Little-known comptroller candidate on the trail

State comptroller races become odd counterpoints to governor campaigns. For years the two posts tended to end up the domain of opposing parties, which is not the case now. Also, statewide ticket-mates have chafed as often as they bonded.

This year, the state Republican and Conservative chairmen back rival candidates for governor, yet both support Westchester resident Harry Wilson for comptroller against Democratic incumbent Thomas DiNapoli from Nassau. Among Democrats, it is well known that DiNapoli and Attorney Gen. Andrew Cuomo, likely gubernatorial nominee, have been less than simpatico.

Wilson is a 38-year-old Harvard graduate, native upstater, son of Greek immigrants and former financial executive. He's expected to put money of his own into the race. Last week Wilson launched a "Cause and Effect Tour" on state fiscal mismanagement - he's due on Long Island Friday - and criticized DiNapoli. Appointed by the legislature in 2007 after Democrat Alan Hevesi was forced out, DiNapoli has been working to tout his tenure in stepped-up appearances.

STEVE STUMPS:Steve Levy, as newly Republican governor candidate, held two news conferences last week on the property of longtime contributors. One was the Manhattan office of Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, a Melville-based law firm where the Suffolk executive's county attorney Christine Malafi formerly worked. The firm's Web site even posts a 2008 news release from Levy hailing its success as outside counsel in squelching a potentially costly lawsuit. The other site: Hauppauge headquarters of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 25.

3RD S.D. SCRUM: Levy's camp disputed GOP foe Rick Lazio's suggestion Levy will back Democratic Sen. Brian Foley for re-election. Levy said he'll fight for a GOP Senate majority. As reported last week, Foley said Levy told him before his switch he wouldn't work against him. Levy has yet to endorse Republican Lee Zeldin. But a spokesman said Friday Levy won't back Foley, whom he recently called a friend.

ON THE RADAR: Ex-Nassau Legis. David Mejias will skip a state Senate run . . . New New York City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) is considering challenging Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights) . . . GOP maverick Carl Paladino announces Monday for governor.