By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

This is not an endorsement column.

However, today, we’re taking a hard look at the candidate for Queens Borough President and Mayor since those of us in the biz play, "who would you vote for if the election were held tomorrow?" Also, the Democratic County Organization will sit down next Monday morning, May 21st to pick their candidates.

Now strangely, the Democratic Party is not very democratic. The official choices are made by the vote of the 64 elected Democratic District Leaders. There is one County Chairman and he really makes the decisions — all of them. That’s the way it is. That’s the way it was. That’s the way it will likely be for a long time. Now, that’s not to say the District Leaders and his inner circle don’t influence him. But sometime between now and May 21st, Tom Manton will sit down with his advisors — partners in his law firm — and make the big decisions.

As a newspaper publisher, I am not under the same time pressure. We don’t face the endorsement deadline until sometime around Labor Day. Nevertheless, we thought it would be interesting to share our thoughts with Tom, the 64 District Leaders and you, and play "What if the election were held tomorrow," out loud.

Who would we back if the Dem Primary were tomorrow?

(After this column was written but prior to publication, it became clear that County Leader Tom Manton will support Alen Hevesi for mayor and Helen Marshall for borough president. My thoughts are unchanged.)

Rule #1: These are not endorsements! Got that! We’re allowed to change our mind; meet with our editorial board; interview candidates; talk to the people; evaluate the records and think lots more until our final voice is heard.

Rule #2: We’ll call it like we see it. No deals, jobs, business or special interest will impact our choices.

Rule #3: We consider in order: a) the good of the people; b) the good of Queens c) personal feelings, instinct and access; d) electability.

Rule #4: See Rule #1.

The Democratic field for Queens Beep includes term limited Council members Sheldon Leffler, Karen Koslowitz, Helen Marshall, Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer and former Board of Ed. President Carol Gresser. We know them all — pretty well.

Sheldon Leffler is a well-meaning, socially-concerned intellectual who lacks some of the people skills to build an effective coalition to manage the borough. He’s bright, I like him. I’d like to continue to consider him as my friend but he is not my choice for Beep. He will however stay in this race until the end and lose.

I really like Karen Koslowitz. She is hard working and cares about her constituents. Karen will be out of the race on May 21st when she does not receive County’s designation. Chances are if Manton picks some winners and is owed favors, Karen will be rewarded with a job for dropping out and supporting County’s choice — she’ll work hard and do that job well.

The winner will be one of the remaining three: Pheffer, Marshall or Gresser. Pheffer and Marshall are both longtime Democratic District Leaders and therefore have a large leg up for Manton’s support. Manton wants a Borough President who will "take orders" and provide him with greatly needed patronage by appointing his people to the jobs at Borough Hall. Jobs provide the grease to keep political machines running.

Pheffer clearly will be the most subservient to Manton. She has indicated that in her Borough Hall, the political grease is readily available. She’s expressed intentions to "listen to" Manton, Claire Shulman and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Her candidacy is a creation of term-limited Shulman who had expressed concern about the jobs of her present staff. Pheffer, in a published interview, pledged, "I wouldn’t fire a single person that Claire appointed." In reference to making major appointments she said: "I guess I’ll get recommendations from [County Leader] Tom Manton and [Assembly Speaker] Silver."

Pheffer’s key support seems to be all about patronage. She has placed the integrity of Borough Hall in jeopardy. While her Assembly record is acceptable, it not exceptional. She was one of the few senior Assembly members from the City who voted to abolish the City’s Commuter Tax costing the City more than $400,000,000 (that’s four hundred million) every year. That vote was part of a Sheldon Silver political deal that got nothing for the City. Pheffer went along.

Audrey Pheffer is the nicest person you’d ever want to meet. She has our personal admiration and affection. We, however, need a strong leader and not a follower as Borough President.

Helen Marshall or Carol Gresser?

Two wonderful candidates!

Queens would be well served with either of these two dynamic women. They are both bright, hard working and committed to all of the people in Queens. The both have shown independence but also have the ability to work with diverse groups and build coalitions. The Democrats and Manton, the civic groups, the unions, the people and even the Republicans could do business and get along with Marshall or Gresser. I’d be happy with either.

Marshall, who I have known for four decades — really, she was president of the Parents Association of PS 143 in Corona, when my father was the school’s principal in the 1960s — would be the first African American Beep of Queens. The positive self image that a black role model would provide for the children of minority neighborhoods is immeasurable. Add that to her competence and you have a pretty good argument on behalf of Helen Marshall.

Good, but not perfect. Race is not a good enough reason to support someone. Race shouldn’t be used when denying someone a vote, likewise, it should not weigh too heavily in casting a vote for someone.

Though Marshall is a good candidate, we took serious issue with her leadership role in the recent vile attempt to overturn term limits for Council members which was passed by the people and voted on in two referendums. This self-serving undemocratic move would have allowed Marshall and her cronies to run again. She demonstrated a quality in that failed crusade which said that Helen might occasionally ignore the will of the people.

Probably not perfect either, is my friend Carol Gresser. She is the former Prez of the NYC Board of Education who stood up to Rudy Guiliani’s attempt to ram a bad choice for Chancellor down the throats of the Board. Carol and the children of the City won that fight but she lost the affection of her former friend Claire Shulman who has repeatedly backed the Mayor on education — right or wrong.

Carol is courageous. She’s bright, articulate and knowledgeable. She has the ability to work with all groups and has always made herself available to those in need. She has a true concern about this borough and its kids. Carol Gresser is clearly the class of the field.

Tom Manton would be doing his party and the people of Queens well, by showing the courage that Carol has shown and taking the best path instead of the most expedient one.

If the election were today, I’d be with Carol Gresser!