You pay Frank Powers' tolls

Must be nice to be rich enough to serve on a board of directors and have pesky tolls paid for by hard working New Yorkers. I am not really sure how his serving on the board of the MTA is an attribute to this campaign.via the NY Times

For years, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has given its board members free passes to drive across its bridges and tunnels without paying tolls and to ride the subways, buses and commuter railroads without paying a fare. And when the board members retire, they are allowed to keep the passes for life.

On Wednesday the authority said it will go to court to defend the practice in the face of a challenge by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who said that giving E-ZPass tags to board members violates a law that they must serve without compensation.

This means Frank Powers has been crossing bridges in and out of Staten Island for free, while the residents of the district cover his tab through tolls and MTA fares. Despite being able to loan himself $500,000 to run for Congress he has felt the need to not pay tolls since 2005. How many residents in this congressional district have those perks?

Frank Powers bought his own nomination

To the outside world and most of his own party Frank Powers may seem like a complete unknown and untested candidate but he had at least one trait that the party leaders seemed to like. Money. via the Advance

One GOP executive committee member told the Advance that Powers informed the committee during an interview last night that he would spend $500,000 of his own money on the race and would raise $500,000 more. "He said it like it was no big deal," the committee member said.

The last sentence is the best because it is the start of a theme you will notice where Mr. Powers is so removed from the average Staten Islander struggling to pay $4 for a gallon of gas and dealing with housing market concerns. Mr. Powers just wrote himself a $500,000 check and didn't think twice about it. Must be nice.

Wednesday night

(Guest post by Ahmed Kokon)

I'm sitting down and writing this blog post because I feel that it's very important to discuss with you the events of Wednesday night.

The Democratic Committee of Richmond County held its nominating convention on that night. Before the convention, Steve Harrison spoke personally to Chairman John Gulino and he assured him that he would have a chance to address the committee before the voting began.

When Harrison arrived at the convention, Chairman Gulino broke his word and told him that he would not be permitted to do so.

When supporters of the campaign informed the committee that they would be voting for Harrison's nomination, Chairman Gulino removed them from the committee.

This is party politics at its worst. This is what we are up against and we will not back down, we will not give in.

Steve Harrison is held accountable by one group of people and one group of people only - the residents of the 13th Congressional District.

We still have a fight on our hands and we need your support now more than ever.

Stand side by side with us in our fight against party bosses and Bush Democrats. Stand side by side with us in our fight for healthcare for all, lower gas prices, and the safe withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.

It's time to Get America Working Again.

Are you with me?

GOP nominates Frank Powers. Who?

The Republican Party just pulled a fast one on itself. After having 19 potential candidates they passed on and then declaring a front runner no one had ever heard of they nominated someone who wasn't even good enough to be in those top 20.

So Frank Powers is their nominee. Who is he? No clue. But the Advance tells us;

Powers is on the board of directors of Richmond University Medical Center and has served as President of the Staten Island Academy. He served on the Board of the former St. Vincent's Medical Center for over 20 years and is a past president of the Downtown Athletic Club and past president of the Heisman Trophy Foundation. He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, and Chairman of the USS Sullivan's' Foundation. He is the former Chairman of the Board of St. Elizabeth Ann's Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. He was elected to the Board of the MTA in 2005. Powers also currently serves on the Board of Wagner College.

So this guy serves on the board of a medical center that is closing clinics across the district and creating major health care concerns. He is on the board of the MTA, which mismanages transportation and funds and is the bane of existance for so many in the district. Oh but he is used to be president of the Heisman Trophy Foundation. Makes sense. He is loaded and can self finance. Congrats Republicans.

GOP County Convention and endorsement tonight

Lanza's withdraw shadows Cusick's from yesterday. Getting out just before the County meeting so that they can endorse someone else. Who is that someone else? Look for one of two paths to play out. First is dark horse candidate Lisa Giovinazzo gets the nod. Or, and this is the interesting part that I am not hearing is that the party is so frustrated that they renominate Fossella or another place holder with the plan that he will later reject it after the party has had time to find a suitable replacement.

Lisa Giovinazzo GOP front runner. Who?

If every other news story was not enough to show the GOP is falling apart in Staten Island comes news today that Lisa Giovinazzo is their likely front runner. Giovinazzo is a lawyer and reporter for NY1. Her claim to fame outside of that is running against McMahon in 2003 and losing to him. Apparently that is her role in the party.

via the Advance;

GOP chairman John Friscia has told us that Lisa Giovinazzo, best known as a newscaster on NY-1 News, "looks like the front-runner right now" for the party's endorsement for Congress.

What is amazing about all of this is that the potential GOP candidate list has grown and grown over the days. I have 18 potential candidates at one point or another, and haven't added Sliwa to that list yet, and Giovinazzo isn't even mentioned. This is a massive failure of the Staten Island GOP.

Sen. Lanza Withdraws

via the Advance;

"At the end of the day, it was the family," Lanza said in a telephone interview. "The kids made the decision for me."

Lanza is the father of three children who range in age from 4 to 11 years old.

"They are right in the heart of the formative years," said Lanza. "I don't want to look back and count up the hundreds of things I wasn't there for for the kids. I'm not willing to make that complete sacrifice."

But we alredy knew that.

McMahon gets nomination, Cusick out

The Richmond Democratic County Committee has nominated Mike McMahon by a vote of 131-40. This follows on an earlier decision by Mike Cusick to not run for the seat. via the Advance;

"I took a hard look at Congress," Cusick (D-Mid-Island) told the Advance in a telephone interview moments ago. "I looked hard at what it would take to get there. The one thing utmost in my mind was what would be best for the people I serve, and the people of Staten Island as a whole."

snip

"I don't want to have a fight for the seat, a fight in the party," Cusick said. "This is a hard decision for me."

Staten Island Democratic County Committee Meeting, Wednesday night

bumped so this is at the top of the page all day

Date: Wednesday, May 28th 2008
Time: 8:00pm
Place: Crystal Room
67 Olympia Boulevard [Google Map]
Staten Island, NY 10305
(Take the S52 Bus from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal heading to
South Beach. Get off at Orlando St. and go west on Olympia Blvd.)

note: it appears from previous events that non committee members can observe the meeting

Candidate speculation and dates to watch, May 27

The following is my analysis of the likelihood that potential candidates will declare their intention to run for this seat. This is not intended to capture the likelihood that they will win their party's nomination. Latest updates are italicized and in green below.

Dates to watch
May 25-26 - Independence Party candidate interviews
Monday, May 26 - Staten Island Republican Party candidate interviews
Tuesday, May 27 - Staten Island Conservative Party candidate interviews
Tuesday, May 27 - Brooklyn Conservative Party candidate interviews
Tuesday, May 27 - Brooklyn Republican Party candidate interviews
Wednesday, May 28 - Staten Island Democratic candidate interviews
Thursday, May 29 - Independence Party candidate voting
May 26-31 - Working Families Party expected to hold candidate interviews
June 3 - Ballot petitioning starts
July 10 - Ballot petitions are due

Potential Republican Candidates
Supreme Court Justice Joseph Maltese

via Advance

Members of the party executive committee interviewed a number of candidates for that slot and others last night, but held off on making a decision because two of the biggest names in the running -- state Sen. Andrew Lanza and acting state Supreme Court Justice Joseph Maltese -- did not come down for interviews.

upgraded

Paul Atanasio

Via the Daily News; "In a brief telephone interview today, Atanasio confirmed he is indeed considering a run for Fossella's seat, and will be meeting with Conservative and GOP leaders in the coming days."

former Assemblyman Robert Straniere

Via the Advance; "I'm very seriously taking a look at it," said Straniere."

"But Friscia said the response was "unfavorable" when he pitched a Straniere scenario to his fellow Republicans, including party elected officials."

Staten Island Republican Chairman John Friscia

via the Daily News saying "I'm not going to say I'm interested in it, I'm not going to say I'm not interested in it."

State Senator Andrew Lanza

Via the Daily News; "Lanza said he's unlikely to run for the seat his good friend, Fossella, is giving up, but has not yet officially made up his mind."

Lanza has the support of Staten Island GOP Chairman John Friscia, who might also be a candidate if Lanza declines.

He will also be meeting with Jerry Kassar, Kings County Conservative Party leader within the next few days according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. For some reason though Jerry Kassar insists that Lanza is an Assembly Member.

State Senator Marty Golden

Golden was mentioned by Craig Eaton, below. Golden brings little to the race, risks another Republican Senate seat. He has a better chance than Eaton though as little as that is.

Brooklyn Republican Party Chair, Craig Eaton

Eaton dropped his own name as a potential candidate. He is now added to this list but with downgraded movement since no one other than he himself is dropping his name.

former Assembly candidate Todd Tobbacco


Richard Hoffman

Glenn Yost

ADDED
Carmine Morano, father of Frank Morano

ADDED
Richard Hoffman, Vice President of the borough Young Republicans

ADDED
Scott LoBaido

ADDED
Dennis McKeon

NOT RUNNING
District Attorney Dan Donovan
GOP County Clerk Stephen Fiala
Staten Island GOP Finance Chair Dr. Jamshad Wyne
City Council Member James Oddo

Potential Democrats Candidates
Steve Harrison has already declared.

Harrison is now reported to be in talks with the DCCC.

City Council Member Mike McMahon

Mike McMahon is rumored to have met with the Central Labor Council, an umbrella group for labor organizations in the city.

McMahon has previously said he was interested in running today. McMahon likely will not run if Cusick declares.
See: Potential Candidates: City Council Member Mike McMahon.

Assembly Member Mike Cusick said he was interested in running today. Cusick likely will not run if McMahon declares.
See: Potential Candidates: Assembly Member Mike Cusick.

ADDED
City Council Member Vinny Gentile

via Daily news

Councilman Vincent Gentile of Brooklyn added his name to the Dem mix, saying he doesn't believe the "myth" that a candidate from outside Staten Island can't win.

Assembly Member Peter Abbate previously indicated that he would respect Senator Savino's decision only running. With her being downgraded below, his chances of running now increase. This is further enhanced by Recchia's likely deciding not to run creating a vacancy among the Brooklyn delegation of electeds. Not sure if Vito Lopez would support him. The NY Sun has an article today on Abbate and his tremendously strong connections to labor unions.
See: Potential Candidates: Assembly member Peter Abbate

City Council Member Domenic Recchia has already indicated he is looking to drop out and unverified quotes attributed to him indicate he is talking with party officials about a decision for what is best for the party. Those are not strong indicators that he will continue running.

NOT RUNNING
State Senator Diane Savino

The Democratic Bench: Janele Hyer-Spencer, part II

As we see the Republican Party fall all around Fossella we see great progress for the Democratic Party. As seats are contested the Democratic Party is showing strength and resolve in New York State. After the Congressional race the next top tier race in the district would have to be Assembly member Hyer-Spencer's seat. After losing her first run at the 60th AD, she pulled off a hard fought victory in 2006, winning by 700 votes. Her performance for her district in Albany has been superb and
her former opponent has taken note;

Anthony Xanthakis, the party first vice chairman who was expected to launch a rematch against Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer (D-East Shore/Brooklyn), last night said he would not run.

from November 8, 2008;

While the implications may be a little more long term, winning very local elections is one way we will retake this Congressional seat, if meerly by reducing the experienced Republican bench.

Janele was the first candidate who took this blog seriously and reached out on several occassions with political knowledge and insight. She impressed me with some early and rather intelligent web research/outreach team. Best of luck to her in Albany. It will be nice to see Assemblywoman Hyer-Spencer campaigning along side our '08 congressional candidate, that is if she is not the nominee.

see also:
The Democratic Bench, Janele Hyer-Spencer, August 16, 2006

NRCC's financial trouble to cost them this seat

Because the NRCC has no money to help any legitimate candidates they are left with looking outside those with any campaign experience. via NY1;

The GOP was also searching for wealthy business executives who could finance themselves.

The DCCC with $45 million, holds a $39 million cash advantage over the NRCC and their $6 million.

Lanza (R) looking like he is out, Republicans in shambles

Earlier tonight I downgraded Lanza's likelihood that he will jump in the race. Previously there were a few comments that seemed to have tell tale signs that he wasn't sold on running for Congress. Now comes this;

"Lanza said he's unlikely to run for the seat his good friend, Fossella, is giving up, but has not yet officially made up his mind."

This would probably be bad news for Sen. Marty Golden's candidacy as well. Lanza was the top tier candidate coming out of the Senate for this race. Worse for Republicans is if they lose Lanza they are clearly on third tier candidates. As the latest speculation post shows now people simply registered as Republican with no experience are being name dropped. That is desperation. via the NY Times;

“We’re hurting,” said Guy V. Molinari, the former Staten Island borough president and dean of the island’s Republicans. “I think that the Congressional seat is probably the most coveted seat locally. And yet, with the vacancy approaching, those that we thought would be the leading candidates in this case, particularly the incumbent elected officials, are taking a pass.”

As if that wasn't bad enough disagreements by factions within the Republican Party may doom the Party and veto any legitimate candidate before the election gets under way. Via the NY Times;

In fact, Mr. Molinari described Mr. Straniere’s chances of being supported by the Republican leadership as “impossible.” He said that Mr. Straniere “would not be at all acceptable to the Republican Party. I would speculate that 98 percent of the Republican County Committee would say, ‘No dice.’ They would rather vote for a Democrat than for Straniere.”

snip

“If they can’t run a front-line candidate,” Mr. Flanagan said, “it becomes: Advantage Democrats.” [emphasis mine]

Fossella feeling infallible may fight DWI

via the Advance;

On Friday, defense lawyers for Fossella subpoenaed files from the Kentucky manufacturer of the Intoxilyzer 500, the Daily News reported today. The machine determined the congressman's blood-alcohol level to be .17, more than twice the legal limit in Virginia.

Candidate speculation and dates to watch, May 26

The following is my analysis of the likelihood that potential candidates will declare their intention to run for this seat. This is not intended to capture the likelihood that they will win their party's nomination. Latest updates are italicized and in green below. Two new Republican potential candidates have been added.

Dates to watch
May 25-26 - Independence Party candidate interviews
Monday, May 26 - Staten Island Republican Party candidate interviews
Tuesday, May 27 - Staten Island Conservative Party candidate interviews
Tuesday, May 27 - Brooklyn Conservative Party candidate interviews
Tuesday, May 27 - Brooklyn Republican Party candidate interviews
Wednesday, May 28 - Staten Island Democratic candidate interviews
Thursday, May 29 - Independence Party candidate voting
May 26-31 - Working Families Party expected to hold candidate interviews
June 3 - Ballot petitioning starts
July 10 - Ballot petitions are due

Potential Republican Candidates
ADDED
Paul Atanasio

Via the Daily News; "In a brief telephone interview today, Atanasio confirmed he is indeed considering a run for Fossella's seat, and will be meeting with Conservative and GOP leaders in the coming days."

ADDED
former Assemblyman Robert Straniere

Via the Advance; "I'm very seriously taking a look at it," said Straniere."

"But Friscia said the response was "unfavorable" when he pitched a Straniere scenario to his fellow Republicans, including party elected officials."

ADDED
Supreme Court Justice Joseph Maltese

Staten Island Republican Chairman John Friscia is quoted in the Daily News saying "I'm not going to say I'm interested in it, I'm not going to say I'm not interested in it."

State Senator Andrew Lanza

Via the Daily News; "Lanza said he's unlikely to run for the seat his good friend, Fossella, is giving up, but has not yet officially made up his mind."

Lanza has the support of Staten Island GOP Chairman John Friscia, who might also be a candidate if Lanza declines.

He will also be meeting with Jerry Kassar, Kings County Conservative Party leader within the next few days according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. For some reason though Jerry Kassar insists that Lanza is an Assembly Member.
update: downgraded

State Senator Marty Golden was mentioned by Craig Eaton, below. Golden brings little to the race, risks another Republican Senate seat. He has a better chance than Eaton though as little as that is.

Brooklyn Republican Party Chair, Craig Eaton dropped his own name as a potential candidate. He is now added to this list but with downgraded movement since no one other than he himself is dropping his name.

ADDED
former Assembly candidate Todd Tobbacco

ADDED

Richard Hoffman

ADDED
Glenn Yost

NOT RUNNING
District Attorney Dan Donovan
GOP County Clerk Stephen Fiala
Staten Island GOP Finance Chair Dr. Jamshad Wyne
City Council Member James Oddo

Potential Democrats Candidates
Steve Harrison has already declared.

Harrison is now reported to be in talks with the DCCC.

City Council Member Mike McMahon

Mike McMahon is rumored to have met with the Central Labor Council, an umbrella group for labor organizations in the city.

McMahon has previously said he was interested in running today. McMahon likely will not run if Cusick declares.
See: Potential Candidates: City Council Member Mike McMahon.

Assembly Member Mike Cusick said he was interested in running today. Cusick likely will not run if McMahon declares.
See: Potential Candidates: Assembly Member Mike Cusick.

Assembly Member Peter Abbate previously indicated that he would respect Senator Savino's decision only running. With her being downgraded below, his chances of running now increase. This is further enhanced by Recchia's likely deciding not to run creating a vacancy among the Brooklyn delegation of electeds. Not sure if Vito Lopez would support him. The NY Sun has an article today on Abbate and his tremendously strong connections to labor unions.
See: Potential Candidates: Assembly member Peter Abbate
update: downgraded to no movement

City Council Member Domenic Recchia has already indicated he is looking to drop out and unverified quotes attributed to him indicate he is talking with party officials about a decision for what is best for the party. Those are not strong indicators that he will continue running.

NOT RUNNING
State Senator Diane Savino

update: Moved Oddo to not running.

Fiala (R) withdraws his name

via the Advance;

"My best judgment has led me to the decision not to run for Congress," Fiala told the Advance.

Fiala said he was concerned about his ability to raise money for the race and looking down the road, said he believed that the congressional district would be redrawn to favor a Democrat after the 2010 census.

Money is going to be the deciding factor for anyone who is left. The NRCC will not promise any money and the DCCC will help their candidate. Is Lanza able to raise $1 million on his own in just 5 months?

There may be a new candidate speculation post with this new info later today, but the beach is calling.

More humor at Fossella's expense

SalFrmMB comments on the Peace Action endorsement article in the Advance;

So
Steve Harrison is for peace,
Domenic Recchia is for shark tanks, and
Vito Fossella is for multiple families.
got it

Sen. Lanza about to withdraw as well?

It appears as though Sen. Andrew Lanza is preparing for an exit from this race, following on the sudden exit by Dan Donovan.

via the NY Times;

Speculation centered on State Senator Andrew J. Lanza. But officials close to the senator said he was not inclined to run. Mr. Lanza is under intense pressure from Republican leaders in Albany to remain where he is. If he decides to run for Congress, Mr. Lanza would have to leave the Senate at a time when the Democrats need to capture just two seats to take control of the Senate for the first time in 40 years.

His withdraw may have little to do with Donovan's decision as it may have been in the works for a few days already. As we covered earlier recent comments appearing the Advance indicate that ironically family values may keep him from replacing Fossella his childhood friend;

"It's the so-called prize, but at what price?" Lanza (R-Staten Island) asked the Advance yesterday.

snip

Lanza said the state Legislature's six-month session and generally shorter workweek also allow him to devote time to both public service and his family.

snip

"I'm still away too much, but I've been able to strike a little bit of a balance."

We have seen the family dilemma not play itself out as expected with Mike McMahon, so we may see a similar response with Lanza. The decision is really a catch-22. Stay in the Senate and the party is forced to put up a third tier candidate for the Congressional race. Run for the Congressional seat and he is forced to give up his Senate seat which could cause the Senate to flip to the Democrats. The Senate is the lowest risk and allows him to be the leading contender for this Congressional race down the line in a more pro-Republican environment.

Did Molinaro and the Conservative Party force Donovan out?

It looks like Borough President Jame Molinaro and the Conservative Party as exuding their influence over the Republican nominees. An overpassed quote from yesterday suddenly becomes very telling after the sudden and extremely unexpected withdraw by Donovan.

via the Advance

But sparks flew when Borough President James P. Molinaro, who has feuded with Donovan, was asked yesterday how he'd feel if Donovan ran. Molinaro's Conservative Party could play a key role in the race.

"It's not my choice," he told reporters following an event at City Hall.

When reporters persisted, Molinaro said, "You're fishing, and I'm not taking the hook."

But Molinaro added that he is "definitely not sitting this out."

Today without much explanation Donovan the clear favorite of the national Republican Congressional leaders withdrew his name. Then consider this, while no one publicly called for Fossella's resignation and many eventually came to his defense when it looked like he was staying, Molinaro said;

At the end of the day, he doesn't run.

The day after that statement Fossella showed up at a Conservative Party dinner unannounced and then three days later declared he was not seeking re-election.

Candidate speculation and dates to watch, May 22

The following is my analysis of the likelihood that potential candidates will declare their intention to run for this seat. This is not intended to capture the likelihood that they will their party's nomination. Latest updates are italicized and in green below. Two new Republican potential candidates have been added.

Dates to watch
Sunday, May 25 - Independence Party candidate interviews
Monday, May 26 - Staten Island Republican Party candidate interviews
Tuesday, May 27 - Staten Island Conservative Party candidate interviews
May 26-31 - Working Families Party expected to hold candidate interviews
June 3 - Ballot petitioning starts
July 10 - Ballot petitions are due
No date set for Staten Island Democratic candidate interviews

Potential Republican Candidates
State Senator Andrew Lanza

Lanza has the support of Staten Island GOP Chairman John Friscia, who might also be a candidate if Lanza declines.

He will also be meeting with Jerry Kassar, Kings County Conservative Party leader within the next few days according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. For some reason though Jerry Kassar insists that Lanza is an Assembly Member.

GOP County Clerk Stephen Fiala

Fiala has support of members of the Independence Party.

He has said "I am going to seriously consider this race, I hope to come to a decision in very short order." [via Advance]. Possibly the only advantage to a Fiala candidacy is that his seat is appointed, so if elected to Congress he would not open his seat to a special election that Democrats could pick up.

ADDED
Staten Island Republican Chairman John Friscia is quoted in the Daily News saying "I'm not going to say I'm interested in it, I'm not going to say I'm not interested in it."

Staten Island GOP Finance Chair Dr. Jamshad Wyne

Via the Advance; "Dr. Jamshad Wyne, the borough GOP's finance chair, holding a campaign fund-raiser last night and telling the Advance that he would run if state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) wasn't a candidate."

Wyne was expected to declare earlier this week.
update: downgraded to no movement

City Council Member James Oddo will be meeting with Jerry Kassar, Kings County Conservative Party leader within the next few days according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Despite that note Oddo rarely gets any press mentions and has an anger problem.

State Senator Marty Golden was mentioned by Craig Eaton, below. Golden brings little to the race, risks another Republican Senate seat. He has a better chance than Eaton though as little as that is.

Brooklyn Republican Party Chair, Craig Eaton dropped his own name as a potential candidate. He is now added to this list but with downgraded movement since no one other than he himself is dropping his name.

NOT RUNNING
District Attorney Dan Donovan

Potential Democrats Candidates
Steve Harrison has already declared.

Harrison is now reported to be in talks with the DCCC.

City Council Member Mike McMahon

Mike McMahon is rumored to have met with the Central Labor Council, an umbrella group for labor organizations in the city.

McMahon has previously said he was interested in running today. McMahon likely will not run if Cusick declares.
See: Potential Candidates: City Council Member Mike McMahon.

Assembly Member Mike Cusick said he was interested in running today. Cusick likely will not run if McMahon declares.
See: Potential Candidates: Assembly Member Mike Cusick.

Assembly Member Peter Abbate previously indicated that he would respect Senator Savino's decision only running. With her being downgraded below, his chances of running now increase. This is further enhanced by Recchia's likely deciding not to run creating a vacancy among the Brooklyn delegation of electeds. Not sure if Vito Lopez would support him. The NY Sun has an article today on Abbate and his tremendously strong connections to labor unions.
See: Potential Candidates: Assembly member Peter Abbate
update: downgraded to no movement

City Council Member Domenic Recchia has already indicated he is looking to drop out and unverified quotes attributed to him indicate he is talking with party officials about a decision for what is best for the party. Those are not strong indicators that he will continue running.

NOT RUNNING
State Senator Diane Savino