ALBANY – State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith yesterday named former state Housing Commissioner Angelo Aponte to head his transition team – and to help him earn the support of three disaffected Hispanic Democrats who otherwise may try to keep the Senate in Republican hands, The Post has learned.
What’s more, Queens-based Smith may soon announce that Aponte, a one-time New York City consumer affairs commissioner, will become his chief of staff in January – if Smith becomes the Senate majority leader, said a source close to Smith.
“Angelo is a first-rate pick, and the fact that he is Puerto Rican sends a message to the Hispanic community and to Hispanic lawmakers,” the source said.
Democrats won a two-seat majority on Tuesday – and gained control of the state Senate for the first time since 1964 – but that victory could be upset by a Gang of Four renegades vowing to vote to maintain GOP control.
The quartet, led by Brooklyn state Sen. Carl Kruger, includes Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Sen.-elect Pedro Espada Jr., both of The Bronx, and City Councilman and Sen.-elect Hiram Monserrate of Queens.
Lame-duck Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau), meanwhile, flew down to Puerto Rico to lobby at least two of the four at an annual gathering of state and city Hispanic lawmakers.
And Gov. Paterson on Wednesday met with Kruger, Diaz, Espada and Monserrate and urged them to back Smith.