RELATED: Photos from the Association for a Better New York Foundation ‘Spirit of ABNY’ Awards

The governor of New York’s public undoing due to his involvement in a prostitution ring did not stop this city’s politicians from gathering Tuesday at an Association for a Better New York awards ceremony, and more importantly, it did not stop them from making the event a celebration of their dedication to public service and to improving New York City.

As Comptroller William Thompson Jr. put it at the podium, “ABNY takes us to higher heights all the time.”

Nonetheless, Governor Spitzer’s scandal — which resulted yesterday in his resignation — did cast a shadow on the event, particularly because Mr. Spitzer’s wife, Silda Wall, had been selected to receive one of the awards. The invitation cited her work as first lady of New York and as the founder and chairwoman of Children for Children, which provides young people with volunteer and service opportunities.

The day the Spitzer scandal broke, which was just one day before the event was scheduled, the foundation announced the postponement of the award to Mrs. Spitzer and confirmed she would not attend the event.

The honorees who did attend were Mayor Koch, deputy mayor Ed Skyler, the chief executive of the Greater New York Hospital Association, Kenneth Raske, and the general manager of Fox5/My9, Lew Leone.

Mrs. Spitzer’s absence went unnoted in any formal way. In fact, the association treaded so lightly on the matter that neither Mr. nor Mrs. Spitzer were mentioned at the podium. Meanwhile, the room was informally buzzing about the scandal all evening long.

But to the sensitive ear, tuned to Mr. Spitzer’s fall from grace, the awards presentations did serve as a reassurance about the positive aspects of political life.

Here were our city’s politicians reviewing their accomplishments together, praising and thanking one another, recalling how long they’ve worked together.

First Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris described how her first job after college was working for Mayor Koch, and how later, the mayor introduced her to her husband.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn made the point that some recent projects, such as a solid waste management plan and more bullet proof vests for the city’s police, would not have happened “without the dedication and accessibility of Ed Skyler.”

Mr. Skyler, for his part, thanked a former commissioner of parks and recreation, Henry Stern, for giving him his first job in government, and “caring about getting young people in government.”

Perhaps the most inspiring statement came from Mrs. Harris, quoting Mr. Koch: “Public service is the noblest of professions, if done honestly and done well.”

Mr. Koch, who had the last word at the podium, turned his attention to nonpoliticians. “Every city has noble families. For me, in New York, it’s the Rudin family,” he said.

The late Lewis Rudin founded the association, as well as the New York City Marathon; his son, William Rudin, is now ABNY’s chairman.

agordon@nysun.com