Free Republic

Brooklyn Conservatives have wasted no time, picking retired banker and former Marine Corps captain Paul Atanasio, 59, as their candidate for Congress. "He is my congressional candidate," said Brooklyn Conservative chairman Jerry Kassar. "I'm going forward with that." Atanasio, an attorney, will replace the late Frank Powers as the Brooklyn Conservative pick in the race. A formal party candidate has yet to be chosen because Brooklyn Conservatives and those on Staten Island disagree over the choice. Brooklyn wanted Powers, who was the GOP designee, while Island Conservatives prefer City Councilman Michael McMahon (D-North Shore). If the two sides can't come...

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.

ADVANCE POLITICAL EDITOR Financier said to pledge 500Gs of his own toward congressional race STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In a move that political observers did not see coming, the Staten Island Republican Party last night unanimously endorsed Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member and retired Wall Street executive Frank Powers to replace GOP Rep. Vito Fossella in Congress. "I'm going to give it a hard fight," Powers told members of the GOP county committee at their convention in the Excelsior Grand, New Dorp. "I intend to give it every ounce I can." While Powers, a Todt Hill resident, has been a...