Albanese ran in the Democratic Primary for mayor in 2013, losing to Bill de Blasio. He is running for mayor again this year.

Carroll said he is grateful for the endorsement.

“Like Sal, I have made government reform a centerpiece of my campaign. I have called for amendments to the City Charter subject to confirmation by the council and for incumbency protection to be a factor that is considered when district lines are redrawn. Though he and I don’t agree on every issue, we both see that this city should be run for the benefit of the people, not special interests.”

Carroll is one of four Democrats running for the Council seat in the 43rd District, a seat that covers Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights and includes parts of Bensonhurst and Bath Beach. Justin Brannan, the Rev. Khader El-Yateem and Nancy Tong are also running in the Democratic Primary on Sept. 12.

The winner of the Democratic Primary will face the winner of the Republican Primary in the Nov. 7 general election. The GOP candidates are Bob Capano, Liam McCabe and John Quaglione. The Republican Primary also takes place on Sept. 12.

Democrat Vincent Gentile, who has represented the 43rd Council District since 2003, cannot run for re-election due to New York City’s term limits law. In between Albanese’s departure and Gentile winning the Council seat, the district was represented by Republican Marty Golden.

Carroll has been speaking out on an issue that is fast becoming a major talking point for candidates in the race: problematic service on the R train.

Carroll said he has been talking about transit problems for years and is glad to see the issue come to the forefront in the hotly contested campaign.

“It’s great to see that finally other candidates running for the 43rd District Council seat have come around and agree that this is an important and relevant subject for the 43rd District” Carroll said in a statement. 

Carroll, who is the Democratic district leader of the 64th Assembly District, an unpaid party leadership position, said he won that post in 2010 partly on a platform in which he called for MTA to be abolished and for the New York City Department of Transportation to take control of the transit system. 

“It always seems like the R or N train is dealing with some kind of issue,” Carroll said. “It’s either shut down for repairs or its running late for reasons that are never apparent. When I’m elected, I’ll make sure our transit system is held to the standards befitting the greatest city in the world.”

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