One of Mayor Byron W. Brown’s closest allies is calling for the removal of Karla L. Thomas as Buffalo’s human resources commissioner.

North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr. pointed to Thomas’ role in the recent scandal over health insurance for dead people in calling for her removal Wednesday.

“Our job is to protect the taxpayer,” said Golombek, who plans to file a resolution today demanding Thomas’ firing.

Golombek, a Democratic candidate for Assembly, is not the first Council member to demand Thomas’ removal, but he is the first Brown ally on the Council to do so.