John Flanagan and John Jay LaValle diverge on governor pick

New York’s most powerful Republican official, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, and his hometown Suffolk GOP chairman John Jay LaValle, whose county will have the most votes at the party’s nominating convention, disagree on who should be the next governor.

LaValle went public earlier this month, backing Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro at a meeting of GOP party leaders in upstate Saratoga.

“Very excited to support Marc Molinaro for governor,” LaValle said in a post on the party website. “He has experience in the State Legislature, success in local government as a county executive and solutions that will get New York out of the mess Cuomo created.”

Flanagan of East Northport earlier backed state Sen. John DeFrancisco, the deputy majority leader and Finance Committee chairman.

“John DeFrancisco is a strong, smart and principled leader . . . [with] the skill set to be an outstanding governor,” Flanagan said in his endorsement.

LaValle said there’s “no issue” between him and Flanagan. LaValle said it’s “not uncommon,” for them to take different stands on contenders early in the process, but to come together in the end. LaValle noted he came out for Donald Trump for president long before Flanagan.

“We speak, we share ideas,” said LaValle, “But I don’t advise him how to vote on government issues and he doesn’t advise me on how to vote on political issues.”

Robert Carapolli, Flanagan’s spokesman, said there was no change in his endorsement. His backing of DeFrancisco “is part of a long process that is in the very early stages,” Carapolli said. Discussions to determine the best candidate, “will be confidential and always aimed at delivering a victory.”

Initially, both gubernatorial contenders were overshadowed by Harry Wilson. The wealthy business turnaround expert last year was circulating his own name, saying he was ready to spend $10 million to stop Cuomo — who has a $26 million war chest — from winning a third term.

Wilson pulled out at year’s end; within days, Molinaro followed suit, citing concern for his young children.

DeFrancisco, 71, a blunt-speaking 25-year Senate veteran, announced his candidacy. He has $1.45 million in his campaign coffers.

Then Molinaro, 42, resurfaced at a GOP leaders meeting where he won a straw poll by 55 percent to 23 percent over DeFrancisco. Molinaro, who according to campaign reports has $35,868 in his coffers, is expected to announce his candidacy April 2.

Absent from the straw vote was Nassau Republican chairman Joseph Mondello, whose county, like Suffolk, will control about 10 percent of the gubernatorial vote at the party’s nominating convention in May. Mondello did not vote by proxy and remains noncommittal about whom to support.

DeFrancisco backers say the situation is fluid with two months to the convention; Molinaro’s backers now claim to have 51 percent of the convention vote.

LaValle took his stand without consulting Suffolk’s 10 town GOP leaders, although he said he spoke to several.

William Garbarino, Islip GOP chairman, said, “We haven’t had any meeting on who the county’s backing.”

Jesse Garcia, Brookhaven GOP chairman, said he fully supports Molinaro.

LaValle’s past track record on gubernatorial candidates is spotty.

In 2010, he first backed former Rep. Rick Lazio, then County Executive Steve Levy. Both fell short when upstate businessman Carl Paladino won the GOP primary, although he lost to Cuomo.

The last time a similar difference occurred on Long Island was in the 1994 governor’s race, when Brookhaven Republican chairman John Powell came out early for state Sen. George Pataki — a move opposed by the late Senate Majority Leader Ralph Marino of Muttontown.

Pataki beat Democrat Mario Cuomo, Marino was ousted as leader, and Powell became the new Suffolk GOP chairman.