In a stunning move, the Staten Island Republican Party’s executive committee voted to nominate former Rep. Vito Fossella — who declined to run for reelection to his seat in NY-13 after a DWI bust in 2008 exposed the married congressman’s second family — to run against Democratic incumbent Rep. Mike McMahon this fall.
The bizarre vote was the latest twist in a district that’s seen the original scandal halt Fossella’s re-election plans, the GOP’s original replacement for him die and the second replacement nearly get moved off the ballot for a judgeship — and that was all in one election cycle.
Party sources told POLITICO there were only four votes against the nomination, which was introduced by Staten Island GOP chairman John Friscia, a close ally of Fossella, even though the committee had just interviewed the two declared candidates, Michael Grimm and Michael Allegretti.
Full story: Staten Island Republican committee taps Vito Fossella – Maggie Haberman – POLITICO.com