With the comptroller race behind us, last month's nominations of Assemblymember Alexander "Pete" Grannis for DEC commissioner and Judith Enck for deputy cabinet secretary for the environment are (suddenly) making waves. Here's a sample of the buzz:

Newsday: "Spitzer has chosen his enviro team well." The paper gives Spitzer extra kudos for repopulating the eroded DEC staff.

The Buffalo News: The duo has "green roots" and a strong (and much welcome) interest in balancing environmental protection with economic development, or as we like to say smart economic growth.

Politics on the Hudson: Grannis is likely to run into trouble in the nomination process. (Being an assemblymember on the heels of the comptroller race in which Tom DiNapoli received flack from Spitzer for being, err, well, an assemblymember, the rumor mill is saying that Grannis could face an uphill battle with the senate GOP.)

Mr. Grannis in the New York Sun: "What they [the Senate republications] are focusing on is stuff beyond my qualifications," saying Republican opposition to his confirmation may have to do "with this continuing feud between the governor and the Legislature."

Hunters, fishers, trappers: He will use his DEC post to push an anti-hunting, anti-trapping agenda.

Senator Joseph Bruno (on WROW-AM radio): “Minimally, the nomination of a member of the Assembly is controversial...There will be a lot of public discussion about it.’’