A reader forwarded a fundraising e-mail he received today from Sen. Liz Krueger with the subject line: “Replacing a bad apple…”

“Through my first hard fought campaigns and since my election to the State Senate in 2002, we have worked together on advancing a common-sense progressive agenda,” the Manhattan Democrat writes.

“Our goals have always been simple ones: making life more manageable for those of our neighbors who need a hand and bringing a measure of transparency and decency to state government.”

“We have had some significant victories, but also some major disappointments. Depending on your personal priorities – keeping New York competitive, affordable health care, civil rights, tenant protections, government reform – everybody’s list of ‘what’s wrong with Albany’ would look different.”

“But likely every list would include the name “Pedro Espada.” He is the poster-child representing all things wrong in Albany.”

“Today, I am asking you to help me oust disgraced Pedro Espada from the State Senate by investing in Gustavo Rivera, a wonderful man with the right resume of community work and government experience. He is an educator, an organizer and just recently served as Senator Gillibrand’s Director of Community Outreach.”

She goes on to note Espada is being investigated by the FBI, AG Andrew Cuomo and two DAs, adding: “He is alleged to have stolen millions of dollars in Medicaid funds, he has exploited his position in the Senate for personal gain, flouts state election laws, and makes a mockery of the democratic process.”

The senator calls Rivera “a committed and honest young man who has a vision for the future and wants to serve his community for all the right reasons” and someone who “wants to do something important, not just be something important.”

The 32-day pre-primary filing deadline is midnight tonight. (Fixed, sorry. Got my pre and post filings mixed up).

Krueger, who is vice-chair of the Senate Finance Committee (chaired by Espada’s erstwhile – current? – amigo, Sen. Carl Kruger, was the first Democrat to call for expelled ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate to resign following his conviction on a misdemeanor assault charge.

She is one of the more liberal, and reform-minded, members of the conference, so this e-mail is completely in keeping with her past behavior and ideology.

However, with this e-mail Krueger is officially at odds with Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson, who told me last week on “Capital Tonight” that he is backing every single incumbent seeking re-election – including himself.

He has also called Espada a “friend” and initially questioned Cuomo’s case against him.

Also on Rivera’s side in this fight: The Working Families Party and former LG candidate Bill Samuels’ political committee, the New Roosevelt Initiative.

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