(
)
A day after sweeping to re-election with a resounding 90 percent of the vote, embattled Brooklyn legislator Vito Lopez dropped a political bombshell yesterday by announcing this might be his last term in the Assembly.
“While I will continue to advocate fiercely for the residents of the 53rd Assembly District through this term with the commitment, dedication and devotion I always have, over the next few months, I will be evaluating my plans to seek re-election to the New York State Assembly,” Lopez declared.
He pointed out that he has “proudly served” Williamsburg and Bushwick residents for nearly 30 years and has rounded up more than 7,000 signatures on this year’s nominating petitions — more than anyone else — despite “over 300 negative articles” in the press over the last three years.
It was one of the strangest thank-you notes ever issued by a candidate to supporters. Voters who had returned him to office hours earlier were now hearing that Lopez was thinking of leaving that very same office.
A sex-harassment scandal has forced Lopez to relinquish key leadership posts. But since last August, he has repeatedly and insistently ignored demands for his resignation from the Assembly.
He is scheduled to start a 15th term in Albany come January.
His stunning announcement immediately set off speculation that the wily pol, considered a brilliant strategist, had something up his sleeve.
“I think what he’s alluding to are the rumors that he’s seriously considering a run for the City Council,” said one insider. “This is a guy who spends 24/7 thinking about politics. He’s often a couple of steps ahead of everybody else.”
As The Post first reported, Lopez has told friends that he might quit the Assembly — where he has been stripped of the chairmanship of the influential Housing Committee — to take a run at the council seat now held by longtime rival Diana Reyna, who has to leave at the end of 2013 because of the city’s term-limits law.
As a bonus, Lopez would likely get to choose his successor.
There would be a special election to fill his seat and the Democratic nominee — and almost certain winner — would be selected by the Brooklyn Democratic County Committee.
“I’m sure he has some sway with the county committee,” chuckled one political consultant. Until he was accused of groping and harassing female staffers, Lopez served as the all-powerful chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
A Democratic Party veteran who knows Lopez said there’s a compelling reason for him to remain in office with a successful City Hall run — legal bills.
Lopez’s alleged misconduct is under investigation by Staten Island DA Dan Donovan, acting as a special prosecutor.
“As long as [Lopez is] an elected official, he can use campaign funds to pay his lawyers,” said the source. “It becomes an iffy proposition if he’s not in office.”
“That’s not an off-the-wall theory,” agreed Larry Mandelker, one of the city’s top election lawyers.
Lopez, 71, has more than $1 million left in his campaign account. His Republican challenger, Richy Garcia, 26, reported spending no money in his half-hearted campaign.