Republican City Council members to back Lhota for mayor

The City Council's GOP delegation is set to back Joe Lhota for mayor Wednesday, according to one of its members.

Councilman James Oddo's office said he, fellow Staten Island Councilman Vincent Ignizio and Queens Councilmen Dan Halloran and Eric Ulrich will announce their endorsement of the former MTA chief at a 1 p.m. news conference at City Hall.

"I have worked with Joe Lhota and I know firsthand his intelligence, work ethic, wit and understanding of city government. He is by far the superior candidate in the Republican primary and would be a fantastic mayor," Oddo said in a statement.

The other three councilmen could not be reached for comment.