City Councilman Leroy Comrie’s name was being floated in Queens Democratic political circles yesterday as a possible replacement for state Sen. Malcolm Smith.
The popular Comrie, a leader of the influential Guy R. Brewer Democratic Club, is term-limited and can’t run again for the council — and his poorly funded campaign for borough president hasn’t taken off.
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Gov. Cuomo could call a special election to replace Smith if the former Democratic Senate majority leader loses his seat over federal charges that he tried to buy his way onto the Republican mayoral primary ballot this year, or if Smith heeds calls from colleagues to resign his seat.
Smith’s Senate term runs through the end of next year, but state lawmakers automatically lose their seats if convicted of felonies.
Although Senate leaders strongly suggested yesterday that Smith resign — and one outright called on him to quit — Smith’s spokesman claimed the senator “will be vindicated when all the facts in the case are revealed.”
Comrie did not return a call for comment.
The resident of St. Albans, who got national headlines for proposing to ban toys in McDonald’s happy meals two years ago, is up against better-funded candidates for Queens BP this year, including former Councilwoman Melinda Katz and Councilman Peter Vallone Jr.Flake could not be reached for comment yesterday on the arrest of Smith and the prospects going forward.
But insiders said Comrie, the leader of the borough’s delegation in the City Council, could have a better shot at running in Smith’s Senate district in the heart of his political power base.
A Comrie run could shape up into a battle of Queens political clubs.
The Rev. Floyd Flake, a power broker in the borough, is aligned against Comrie’s clubhouse and recently backed Katz in the borough president’s race over local pol Comrie.