Arthur made up the facts as some accused. I believe Arthur told the facts as his eyes saw them — a bit skewed and tainted by his intellect and orientation. He was never malicious; he was only advocating for the political process the way he believed it should be.

And Arthur was smart. He was an accomplished professional campaign strategist, a skilled political analyst and a student of the borough and City. His analytical ability and broad knowledge of government, politics and history placed him on an intellectual level to be admired. He worked the phone and his network well, enabling him to frequently reveal in his column political insights and nuances that was manna to political junkies.

His friends tell me he was sweet and sensitive. Corinne Oats used to chat with him about Paris — in French. David Oats had an affection for him that surprised me. He spoke with the warmth that David usually reserved for people filled with fun and creative juices. That was not the Arthur I knew, but he obviously meant a great deal to David and that’s enough for me.

David was the first to tell me about the death of Arthur — he called me Saturday morning. David was concerned that Arthur’s memory would be preserved with the respect David wanted him to have.

Later in the day I received an email from a mutual friend of mine and Arthur’s. Marsha Livson wrote:

"Although you probably already know, I thought I should tell you that Art died last night from a heart attack.  It is very difficult to lose a friend, especially one that is that young and truly enjoying life. 

"Art had achieved so many of his goals recently; writing for Newsday on a regular basis, being a commentator for Channel One.  He almost died two years ago and his wife, Annie, has a great attitude about this and feels that God lent her two more years with him.

"It is also so wonderful to see people as much in love as these two were and rare indeed in this day and age. He saw in her such beauty and she saw in him such nobility.

"If you do an obit, please mention this . . . it would be a mitzvah.  He was also, to me, a very good friend who was always there for me and that — especially in political circles — is so rare. Friendship is such a precious commodity and each time I lose someone I hold it dearer and dearer."

When I got home Saturday night, there was a message on my answering machine from Gary Ackerman informing me of Arthur’s passing. Additional notices came by email.

I don’t remember the last time that this many people reached out to me about the death of a Queens player.

It certainly doesn’t happen very often. In his death, the reaction is tribute to his life. Arthur touched many of us. Arthur’s mind and style made us react.

David, Marsha, Gary, Tamara and Mike, and I’m sure many other Queens players, have strong memories about Arthur.

You see columnists like Arthur are not always loved.

Often they are just respected.

Queens will miss his weekly words.

Not4Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

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Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@queenspress.com