The coming weeks may decide State Sen. Hiram Monserrate’s (D-Corona) fate, but Queens Democrats have already begun slowly tearing down the foundation of support below his feet while his supporters continue to decry the uproar surrounding the embattled legislator.

The Democratic Party announced Assemblyman Jose Peralta (D-Jackson Heights) will lead the charge against Monserrate in next year’s primary, with his campaign formally launching Oct. 29.

Peralta said the urge to run had been brewing over the past month-and-a-half. When Monserrate was ultimately found guilty of misdemeanor reckless assault charges, Peralta decided to against simply releasing a statement to the press.

“I sort of thought about it; do I want to make a statement or do want to act?” Peralta said. “The constituents will lose out because here is a Senator no one wants to work with and the community is going to pay the price with all the services and challenges they face because no one is going to want to deal with him. I think the best statement I can make is to run.”

The announcement was made at a democratic dinner, where U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) unveiled Peralta and endorsed his run.

“Our community is crying out for great leadership, for effective leadership,” Crowley reportedly said. “Unfortunately, we have not gotten that leadership.”

The coronation had a twinge of awkwardness, as Monserrate was in attendance, watching as Crowley triumphantly raised hands with Peralta, the crowd reportedly cheering “Jose! Jose!”

Peralta was elected to the Assembly seat in 2002, and currently serves his fourth term.

Meanwhile, the State Senate’s Committee of Inquiry into the possible expulsion of Monserrate has yet to define itself, as many questions remain about its legal potency. Past precedent remains dodgy, and the State’s Constitution leaves open a broad interpretation as to what mandates expulsion.

When the Senate reconvenes on Nov. 9, the committee’s head, State Sen. Eric Schneiderman (D-Manhattan), will likely clarify the aims and scope of the inquiry.

Should Monserrate be expelled from the Senate, a special election will be held to replace him.

With 10 months until the next primary, Peralta said the long campaign ahead and early launch were not spurred by the possibility of the special election.

“I am the laying the groundwork for a primary in September,” he said. “I’m preparing for the general in November.”

All the while, consistent support for Monserrate has come overwhelmingly from one source, District Leader Martha Flores-Vazquez.

In last week’s Tribune story about the Queens Democrats’ repudiation of Monserrate, the party’s Executive Secretary Michael Reich lambasted Vazquez for her unwavering support of a Senator who was found guilty of misdemeanor assault three weeks ago. He attributed her stance to $37,500 then-Councilman Monserrate allocated to her domestic violence awareness organization, Community Prevention Alternatives for Families in Crisis.

“It’s hard for me to sit by and watch injustice,” Vazquez said of her support during an interview.

She said nearly a year separated the City’s doling out of money and the incident leading to Monserrate’s trial.

“All of this work I’ve done has been for free,” Vazquez said, adding the money was not an issue. “I feel I’m Mother Theresa to the world.”

She expressed regret over what she characterized as the misinterpretation of her heated words against Monserrate’s now defiantly indignant colleagues, which included her calling the black and Latino members of the county party “Uncle Tom’s.”

“I think it has to be taken in the context of what has occurred,” she said repeatedly, saying the comments referenced a perceived media bias against Monserrate and were not intended to explicitly demean her colleagues.

“The only thing I want is for the negativity to stop,” Vazquez said. “There’s a lot of malice and it has to stop.”

Still, three more women’s groups joined the growing chorus calling for Monserrate’s ouster shortly after the interview.

Reach Reporter Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.