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When Rory Lancman, a Democratic candidate for District 25’s Assembly seat, called former Mayor Ed Koch asking for his endorsement, Koch told him he had to make a few calls of his own first.

Thumbing through a list of numbers, the former Mayor phoned his friends in public office. “What do you think about this Lancman kid?” Koch asked his City Council, Assembly and Congressional friends.

“Without any hesitation they said he was the best voice for the district,” Koch explained. “So I called him [Lancman] back and asked him about his interests.”

Koch and Lancman began discussing education and mass transit, which happens to be Koch’s expertise he noted.

Convinced of Lancman’s dedication to the district and its school children, Koch gave his endorsement of the candidate in front of PS 173 in Fresh Meadows, Friday morning.

“Education has to be No.1 without a question,” Koch said looking into a crowd of Lancman supporters. “For New York City’s school children to be able to compete, they need the opportunity to compete.” Koch added how he believes Lancman could very well be the one to bring that opportunity to the borough’s children

Lancman, who grew up watching Koch fight for the city, said if elected he would do the same focusing his efforts toward the Campaign for Fiscal Equity to obtain state resources the borough’s schools are not receiving.

“New York City too often gets a raw deal from the state,” Koch said looking at Lancman, who for nearly 20 years has worked with community boards and civic associations. “Rory Lancman has a record as a fighter who gets results, and I know he will get results for us in Albany.”