NY-13: Straniere Stands Firm

This was the plan:

Despite those developments, the rumor and speculation continued unabated today, with two top Island politicos saying that the only reason Fossella even considered getting back in the race was because Straniere had previously agreed to step aside if the congressman decided to run again.

“There was this whole big plan,” said one. “Suddenly, Straniere said no.”

In fact, sources said, the late GOP congressional designee Frank Powers also was meant to serve as a “placeholder” candidate should Fossella decide to get back in.

The thinking, they said, was that the Fossella camp would look to launch a re-election bid after the scandal about the child the congressman fathered during an extramarital affair abated.

This is the problem:

“It’s over,” said Straniere, who has battled with some borough Republicans for years. “I am the Republican candidate for Congress. I’m not getting off the line for nobody, no way, no how. I am totally committed to this race. I’m not going to do anything but run for Congress.”

This is Democrat Mike McMahon laughing all the way to the Washington, D.C.

NY-13: Straniere Nominated for Judgeship, Craziest Race of All Time Gets Crazier

Jonah has the whole sordid story in the diaries, but let’s take a look at this new curve ball. From the New York Post:

Republican Robert Straniere, who’s running for Rep. Vito Fossella’s seat, was nominated as a Manhattan judicial candidate last night – a move that could pave the way for the disgraced congressman to get back on the ballot and run for re-election.

Several Republican sources said the New York County GOP made the nomination with the understanding that Straniere would accept it.

The move was apparently made with the backing of former Borough President Guy Molinari and state Sen. Andrew Lanza, who hope to entice disgraced retiring GOP Rep. Vito Fossella back into the race. With Straniere accepting the judgeship nod, he would be wiped off the ballot and the local GOP could appoint a replacement candidate. The only problem? For now, at least, Straniere says that he won’t play ball:

But Straniere, a former Staten Island assemblyman who’s been at odds with fellow Republicans, hasn’t been contacted about the judicial post and “unequivocally” plans to turn it down, his spokesman told The Post.

“He’s heard rumors, but he doesn’t know anything about it,” spokesman Marco DeSena insisted. “There is no chance . . . If contacted, he will say no and he very much expects to be the next congressman from Staten Island and Brooklyn.”

And Fossella himself? Still not sounding eager:

“I’ve maintained all along that I’m not a candidate,” Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said in a telephone interview. “That’s still the case now. Very simply, nothing has changed.” […]

Given the turmoil in the markets, Fossella said he listened to entreaties from Molinari and others “out of respect.”

Said Fossella, “A lot of good people have again urged me to reconsider. I’ve been very blessed and humbled by that. I’m grateful. But at the end of it all, I’m still not a candidate.”

We’ll find out in short order if Molinari and the boys are able to strong-arm Straniere from this race; as the Advance reports, Straniere has until midnight to accept and be placed in nomination. It seems unlikely, but you just can’t predict what’s going to happen next in New York’s 13th, home of the greatest political soap opera of our time.

NY-13: Straniere Gets Ugly – Real Ugly

Life gets worse and worse every week for Staten Island Republicans, whose once-firm grip on New York’s 13th congressional district is now all but limp. Things are going less than swimmingly in the GOP primary to replace disgraced retiring Rep. Vito Fossella, as the two leading pretenders can’t stay away from each other’s throats.

Jamshad Wyne, the Staten GOP finance chair, claims that Straniere asked him to engage in illegal campaign financing for his failed 2001 campaign for borough president:

Wyne — who uses the name Dr. Jamshad Wyne professionally — said Straniere asked him to take $5,000 of his personal cash and disburse it to relatives who would, in turn, write checks in the amounts of $250 or $200 to Straniere for Borough President, thereby maximizing the amount of matching funds Straniere could receive from the city Campaign Finance Board.

Straniere adamantly denied the claim, calling it “outrageous.”

Wyne said he never followed through on what he maintains was Straniere’s request.

Such a practice is illegal; in recent years two politicians, one running for Queens borough president and the other for public advocate, were jailed for promoting such a scheme.

For his part, Straniere has decided to go all out racist:

Meanwhile, during an interview yesterday, Straniere said Wyne has been using the name “Jim” on the campaign trail because “he is trying to remake himself into something other than who is. He obviously doesn’t want people to know he is Pakistani and a Muslim.”

Stay classy, Republicans.