A Long Island congressman said Saturday he’s declining an offer to join Mayor-elect Eric Adams’ administration as a deputy mayor — while also fueling speculation that he plans to make a run for governor.
“I will do everything I can to help my friend Mayor-elect @ericadamsfornyc & the people of NYC succeed,” Rep. Tom Suozzi tweeted.
“After discussing it with my family, I believe the best way for me to help him and NYC is in elected office. I will announce my plans for the future in the coming days. [Thank you] Eric!”
Suozzi later told The Post he made the decision after talking it over “during a big family dinner on Thanksgiving” but declined to elaborate on his future plans.
Suozzi, a former Nassau County executive and ex-mayor of Glen Cove, has said he plans to announce whether he’ll run in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary by the end of the month.
If he runs for governor and wins, he can still complete the remainder of his current term in Congress that expires at the end of next year.
If Suozzi went to work for Adams, a special election would have had to have been held to replace him in Congress — potentially putting his seat at risk of going to a Republican.
Adams, the Brooklyn borough president who is replacing term-limited Bill de Blasio as mayor in January, told reporters Nov. 20 that he was trying to recruit his longtime political ally to serve as one of his deputy mayors.
Suozzi endorsed Adams and campaigned heavily for him during the Democratic primary for mayor. He told The Post last week he was seriously considering Adams’ offer.
“I am very flattered that the mayor-elect would like me to help him in a big way to tackle the challenges in New York City,” Suozzi said at the time. “It’s a testament to our great friendship and his confidence that I know how to help run a big government, get things done and solve problems.”
Suozzi, a member of the House’s powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, is also trained as a lawyer and certified public accountant.