Albany has its eye on clash in Suffolk

Suffolk Legis. Ricardo Montano is making the kind of noise that resounds outside his home county at times like these.

Defying the wishes of Richard Schaffer, his Democratic Party county chairman, Montano (D-Central Islip) is moving to run next November in the 4th Senate District, presumably against veteran GOP Sen. Owen Johnson.

Johnson, of West Babylon, has long enjoyed the outright support of Schaffer, who calls him a "terrific senator." Montano said Friday: "Even if he [Schaffer] can convince the party it should not nominate me, I'll contest that . . . and I'll get the support of the rank and file.

"They're tired of this deal."

To which Schaffer replied: "Rick's entitled to do whatever he feels is in the best interest of himself and his constituents. I'm entitled to have my position, which is one I've made clear for a number of years."

The local clash is stirring unusual interest among strategists in Albany because:

Senate Republicans under leader Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre hold a bare-minimum majority of 32 out of 62 seats. Because it's so close, any influential Democrat's continued alliance with any GOP incumbent is seen as having the potential to affect the power balance at the Capitol. Even last week's exit from the Senate of convicted felon Carl Kruger, from what's been a predictably Democratic Brooklyn district, has the wider world watching the race to replace him.

Schaffer recently said: "Until the [Senate Democratic] conference can show it's not just concentrated in New York City and can worry about the suburbs, I have major questions." He cites the conference's approval of the MTA payroll tax while in the majority. Schaffer has been saying this for years, but now, on the eve of a wider partisan battle, he's quoted all around cyberspace.

New district lines are about to be drawn. Discussion centers on adding a largely Latino Senate district in central Suffolk -- perhaps opportune for Montano, of Puerto Rican descent, son of the late ex-Assemb. Armando Montano. GOP strategy could bring the total number of senators statewide to 63 and, perhaps, help protect Long Island's nine Republican incumbents.

His isn't strictly an "ethnic candidacy," Montano insists. He lives just outside the current 4th District, but in reapportionment years, candidates need only to reside in the county -- one more way in which the local could prove unusually global in 2012.