Jones has backing to be Phila. Council majority leader

The last pieces of the new City Council Democratic leadership puzzle have fallen into place, with Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. securing the backing for majority leader and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown wrapping up the majority whip job, according to multiple sources.

Until Thursday, Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell had been considered the favorite to become majority leader for the second time in her career.

Darrell L. Clarke secured enough votes last weekend to become Council president.

Blackwell had the support of powerful electricians' union leader John J. Dougherty, who pushed Clarke for president.

But at the end of Thursday's Council session, Blackwell said she had "decided at the last minute to withdraw."

"It just seemed at this point, given so many new people who wanted to be involved, I just decided to give them a chance," she said.

Blackwell predicted the race for leader would "explode" with her out of the running, and it did in an afternoon of frenetic negotiations. Jones, just elected to a second term, had secured the necessary votes of his colleagues by the end of the day.

"I am actively pursuing the majority leader position," Jones said Thursday night. "A leadership team is beginning to coalesce."

Brown, Maria Quiñones Sánchez and William K. Greenlee were among the other members mentioned for majority leader.

Blackwell said she wouldn't support any candidate but would fall in line behind whomever could get the votes. Jones and Brown have the support of Clarke, sources said.

Clarke on Wednesday night would not confirm that the leadership team had been set.

"Basically, we are in the process of finalizing the reorganization of City Council's leadership team, with a team that we believe is balanced and represents the characteristics of the City of Philadelphia," Clarke said.

The three would form the leadership team for the Democrats, who hold 14 of the 17 seats, and set direction of a Council that soon will have six new members.

Though Clarke and Mayor Nutter do not have a close relationship, Jones and Brown have been two of the administration's more trusted allies on Council. Jones and Brown are close allies of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.).

Jones represents Nutter's old Council district, and Brown introduced and backed the mayor's overhaul of the city's curfew law over vocal public opposition.

The leadership positions won't be official until Council members vote after the Jan. 2 inauguration.