‘DRIVEN’ FROM POWER: State Sen. Malcolm Smith is driven up to the White Plains federal courthouse yesterday morning in handcuffs. (William Farrington)
Mayor wannabe Malcolm Smith is no stranger to political downfall.
Before plotting his return to the limelight with a mayoral run, the former state Senate Democratic majority leader was toppled from one of Albany’s three most powerful posts during an ugly coup in 2009.
“Malcolm was seen and not heard. The senators kicked him out of leadership. He disappeared,” said one Senate Democratic insider who worked closely with Smith and witnessed the divisive fight within the Democratic conference.
It was quite a fall for Smith — who had methodically risen up the ranks of Southeast Queens politics. He had been chief of staff to his mentor, the Rev. Floyd Flake, the former congressman and one of the city’s most influential pastors.
Smith’s selection as majority leader was quite an achievement. An African-American, he was the first minority to head the Senate.
But the Queens senator’s 18-month reign as leader was largely a bust, racked by racial and ethnic divisions and a bid-rigging scandal involving the Aqueduct casino.
Two associates close to Smith — Flake and former business partner Darryl Green — were early partners in the questionable winning bid, which was later disqualified amid charges of favoritism by Smith and other Democrats.
Smith was embroiled in another scandal involving the dubious spending of donations by a not-for-profit he co-founded, New Direction Local Development Corp.
Following the chaos, the Democrats lost control of the Senate in 2010. But the Queens senator wanted to get back into the game, and he plotted a comeback.
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He had big ambitions. Smith, a Democrat, would attempt to run for mayor — as a Republican.
Most of the political establishment laughed. They said he had delusions of grandeur.
“It was crazy that Malcolm Smith would think he could get elected for mayor as a Republican. Crazy!” a Queens Democratic Party official said.
Smith won re-election to his state Senate seat last fall — as a Democrat.
Wanting to remain a Democrat, Smith could run on the Republican ballot for mayor only if he secured backing of three of the five GOP county chairmen.
So, Smith began schmoozing Republican Party leaders. He had work to do: Manhattan GOP chairman Dan Isaacs initially panned Smith’s candidacy as an “April Fool’s joke.”
But suddenly and surprisingly, GOP leaders — enjoying the sudden attention — were talking up Smith as he showed up at party functions.
Among those hearing him out were Isaacs and Bronx Republican leader Joe “Jay” Savino.
Publicly, GOP officials said they liked the fact that Smith was a moderate-to-conservative Democrat on some issues. Smith is a big proponent of stop-and-frisk and a staunch backer of charter schools.
While entertaining mayoral ambitions, Smith also agreed to join forces with Republicans in a new coalition to run the fractured state Senate. Smith became chairman of the Senate Independent Democratic Caucus.
Still, some GOP activists were still scratching their heads over Malcolm Mania. It didn’t make any sense given his baggage, they said. “We couldn’t figure it,” said a GOP insider.