City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell has decided not to seek another term as majority leader. She has asked fellow council members who planned to vote for her to support Councilwoman Marian Tasco for the leadership position.

“Instead of fighting among ourselves, we should be spending our energy fighting for the people of Philadelphia. My hope is that by withdrawing from contention, I can help mend the spilt that now divides members into factions, and we can begin the Michael Nutter administration with a unified council,” Blackwell said.

Blackwell’s withdrawal from the majority leader race virtually assures that council’s leadership in the new term will include Anna Verna as president, Marian Tasco as majority leader and Darrell Clarke as majority whip. She says she looks forward to working with them and the new mayor. “We will work with Michael Nutter in a way that we haven’t worked with him before. We’re eager to share our ideas and our commitment to enhance and improve opportunities for citizens who live and work and visit here,” said Blackwell.

These are quotes from a Blackwell issued press release. I quoted in detail so as not be guilty of editorializing in paraphrase. I got them from Brian Hickey on the City Paper's Clog.

My own inexpert read is that considering Nutter's decisive win throughout West Philadelphia in the primary that there is some serious ass-kissing going on here to Nutter and to an often Nutter ally who Jannie was not nearly as chummy with in 2006 (mild understatement).

I am curious if any YPP-ers read any more significance and/or impact in this shift on Council. It certainly seems to publicly put an end to Blackwell's oft-rumored aspirations to the Presidency of City Council, as well.