Edward I. Koch, the former New York City mayor, has been in public life since 1956 — and says this year is unlike any he has ever experienced.

“I have never seen the electorate so angry in all my life,” he said Wednesday while meeting with editors and reporters of The Buffalo News.

That’s why the longtime fixture of city and state politics says his new reform group — New York Uprising—can serve as a major force in statewide elections this year as it labels area candidates as “heroes” or “enemies” of reform.

All they must do to gain the hero label is sign a pledge supporting three proposed reforms:

• “Meaningful criteria” for legislative redistricting through an independent and impartial commission.

• New ethics rules that include a comprehensive annual financial disclosure form.

• New guidelines for adopting the perennially late state budget that include creating an independent budget office to report and comment on the state’s financial health.

“We decided to limit ourselves to three good-government issues,” Koch said. “You’re either on the side of the angels, or you’re a bum.”

As a result, Koch’s new organization has listed the following heroes in Assembly races: Francine DelMonte, the Democratic incumbent, and John D. Ceretto, the Republican challenger, in the 138th District; Sam Hoyt, the Democratic incumbent, and Joseph Golombek Jr., the Democratic challenger, as well as Brian R. Biggie, the Republican challenger, in the 144th District; Mark J. F. Schroeder, the Democratic incumbent, in the 145th District; and Kevin Smardz, a Republican, in the 146th Assembly.

In State Senate contests, heroes include William T. Stachowski, the incumbent Democrat, plus Democratic challengers Timothy M. Kennedy and Michael Kuzma, as well as Jack F. Quinn III, the Republican challenger, in the 58th District; Cynthia Appleton, a Democrat, and Patrick M. Gallivan, a Republican, in the 59th District; Antoine M. Thompson, the Democratic incumbent, in the 60th District; Michael H. Ranzenhofer, the Republican incumbent, and Marc A. Coppola, Democratic challenger, in the 61st District; and George D. Maziarz, the incumbent Republican, in the 62nd District.

Listed as enemies of reform in Assembly races were Robin L. Schimminger, the Democratic incumbent, in the 140th District; Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, the Democratic incumbent in the 141st District; and Jane L. Corwin, the Republican incumbent, in the 142nd District. In State Senate contests James P. Domagalski and David J. DiPietro, both Republican, received the designation in the 59th District.