ALBANY – The abrupt dismal of Senate staffer close to Sen. Craig Johnson (D-L.I.) yesterday is being seen as retaliation against the Nassau lawmaker for daring to speak up for charter schools.

Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson of Brooklyn fired Nassau County Legislator Robert Troiano Jr. from his post as director of the Senate’s Long Island regional office. The move came barely a day after Johnson pledged to vote against a poison-pill laden charter school overhaul negotiated by Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan).

Lacking the necessary votes, Sampson chose not to act on the bill in time for Tuesday’s crucial Race to the Top deadline.

A source close to Sampson this morning denied that the firing was intended as retaliation and said Troiano’s job was eliminated as part of a larger overhaul of the Senate’s regional offices.

“It’s not a message thing. He was one of the people who was on that list.” the source said. “He got his notice yesterday and of course Craig did his full-Johnson meltdown. Well look at it, but I think there’s probably less of an interest in reinstating the guy because Craig is asking for it and because Craig is not a reliable vote.”