PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Sources tell KYW Newsradio that freshman city councilman Curtis Jones, just elected to a second term, will become Council’s majority keader in January.

Thursday began with longtime city councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, in a speech on the floor of Council, withdrawing from the battle to become majority leader.

“I’ve decided to give others an opportunity to serve in leadership roles, and therefore will not seek election to a leadership position this time,” she said.

And that, according to sources, paved the way for all the leadership positions to get locked in, with Jones, of the 4th District, set to become majority leader, the second most powerful position in Council.

The majority whip position, according to sources, will go to at-large councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, and a newly-created leadership position — deputy whip — will go to at-large councilman Bill Greenlee.

All this was orchestrated by Councilman Darrell Clarke, who locked up the Council presidency earlier in the week.  Formal voting on all leadership positions comes in January, after the new Council is sworn in.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060