Lentol withdraws bid to become Assembly speaker
Quickly exited race
Brooklyn Assemblymember Joseph Lentol, who on Wednesday announced that he would seek the Assembly speakership, suddenly withdrew from the race on Thursday, citing the need for a united front in Albany in the wake of the scandal surrounding Speaker Sheldon Silver.
“This has been a challenging period of time for all of us in the Assembly. At this time, I recognize that I do not have the support needed to become the Speaker. I, therefore, withdraw my name from consideration and support the candidacy of Carl Heastie,” Lentol said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Heastie, a Democrat, represents the Bronx, and is widely considered a frontrunner for the job.