Some may consider it to be in poor taste to even broach the succession question at this time. Nevertheless, the issue of succession was publicly raised in the newspaper story (The Journal News) which reported his death. Also, White Plains political insiders have been quietly discussing the matter for some time. One of those insiders was Mr. Greer himself. When a friend encouraged him to remain on the council as long as possible, even as his illness worsened, Mr. Greer responded by expressing his concern that there be a smooth transition so as not to disrupt the workings of government.

The two names most prominently heard as being in line for possible appointment to fill the remainder of Mr. Greer’s term (through 2007) have been Dennis Power and Don Hughes. Power previously served on the Common Council, and ran for Mayor against Mayor Delfino the last time around. Don Hughes has been active in Democratic circles in town, and lately has spoken at various public hearings in City Hall. He also runs a web site which provides a calendar of White Plains events and government meetings, and posts various government documents in their entirety. In fact, Mr. Power and Mr. Hughes were both mentioned in The Journal News story as being at the top of a short list of candidates being considered for appointment to fill Mr. Greer’s seat.

Now, however, someone else has become a subject of political speculation. It’s Mr. Greer’s daughter, Alexis. Some may consider it to be in especially poor taste to even mention her name in the context of succession during this period of mourning. On the other hand, some may consider such speculation to be a tribute to Mr. Greer. In addition to being one of his caregivers during the illness, Alexis served as Mr. Greer’s aide during Common Council meetings.

Although confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak because of the ravages of the illness, it was through Alexis that Mr. Greer was able to participate. She read statements he had prepared using a special computer, and acted as a conduit for his votes. It is a virtual certainty that she developed a working knowledge of the issues facing the city as she helped her father prepare for the Common Council sessions. Also to be remembered is that she grew up in a house where local politics and government were a daily focus. In addition to serving for 16 years as a councilman, Mr. Greer was active in Democratic Party affairs, serving as local chairman for four years.

There is plenty of precedent in this country to support a family member filling a vacated public office. The Center for American Women and Politics reports that 45 women have been elected to Congress to fill vacancies created by their husbands’ deaths. U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan’s husband died while campaigning for the office which she now holds. Congressman Hale Boggs’ wife Corinne succeeded him after he died in a plane crash. Only four days after her husband’s funeral, Doris Matsui announced that she would run for his Congressional seat (Robert Matsui, Democrat of California).

From both political and moral standpoints, selection of Alexis Greer to succeed her father would be elegant. Politically, she would be likely to carry on her father’s tradition of trying to use persuasion rather than confrontation or intimidation. She also would be likely to continue his socially conscious political philosophy, which included support for programs to help the homeless and encourage construction of affordable housing. She also would be unlikely to upset the political balance which has seen the council typically support the wishes of the administration. Morally, it would be a gesture to Mr. Greer’s memory and legacy to elevate one of his family members to the position of public trust and responsibility in which he placed such great importance.

Keep in mind, however, that the above is merely commentary about speculation, and is not intended to be an endorsement. We’ll have to wait and see what the Mayor and Common Council decide to do.