ALBANY — Politically active billionaire Thomas Golisano has Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in his sights.
The businessman and owner of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, who played chief carnival barker in the circus-like Senate coup, says he will next commit his cash to overthrowing the Manhattan Democrat who has controlled the Assembly for 16 years.
Golisano ripped Silver in a half-hour infomercial on a Buffalo TV station Saturday night.
“Quite candidly, even if Sheldon has done a decent job, 16 years is far too long in a democracy,” said Golisano, who is worth about $1.3 billion and who spent more than $90 million on three failed runs for governor.
“We need some new leadership there, and we’re going to try and encourage it there.”
A spokeswoman for Silver declined to comment.
Golisano changed his legal address to Naples, Fla., in May to protest a massive income-tax hike pushed through by Gov. Paterson and the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
That didn’t stop him from conspiring with Republicans and two rogue Democrats in a bid to get control of the state Senate.
The failed coup resulted in five weeks of gridlock and a six-figure Senate job for top Golisano operative, Steve Pigeon.