IF MTA Chairman Joe Lhota wants to be mayor, he may have to take on a billionaire first.
Grocery store magnate John Catsimatidis says he’s serious about running as a Republican — and would bow out of the race only if Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly jumps in.
“I made it to the top. I want to do my part to have New York go to the next step,” he told the Daily News in an exclusive interview.
Lhota has been generating buzz as business leaders search for alternatives to the crop of Democratic candidates.
But after making noise for years about running for mayor, Catsimatidis says he will file papers Monday creating a committee to explore a candidacy.
Like Mayor Bloomberg, Catsimatidis is a former Democrat seeking a second act after a fabulously successful business career.
But this isn’t quite Bloomberg II.
While Catsimatidis says he’s prepared to spend as much as $20 million of his fortune to run, he also will be open to taking contributions.
Bloomberg only used his own money.
And if Catsimatidis wins, he won’t take the symbolic, dollar-a-year salary that Bloomberg draws.
“I’m a grocer. 99 cents,” he said.
Lhota — who confirmed to The News on Thursday that he is weighing whether to run – declined to comment Friday.
But a Catsimatidis campaign – with all his money — would complicate a candidacy by Lhota, also a Republican.
Catsimatidis already has strong backing from one county GOP chairman, Manhattan boss Daniel Isaacs.
“If John Catsimatidis is running, he has my unqualified support,” Isaacs said. “He is an accomplished businessman who has a tremendous story to tell.”
But former Republican Borough President Guy Molinari said Friday he questions whether Catsimatidis has the “fire in the belly” to run and win.
Catsimatidis, 64, immigrated from Greece to Harlem with his family he was an infant, with his dad working as a busboy.
The young Catsimatidis eventually bought a small grocery and turned it into the billion-dollar business that controls the Gristedes supermarket chain.
He abandoned thoughts of a 2009 mayoral when Bloomberg sought a third term — and says he would step aside again if Kelly runs. Kelly has said he isn’t interested in being mayor.
“I think he’s a national hero. I think he’s a New York hero,” Catsimatidis said. “I think he would be able to raise money.”
As for anyone else who would run run as a Republican, “I’ll primary anyone who’ll primary me,” Catsimatidis insisted.
Meanwhile, Lhota said he does not know who was behind registering four Internet names that suggest a candidacy: Lhota2013.com, LhotaforNY.com, LhotaforNYC.com, and JoeLhotaSucks.com
The names were registered anonymously on Sept. 18.
