COLONIE CPA RUNNING AGAINST CONNERS FOR COUNTY COMPTROLLER.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: SARAH METZGAR Staff writer

ALBANY County Republicans have found a challenger for comptroller candidate Michael Conners, selecting a political neophyte from Colonie.

Lawrence Knapek, 30, of North Elmhurst Avenue in Colonie, will challenge Conners for the $72,000-a-year county post.

Knapek, a certified public accountant who runs his own accounting firm, is new to politics.

Conners, a 46-year-old insurance broker from North Albany, is as well known as Knapek is unknown.

Republicans, fighting a 2-to-1 Democratic enrollment edge in the county, think voters may prefer an unknown accountant to Conners, a high-strung politico …