A Top Republican Takes a Pass on Fossella’s Seat (NY-13)

[brooklynite]

Source: NY Times

There seems to be no end to the aftershocks following Representative Vito J. Fossella’s decision not to run for reelection this year. The latest comes from Daniel M. Donovan Jr., the Staten Island district attorney, who announced today that he would not be a candidate for the congressional seat.

Mr. Donovan’s decision is a blow for the Republican leaders on Staten Island, who had considered him to offer their party’s best shot at retaining the seat they have held for 28 years.

Mr. Fossella announced on Tuesday morning that he would not seek a sixth full term in November to represent the 13th Congressional District, which includes Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. The congressman was arrested on May 1 on charges of driving while intoxicated and admitted soon after that he had fathered a daughter, who is now 3, out of wedlock.

Since then, Republican and Democratic officials have been in disarray, seeking to determine what candidate their respective parties would coalesce behind.

Read more: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/a-top-republican-takes-a-pass-on-fossella-seat/

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and just to kick them when they're down...

Jail is likely for Fossella, say lawyers

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.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/jail-is-likely-for-fossella-say-lawyers-2008-05-21.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Maybe they could ask Joey Buttafuoco to run

nt

[hobbit709]

2. AW! Ain't that too bad!

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[LiberalFighter]

3. Maybe Donovan thought the job would be a demotion.

[SoDesuKa]

4. Donovan Wants to Avoid Scrutiny

Donovan wants to avoid exposure of the mediocre job he's done as District Attorney. He got re-elected in a landslide only because the Democrats ran an unknown outsider with roots in Manhattan. Donovan has been feuding with James Molinaro, the borough president, who put an ad in the paper urging people not to vote for him.

Donovan wouldn't be a strong candidate in a big year for the Democrats, and he has more to lose than to gain by running for Congress. So he's sitting it out.