Free Republic

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis runs for mayor again, he has the wholehearted support of former Congressman Vito Fossella, who spoke about the Greek-American self-made man on Joe Piscopo's radio show on AM970 Tuesday morning. Asked whether he'd support Catsimatidis, who hosts the station's "Cats Roundtable" on Sunday mornings, Fossella said, "In a heartbeat. John is an American success story. He loves this country and never forgot where he came from. Works like I've never seen anybody work before and truly loves people, loves this city, loves this country and deserves to be elected to whatever...

Former Congressman Vito Fosella held a news conference today to announce that he will not seek election to his old congressional seat. The issue came up after the Staten Island Republican Party recently bypassed two candidates seeking the job and endorsed Fosella to run. Fosella was a six-term congressman until he stepped down in 2008 amid a drunk driving and personal scandal involving a secret family had in Virginia. He says he was honored to be asked to run, but is happy with where he is now. "I'm frankly at a very good place in my life,” he said. “I'm...

NEW YORK - Former Congressman Vito Fossella stood outside his house last Thursday, chatting with reporters as his children played nearby. Two days earlier, the county committee had endorsed him to retake his old Staten Island seat. "I will make my decision within the next few days," he said... It was quite a different scene from the one two years ago, when reporters had been camped out on the same lawn, peppering Fossella with questions about a scene lurid even for Washington: A drunken driving arrest had led reporters into his secret second family, and tabloids had splashed his image...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Vito Fossella running for Congress could actually help President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party hold on to the House this fall, a Republican consultant said. "If Vito runs, he instantly becomes the national Democrats' poster boy for what's wrong with the Republican Party," said Brooklyn GOP strategist Gerry O'Brien. "They'll raise millions of dollars using Vito Fossella, and hammer every Republican candidate in every state in the country." Fossella has yet to say if he will run after being endorsed by the Staten Island GOP's executive committee last week. The party's county committee would have...

In a startling move, the Staten Island Republican Party last night nominated scandal-scarred ex-Rep. Vito Fossella for his old seat -- even though he wasn't even there. By a vote of 23-4, the GOP selected Fossella over candidates Michael Allegretti, a businessman, and Michael Grimm, a former US Marshal, to challenge Democratic Rep. Michael McMahon in November. Fossella, who served five terms in Congress, decided not to run for reelection in 2008 after he was arrested for drunken driving in Virginia -- and admitted he was there to see his mistress, a retired Air Force colonel, and their love child.

I just confirmed with a source who was at tonight's executive committee meeting of the Staten Island GOP that both Michael Allegretti and Michael Grimm were turned down for the nomination for ex-Rep. Vito Fossella's old seat (now held by Democratic Rep. Michael McMahon) in favor of... Vito Fossella. The ex-rep was not present at the meeting, but his name was put up by Chairman John Friscia, the source told me. More to follow... Both Allegretti and Grimm went through the interview process before Fossella was nominated in absentia, the source said: "There was no explanation. Everybody walked out with...

BAY RIDGE – Adding to the hotly contested battles to replace outgoing Congressman Vito Fossella is a political “crazy-quilt” pattern to Democrat Mike McMahon’s campaign after his endorsement by Staten Island’s top Conservative, while not so favorite GOP son Robert Straniere is upset over apparent dissentient inter-party “dirty tricks.” In one of Campaign ‘08’s bizarre political twists, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, Richmond County’s Conservative Party executive vice chair, endorsed McMahon. This was accepted by the moderate Staten Island councilman as a logical move, given his working relationship with Molinaro since 2002. Molinaro, who was elected twice as borough...

In a dramatic reversal of fortunes, former Assemblyman Robert A. Straniere was endorsed for Congress last night by the Staten Island Republican Party. That backing comes just four years after Mr. Straniere, then a 24-year incumbent, was defeated in a tense Republican primary and shunned by many of the island’s officials. Mr. Straniere is running for the seat in Congress now held by Representative Vito J. Fossella, a Republican who announced in May that he will not run for re-election this year. “Bob Straniere is now the candidate of the Richmond County Republican Committee,” said John S. Friscia, the chairman...

With the defending Republicans facing twists and turns confirming that truth can be stranger than fiction, the Democrats now appear to hold a solid edge in the battle for the seat New York Republican Rep. Vito J. Fossella left open — after the married father of three admitted in May that he has a daughter from an ongoing extramarital relationship. The Republicans’ lack of a consensus replacement candidate less than two weeks before the July 10 candidate filing deadline, with no top-tier prospects at hand for the party’s Sept. 9 primary, has prompted CQ Politics to change its rating on...

Frank Powers, the wealthy Wall Street retiree tapped to run for disgraced Rep. Vito Fossella's congressional seat, died Sunday- sending shock waves through the already reeling state GOP. News of Powers' fatal heart attack had many party insiders wondering if Fossella would change his mind and run again - but he quickly moved to quash the speculation. "Congressman Fossella will not be seeking re-election," said a Fossella aide. Powers, a 68-year-old MTA board member, philanthropist and father of seven, died at home early Sunday, relatives said.

The Democratic County Committee a short time ago nominated North Shore City Councilman Michael McMahon for Staten Island's Congressional seat, which will be vacated by Vito Fossella in January. The vote was 131-40 with 4 abstentions. Additional information from the Crystal Room in South Beach will be posted as it becomes available.

If Staten Island Republicans can't find a candidate to replace GOP Rep. Vito Fossella in Congress, radio talk-show host Curtis Sliwa says he'd think about running. "I'm sure that you will be able to find a well known or well qualified candidate, with a distinguished record of public service," Sliwa said in a letter to borough GOP chairman John Friscia today. "If however the party is unable to, if you think it would be of help, I might be willing to be considered as a possible candidate." For the full text of Sliwa's letter, check out Tom Wrobleski's "Polit.bureau" blog....

Two potential heavyweight candidates in the race to replace Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) in the House of Representatives have withdrawn their names from consideration. GOP District Attorney Daniel Donovan and state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) announced today they will not enter the race for the congressional nomination. In a statement issued by his office, Donovan said, "I feel that at this time, I am best able to serve the people of Staten Island in the position to which they re-elected me by such an overwhelming margin just six months ago, as their District Attorney. Therefore, I am now...

If Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) is unable to reach a deal with prosecutors on his DUI arrest, he will likely have to serve five days in jail before the end of the year, making him only the fourth sitting member of Congress to be locked up following a criminal conviction and dragging his troubles back into the spotlight just as Republicans were counting on them having vanished. Not since Rep. John Dowdy (D-Texas) was sent to prison for his 1972 conviction for bribery, obstruction of justice and perjury has a sitting member of the House been sentenced to jail or...

The decision by Vito J. Fossella not to seek another term in Congress has roiled the political waters of his reliably Republican district, as both parties are searching for consensus candidates to succeed him when his term ends in January. The departure of Mr. Fossella might seem to present the Democrats with a major opportunity, but the party’s leaders have yet to agree on a candidate, and disputes have broken out over whether the candidate should come from the Staten Island or Brooklyn side of the district. Mr. Fossella’s decision is not clearly a blow to the Republicans. District Attorney...

Embattled Republican Rep. Vito Fossella will not run for re-election, the New York Times reported last night, relieving at least a small burden on House Republicans nervous at the prospect of another scandal-tainted member hurting their party's national image. Arrested for driving while intoxicated on May 1 in Alexandria, Virginia, Fossella was bailed out of jail by his girlfriend, with whom he has a young daughter. Fossella also has three children with his wife in New York. "This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on...

In a bombshell announcement that brings the curtain down on one of the most storied careers in Staten Island political history, fifth-term Republican Rep. Vito Fossella will not seek re-election this fall. Mired in scandal after revelations about the secret daughter he fathered with Virginia divorcee Laura Fay became public, Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) tells constituents in a letter to be posted on his Web site tomorrow, and released exclusively to the Advance, that he will no longer serve them in Congress after his current term expires on Jan. 3, 2009. "After a great deal of consideration, I have made the...

By CARL CAMPANILE May 11, 2008 -- Defying disgusted constituents and angry Republican leaders, disgraced Rep. Vito Fossella has told pals he plans to seek re-election. And, shockingly, the Staten Island pol is feeling "pretty good," he confided to friends. "I got every indication that he's planning to run again," said Guy Molinari, Fossella's mentor, who's been in close contact with the embattled, 43-year-old politician. Fossella, a 10-year incumbent, is up for re-election in November. "He's not just inclined to run. He plans on running," said Molinari, a former congressman and Staten Island borough president who was succeeded by Fossella...

Defying disgusted constituents and angry Republican leaders, disgraced Rep. Vito Fossella has told pals he plans to seek re-election. And, shockingly, the Staten Island pol is feeling "pretty good," he confided to friends. I got every indication that he plans to run again," said Guy Molinari, Fossella's political mentor, who's been in close contact with the embattled 43-year-old politician. Fossella is up for re-election in November. "He's not just inclined to run. He plans on running," said Molinari, a former congressman and Staten Island borough president who was succeeded by Fossella as the de facto leader of the borough's GOP.

Two Democrats are seeking the nomination. Stephen A. Harrison held Fossella to the lowest winning percentage of his House career in 2006, despite being outspent 10 to 1. Also running is New York City Council member Domenic M. Recchia Jr. Recchia is on track to outraise Harrison; as of April 1, the date of the most recent campaign finance report, Recchia reported raising $350,000 while Harrison reported raising $151,000. Fossella reported raising $851,000. Several Republican names have been floated as possible replacement candidates should Fossella resign or retire, including Staten Island District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan Jr., state Sen. Andrew...