Bloomberg may be grooming new schools head for mayor

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken a lot of heat for choosing former magazine executive Cathie Black as his new schools chancellor. Critics have seized on Black's complete lack of experience in the education field as an insult to teachers, but Black defended herself Tuesday, arguing that running the nation's largest schools system primarily needs "a strong and effective manager."

Sound familiar?

The New York Observer points out that Mayor Bloomberg used much the same argument when running for mayor, when people pointed to his lack of political experience. What if Bloomberg is grooming Black, a registered Republican, to run for his job when he finally relinquishes it at the end of his third term in 2013?

"It all just makes too much sense," one "city pol close to the mayor" told the Observer. "If you only have to be a manager to run the schools, then you only have to be a manager to run the city. If she does even a reasonably good job, I think you will see them talk her up for mayor in 2013." Another city councilman called it "the perfect proving ground to run for mayor."

Former New York City Mayors Edward I. Koch, David N. Dinkins, and Rudy Giuliani issued a statement today supporting Black's appointment and urging the state's education department to grant her a waiver to serve as chancellor.

(Photo of Black: AP)