Politics on the Hudson

Scratch one challenger to Richard Brodsky to be the next state comptroller. Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced today that is is naming Assemblyman Pete Grannis, D-Manhattan, to be the state’s new commissioner of environmental conservation.

Grannis, a long-time environmental activist also known for his interest in ethics bills, was one of 19 candidates for comptroller who was interviewed this week by a screening panel. But he was considered a long shot because he is from Manhattan, and some Democrats were loathe to have all four likely candidates for statewide office in 2010(Lt. Gov. David Paterson and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Spitzer, besides the comptroller) from the same borough.

Grannis’ withdrawal from the comptroller race leaves four Assembly members still in it: Joseph Morelle of the Rochester area, Tom DiNapoli of Nassau County and Felix Ortiz of Brookyn besides Brodsky, who lives in Greenburgh.

Five finalists are expected to be announced as early as tomorrow.