In a startling local political development, Councilman Oliver Koppell, a Riverdale Democrat long at odds with the borough’s party machine, reached out to endorse party regular and state Senate candidate Jeffrey Klein on Wednesday. Even more surprising was Koppell’s decision to back Naomi Rivera in the race to fill Klein’s Assembly seat.

"The principal reason [I am endorsing Klein] is that he is running as a Democrat and only as a Democrat and he will vote for David Patterson as leader," Koppell said in a telephone interview, referring to the current Senate majority leader. Democrats hope putting one of their own in the 34th District seat vacated by Republican Guy Velella will help them gain a majority in the state Senate. 

Assemblyman Steve Kaufman, a Democrat, has said he may also run on the Republican line and caucus with Republicans. 

"Kaufman has said he will vote for [Senate majority leader] Joe Bruno," Koppell said. "If he votes for Joe Bruno and sits on the GOP side of the aisle, he is supporting an agenda that is detrimental to the city of New York and in some ways is giving comfort to the national Republican Party." 

Koppell, who was a state assemblyman for more than 20 years and briefly served as state attorney general, also said he made the move partly to make an overture to party regulars. "Part of it is an effort on my part to show that I want to be cooperative where I can with the organization," he said. 

Asked if he discussed the filtration plant issue with Klein (see story on p. 1 for more on Klein’s position), Koppell, who opposes the city’s plans to build the facility in Van Cortlandt Park, said he had. "Klein indicated to me that he is moderating his position [in favor of building the plant in Van Cortlandt Park] and that he is not necessarily in support [of the city’s plans] and wanted to work with the community . . . I think Klein is moving closer to my position."

But Koppell said he didn’t know whether Klein could successfully derail the plan in the Assembly. "While I certainly encourage that, I’m not counting on that," Koppell said. "I don’t want to pretend that’s the reason for my endorsement." 

Through a spokesman, Klein said, "It’s always a pleasure to receive support from a fellow elected official, but to receive an endorsement from a political reformer like Council Member Koppell is a true honor."

In the interview, Koppell also said he decided to support Naomi Rivera for the Assembly seat. "I think she is a very bright, capable young lady [and] it appeared that she had the broadest support." 

Asked whether his decision represents a thaw in his relations with the party organization, Koppell conceded that was a motivation. "I won’t deny that I’m trying to establish better relations," he said. "That’s true."

Koppell said that he had a "lengthy conversation" with Jose Rivera two weeks ago. He said Rivera did not promise him anything specific in return for his conciliatory actions. "But I think that he understood that I was not happy with the way the organization has interacted with me over the last years," Koppell said, adding that former party chair Roberto Ramirez blocked him from having a leadership position in the City Council. "I made it clear to Jose Rivera that that is not acceptable to me." 

Finally, Koppell said that he hopes that "my reaching out to them will have a reciprocal effect."