Despite stating publicly that he’d keep his finger off the scale —  “I’m not getting involved,” he said last month — Eric Adams is making his preferences for City Council speaker known.

Sources tell NY1 the Adams team, including the mayor-elect’s personal attorney and close aide Frank Carone, has been calling council members to express support for Francisco Moya.

Moya tells NY1 he does not know of colleagues receiving such calls and has not asked Adams to act on his behalf.

What You Need To Know

  • Top Adams aide has been calling council members about backing Moya for speaker, sources tell NY1

  • Moya tells NY1 he didn't ask Adams to act on his behalf, but he works well with the mayor-elect

  • Diana Ayala tells NY1 the calls from Team Adams have led some colleagues to back her instead
  • On Thursday, NY1 is hosting speaker candidates in the only televised forum of the race

He also isn’t refusing any tacit endorsement.

“I think, for me, it’s important that we have a very strong working relationship with the incoming administration, I think I have that,” he said.

On Thursday, NY1 is hosting speaker candidates in the only televised forum of the race.

Moya of Queens, served in the State Legislature with Adams and was an early backer of Adams’ bid for mayor.

Justin Brannan of Brooklyn, still considered a frontrunner for speaker, also endorsed Adams for mayor.

But sources tell NY1 that Adams is concerned about the lack of Latino representation in his incoming administration’s top ranks.

Diana Ayala, who represents parts of Manhattan and the Bronx, another Latino running for speaker, tells NY1 more colleagues are pledging their support to her in light of Adams’ boosting of Moya.

Some in the council are bristling at outside influence in what will be an in-house vote come January.

“I can only say that I haven’t had any type of conversation like that with any of the members,” Moya said in response. “To me, it’s always important to open up the lines of communication. To me, no one is more important than the members themselves. We’re colleagues, we’re looking to serve for the betterment of this city.”

Adams' transition team declined to comment on the speaker's race.

Labor unions are another external factor in the contest.

The Labor Strong coalition, which includes 32BJ and the Hotel Trades Council, has not come to a consensus on a candidate.

But on Wednesday, Moya picked up the backing of the New York City District Council of Carpenters, Laborers’ Local 79 and two New York State Laborers’ political action committees.