State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, escalating efforts to oust Republican Sen. Caesar Trunzo of Brentwood, showed up in Suffolk County last week to personally enlist Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley to run against the veteran 36-year lawmaker.

Smith met with Foley and Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer Friday at party headquarters in Bohemia for more than hour after Senate Democrats did a pollthat party sources say showed Foley would make a strong contender against Trunzo.

“If Brian chooses to run he would be the strongest candidate Caesar Trunzo ever faced and Caesar would be hard-pressed to hold the seat against someone of Brian’s caliber,” said Doug Forand, strategist for Senate Democrats.

Trunzo could not be reached for comment, but Jesse Garcia, Brookhaven Republican chairman, said, “Democrats are desperately looking for an exit strategy for their failed, liberal supervisor.”

With the help of an expected large presidential year turnout, Senate Democrats are hoping to topple the narrow two-seat GOP Senate majority and they expect as many as eight races statewide to be highly competitive. Republicans counter that Long Island needs a Senate GOP majority to protect the suburbs on issues such as school aid.

If Foley takes on Trunzo, 82, it would immediately become Long Island’s hottest race and spending would easily run into the millions. Foley declined to comment, but top aide Jon Schneider said he authorized his name to be put in a poll. Foley must decide by the party’s May 22 convention.

Foley, 50, a former county lawmaker, won his second two-year term as supervisor last fall, but Democrats lost control of the town board. Trunzo, who is also Islip GOP chairman, is facing increasing strife because his party lost control of the Islip town board last fall and critics want him to step down as leader to focus on his Senate race.

Source: Newsday