Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder, never a member of the Sheldon Silver fan club, is considering a challenge to the Democratic leader of the Assembly.

Schroeder, a Buffalo Democrat, pointed to the resignation of University at Buffalo President John B. Simpson and Silver’s resistance to UB 2020 as two reasons why the Manhattan lawmaker needs to be ousted as Assembly speaker.

“The speaker has single-handedly stopped this,” Schroeder said of the effort to grant UB more autonomy. “And I think it’s a travesty that a professional like Dr. John Simpson now has to retire. It’s very evident to me he realizes nothing is ever going to change in this state.”

Silver’s blockage of UB 2020, an ambitious expansion plan, prevented a “transformational” impact on the State University of New York system and the Western New York economy, Schroeder said.

As a result, Schroeder said he is considering a challenge to Silver when the Assembly convenes in January.

He acknowledged that any such move would be “crushed” but said it, nevertheless, would focus attention on the short shrift upstate has received under Silver’s leadership.

“It would give me an opportunity,” he said, “to talk about what’s happening to upstate New York.”

Common Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr., a Democrat seeking the party’s nomination for Assembly in another district, echoed Schroeder’s criticism of Silver.

Like Schroeder, Golombek pinned the blame for UB 2020’s failure and Simpson’s subsequent retirement directly on Silver.

“This is proof Albany is broken,” he said. “This is Sheldon Silver caring more about New York City than Western New York.”

When told that Schroeder was considering a challenge to Silver next year, Golombek said that, if elected to the Assembly, he would nominate Schroeder.

Golombek is running against Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, a longtime Democratic incumbent and Silver supporter who felt the effects of the last coup attempt against Silver.

In 2000, Hoyt was one of 12 Assembly Democrats who backed then-Majority Leader Michael J. Bragman of North Syracuse for speaker but later jumped back to Silver when the coup began to unravel.

“It’s easy to demonize one person,” Hoyt said of Silver last week. “But no one asks: If we do replace him, what happens?”

Hoyt said the likely successor would be another New York City Democrat who cares less about Western New York.

rmccarthy@buffnews.com and pfairbanks@buffnews.comnull