There are rumors that Jose Rivera, Assemblyman and Bronx County Democratic Chairman, will be selected by Council Speaker Christine Quinn to fill the position of City Clerk, from which Victor Robles has recently retired.

While I wish Jose well, and perhaps understand his reasons for pursuing the City Clerk’s position, I do not want him to have to resign his position as Bronx Democratic chairman, which would be the case should he become City Clerk.

Jose Rivera has been an effective County Chairman. He has been able to bring unity to the Democrats in the Bronx despite the diversity of their opinions. The absence of divisive primaries in recent years attests to his effectiveness in this regard.

Rivera has reached out to all faction and party leaders and has shown sensitivity to ethnic, geographic and political concerns. He has recognized that the Bronx has a diverse population with many different priorities and he has done a good job in being responsive to these priorities.

As Bronx County Democratic chairman, he has played a significant role in the rebuilding of the Bronx and the initiation of numerous ongoing projects including the renovating of the Kingsbridge Armory, the re-building of Yankee Stadium, and the construction of the Gateway Mall.

I hope that his constructive leadership of the Bronx Democrats will continue for some time to come.

G. Oliver Koppell

The writer is the Council member from the 11th District.