Get ready for the “Joe Lhota for mayor” boomlet.
The MTA chief, who got sky-high grades for restoring the subways within days after Hurricane Sandy struck, was the subject of much of the buzz yesterday at an Association for a Better New York breakfast that included City Council Speaker Christine Quinn as the featured speaker.
“I want to hug you,” gushed one red-haired woman who approached Lhota as he sipped coffee before the event began.
“You’ve done a phenomenal job,” agreed Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes, who strolled by moments later.
Former City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Queens) proceeded to deliver their own congratulations, as did former MTA Chairman Lee Sander.
When Quinn introduced him before the audience of hundreds of movers and shakers, Lhota drew the loudest applause.
He later declined to comment on speculation that he might enter the 2013 mayoral race on the Republican line.
Sources said friends are trying to persuade him.
“The problem is he’s got a lot on his plate now,” said one source. “He’s trying to stabilize the MTA’s finances and the storm left a lot of damage.”
Gov. Cuomo, who appointed Lhota just 13 months ago, would have to sign off on his early departure. Losing a strong manager at such a critical period would obviously be an issue for the governor.
On the other hand, if Lhota ended up winning City Hall, Cuomo would have a trusted ally running city government in 2014 as he was gearing up his own possible campaign for the White House in 2016.
The Lhota phenomenon came as former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, a Democrat who had served in the Obama administration, switched his voter registration to independent and began making moves to run for mayor on the Republican line.
Asked why he was abandoning the Democratic Party, Carrion explained:
“I think what the city electorate wants and needs is a centrist leader who focuses on education and on growing the economy. Those are the two most important fundamental building blocks for the future of the city and we have to stay focused on them.”
Carrion said he wouldn’t accept public matching funds and called for the entire program to be shelved.
“I think it’s unfortunate at a time like this,” he told The Post at the ABNY breakfast. “Last cycle we spent, as taxpayers, nearly $30 million to support political campaigns and launch political careers with a matching program.”
Since he’s now an independent, Carrion would need permission from three of the city’s five Republican county leaders to enter the GOP primary.
Ruben Diaz Jr., Carrion’s successor, said he’d back a Democrat against Carrion.
“It breaks my heart that my friend has chosen to stand as part of the Republican Party,” said Diaz.
Additional reporting by Sally Goldenberg