City Council Republicans are doing cartwheels over a report that a tough-as-nails, independent lawmaker will be tapped to head a powerful investigative committee whose job will include scrutinizing Mayor Adams.
Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) told The Post the expected appointment of Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) to the oversight and investigations committee is “great news” for the GOP.
The former borough president has a track record of putting the public good before party politics, which could lead to infighting among progressive and moderate Democratic factions citywide.
“She’ll leave no stone unturned, so I’m getting the popcorn ready for when Democrats are in conflict,” Borelli said. “It’s good for the Republican Party, and I think this will have some ramifications in our favor in statewide elections this year.”
Borelli is one of five Republicans on the predominantly Democratic 51-person Council, which gained two seats in the last year’s general election.
The City first reported Wednesday that Brewer would be named chair of the committee, which has subpoena power, as compensation for backing Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) in the Council speaker race.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) effectively used the committee chairmanship as a councilman to expose problems at the city’s Housing Authority and other agencies during former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.
Negotiators for Mayor Adams, no relation to the speaker, have been lobbying for Manhattan Councilwoman Julie Menin, a moderate Democrat more politically aligned with the new mayor than Brewer, for the post, sources said.
If Brewer gets the appointment, it would mark the second failed attempt by the new mayor to wield power over the Council. Previous efforts by his camp to get Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Queens) named speaker failed before the mayor ultimately backed Adams for the position.
The speaker didn’t return messages, and Brewer and Menin declined comment.
A spokesman for the mayor said his office doesn’t comment on internal conversations and “respects the independent leadership of the City Council.”
