Metro

Quinn’s ties to ‘Mike firm’ imperil UFT nod

Michael Mulgrew

Michael Mulgrew (William Farrington)

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The coveted teachers-union endorsement might be in jeopardy for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the perceived mayoral front-runner.

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew warned that Quinn could look like Mayor Bloomberg Lite on public-education issues, in part because her longtime political consulting firm is also representing NYStudentsFirst, a new organization close to Bloomberg and at odds with the union.

“If I’m Chris, I’d be asking myself: Maybe I don’t want to be working with these people who are also working with the mayor to control something that he should have no business controlling anymore,” Mulgrew told The Post.

He called the formation of the group — which was announced this week and will promote charter schools and the end of teacher tenure — “a clear attempt by the mayor to somehow set up a fourth term” when he leaves office at the end of 2013.

Mulgrew was speaking about the fact that Quinn’s long-standing consulting firm, SKDKnickerbocker, is also representing StudentsFirst.

The group will be headed by Executive Director Micah Lasher, who stepped down from his post as Bloomberg’s chief Albany lobbyist to take the assignment.

Like the rest of the Democrats in the crowded field eyeing the mayoralty next year, Quinn is seeking Mulgrew’s endorsement.

In addition to providing financial support, the UFT can rally its enormous base of union members and retirees to vote and work for a candidate.

“Anyone who knows Chris Quinn knows she makes up her mind on issues on the merits and after listening to all sides,” said her political strategist, Mark Guma, who is working alongside SKDKnickerbocker on her 2013 campaign.

“Chris welcomes all voices to the debate on education, from the teachers union to StudentsFirst. That is how we get the best ideas and the best schools for our kids.”

Mulgrew and Bloomberg have been at odds over the mayor’s charter-school expansion, his effort to end teacher tenure, and his push to release teacher evaluations to the public.

Quinn has sided with the UFT on certain issues, such as concerns over the release of the evaluations, while also supporting Bloomberg on mayoral control and staying out of a recent fight over his plan to close low-performing schools and fire half the teachers.

The UFT didn’t endorse anyone in the 2009 race for mayor.

Quinn would be facing a crowded field of rivals in the 2013 Democratic primary.

Expected candidates include Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, city Comptroller John Liu, former city Comptroller Bill Thompson and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.