In the wake of the tragic passing of GOP candidate Frank Powers, media speculation has focused heavily on the possible replacements for Powers on the ballot. For his part, incumbent Rep. Vito Fossella says that he won’t be changing his mind on retirement:
The sudden death yesterday of GOP congressional candidate Frank Powers hasn’t made Rep. Vito Fossella rethink his decision not to run for re-election to the House this fall.
“My plans for the future have not changed,” Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) told the Advance during an exclusive interview in his Eltingville district office today. “I am not running for re-election.”
Other contenders are feeling the same way:
State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and City Councilman James Oddo (R-Mid-Island) both said that they would not second-guess their decisions not to run for Congress. GOP District Attorney Daniel Donovan is thought to feel the same way.
Other rumored replacements include state Supreme Court justice Joseph Maltese and retired investment banker and Conservative Party member Paul Atanasio. NY1 reporter Lisa Giovinazzo, who lost the GOP’s endorsement to Powers, is also considered a potential contender. Donovan would clearly be the strongest choice, but his entry into the race seems unlikely at this point.
As for the means of tapping a replacement, if the GOP collected enough signatures for Powers, the party will be able to appoint a candidate via a committee on vacancies. Otherwise, it seems that the replacement would have to start gathering signatures — and fast.
UPDATE: Elizabeth runs through a list of all the possibilities. A spokesman for Dan Donovan says that he is standing by his decision not to run.
That’s hilarious. After his arrest they were trying to quickly get him out of running for re-election.
I think Cook and CQ will have no choice but to soon move this over to “Lean Democrat”.