From Elizabeth Benjamin:
A Staten Island source confirms state Sen. Andrew Lanza is officially taking a pass on Fossella’s seat, choosing instead to seek re-election for the seat he already holds in the 24th SD.
Lanza has already informed Staten Island GOP Chairman John Friscia of his decision.
This must be music to Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s ears. Not so much for the Staten Island GOP or the Republican Party as a whole in New York.
As one disgruntled elephant told me earlier this afternoon: “If you can’t find someone to run for a seat that was once thought to be a sure-thing for Republicans, you might as well pack it in.”
Said another, thoroughly disgusted GOPer: “The Staten Island Republican Party is dead.”
The Staten Island Advance confirms the news. The Richmond County GOP will meet tonight to endorse a candidate. Lisa Giovinazzo, who ran against Democrat (and current NY-13 candidate) Mike McMahon for his city council seat in 2003 and won only 29% of the vote, is the apparent front-runner for the endorsement. Conservative Party member Paul Atanasio seems to be the candidate of choice for the Brooklyn GOP.
Jonah has some more in the diaries.
I am generally a glass-half-empty kind of guy, but this race looks really good for us.
Can someone with knowledge of SI explain why the GOP cannot recruit anyone decent? I know this is a terrible year for the GOP, but I am surprised that they have utterly failed to utilize their decent bench.
It does like Peter King and John McHugh may be the only NY GOP reps left this time next year.
All that’s left is James Oddo and that looks unlikely.
McMahon has to go in the favorite.
We’re on the road to a GOPless New York delegation!
It would not stun me if Atanasio and Giovinazzo had problems with Radio host/beret wearer/pickle eating champ* Curtis Silwa.
(* – Seriously, Silwa was a competitive eater in the pickles division)
But I figure that he’ll keep his radio job.
Atanasio and Giovinazzo? that’s all?
Straniere is probably more qualified, but nobody in the SIGOP establishment actually likes him.