Gov. Andrew Cuomo has nominated one of New York City’s staunchest defenders of Christopher Columbus to serve as a trustee on CUNY’s governing board — and a battle is already brewing over the move. Cuomo’s pick — Angelo Vivolo, 74, a retired restaurateur and prominent local Italian-American leader — will be interviewed during scheduled board confirmation hearings Monday, and sources say his advocacy for Columbus will come up.

The Democratic-run state Senate must ratify Vivolo’s nomination to serve on CUNY’s board, and there are some lawmakers who oppose the kind of public celebrations that Vivolo has fervently backed for Columbus, who enslaved native peoples during his famous explorations in the 1400s.