WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F.Bailey. December 20, 2005: There is a Common Council palace coup in process.

There is a quiet effort by supporters of Councilperson Rita Malmud to elect Ms. Malmud Common Council President bypassing fellow Democrat Councilman Arnold Bernstein, who is in line for the quasi-ceremonial, quasi-whip position. When asked by WPCNR if she was being considered for Council President over her colleague, and would she want the position Ms. Malmud said, “You’ll have to wait for the official statement (on January 3)” twice.

Meanwhile, Glen Hockley, Councilman-elect, a close friend of Mr. Bernstein, asked directly by WPCNR if Ms. Malmud was being touted for Common Council President and if she is making efforts to usurp Mr. Bernstein’s right to the position, Hockley said, “There is some truth to that.”

Arnold Bernstein, center on the Night of His Election, November 2003, now in line for Common Council President Photo, WPCNR News Archive 

Rita Malmud: Quiet Contender for  Seeking Another Term as Common Council President? Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

The position of Common Council President, who basically serves as a “whip” to the council and as an interface with the Mayor’s Office which controls the agenda, traditionally is rotated on a yearly basis. Mr. Bernstein, elected by White Plains in 2003, is now about to begin his third year on the council is line to be the next Council President to succeed Councilman Tom Roach and Benjamin Boykin.

The interest in Council President this year stems from the fact that the Common Council President succeeds the Mayor should the Mayor become incapacited. Mr. Hockley said the Mayor was “in excellent health.” And, though the Mayor was hospitalized for reported pneumonia in August, he has not shown any signs of backing away from his fastpaced tightly packed public appearances, meetings, and schedule. He is easily the most visible, hands-on Mayor in Westchester County.

Asked today if Mr. Bernstein wanted the Common Council President position, Mr. Bernstein said “Absolutely!”

He said he wanted to improve communication between the Mayor and the Common Council, meeting more with the Mayor  himself personally each month than the present twice a month. He said he wanted to promote more frequent communication between members of the Common Council meeting together in small groups to discuss issues more.

“I also want to improve communication between us (The Common Council) and the public,” Bernstein said “I want to take government to the people more and meet with neighborhood organizations and community groups.”

Mr. Hockley discussing Mrs. Malmud’s interest in taking the Council Presidency (which she has, WPCNR believes held three times), said “Arnie is next in line. I’m hoping he will be elected unanimously. He’s qualified. He’s been successful in business. He’s been President of organizations. He’s very thorough.”

Hockley said if the other members of the council were to bypass Mr. Bernstein in favor of someone else, that “It would be totally disrespectful of him as an elected official to not support him.”