Shunned by the Democratic establishment, Eliot Spitzer has reached out to officials with checkered backgrounds to support his run for city comptroller — including two longtime allies of disgraced ex-Assemblyman Vito Lopez.
State Sen. Martin Dilan and his son, City Councilman Erik Dilan, who have been tied to Lopez for years, are among the handful of elected officials backing Spitzer over Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in next week's Democratic primary.
"That's true. Mr. Spitzer reached out to us," Sen. Dilan told The Post.
"Mr. Stringer has never reached out to us. He thought he had an easy race. Mr. Spitzer has been out in the district. We were with him at the Brooklyn Dominican Day Parade. He was very well received by the public."
Stefan Jeremiah
Elliot Spitzer
Dilan called Spitzer an "effective governor," even though his term ended after only 15 months when he was caught in a hooker scandal.
Dilan insisted his backing of Spitzer has "no connection to Vito."
One Brooklyn political veteran said that was hard to believe.
"This is a Machiavellian move that could only be engineered by Vito," the source said.
Publicly, the Dilans distanced themselves from Lopez after their mentor resigned from the Assembly and as Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman following charges that he sexually harassed female staffers.
Both Dilans have remained neutral in Lopez's comeback campaign for City Council. Virtually the entire Democratic establishment — including Stringer — is backing Lopez rival Antonio Reynoso.
Political insiders charged that the Dilans' hands-off approach in the race was an act.
"The Dilans are very loyal to Vito. From everything we know, . . . behind the scenes, they're doing everything they can to help Vito," said one political operative.
Lopez was so close to the Dilans that he pushed Erik Dilan's failed bid to unseat Brooklyn Rep. Nydia Velasquez last year.
Spitzer spokesman Hari Sevugan said the candidate has not had any conversations with Lopez about the comptroller's race, and has not sought his backing.
Spitzer has not taken sides in Lopez's council race. But in a recent Politicker interview, he said he and Lopez did "great things" together on housing policy when both were still in office.
But a Spitzer spokesman noted that the Love Gov also condemned Lopez for his misconduct.
Former Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, who was investigated for putting one boyfriend on a government payroll and another at a nonprofit, is a paid Spitzer campaign consultant.
ccampanile@nypost.com
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