The filing deadline for candidates running to replace retiring Rep. Vito Fossella passes tonight at midnight, and the Staten Island Advance reports that the GOP primary could shape up to be a five-ring fracas:
Borough Republicans this evening filed around 2,000 signatures with the city Board of Elections (BOE) that had been gathered for party designee Frank Powers, who died suddenly last month.
But contrary to what GOP chairman John Friscia had said earlier this week, the party did not name a candidate to replace Powers today.
In addition, former GOP South Shore Assemblyman Robert Straniere said he’d filed about 2,500 signatures with the BOE, and Dr. Jamshad Wyne, the borough Republican finance chairman, filed around 3,000 signatures for the race as well.
GOP signatures also were filed on behalf of Independence Party pick Carmine Morano, and were expected to be filed for Brooklyn Conservative Party member Paul Atanasio.
As non-party members, both men would need written permission from the GOP, known as a Wilson-Pakula authorization, in order to get in the primary.
Staten Island Republicans still haven’t designated their preference in the primary, and they can still use Powers’ signatures to slot in a replacement candidate.
A five-way primary would be especially delicious, as the incentive would be high for each candidate to try to challenge the others’ signatures. Candidates must file general objections to petition signatures no later than midnight on Monday, which will open the door to specific objections that can be filed with the state Board of Elections before midnight on July 21.
Democrats Mike McMahon and Steve Harrison also both filed their petitions. While Staten Island Conservatives gathered enough signatures to place McMahon’s name on their party’s primary ballot, Brooklyn Conservatives blocked the move and the party will back Atanasio. However, it looks like Island Conservatives, including Borough President James Molinaro, are still supporting McMahon.
Let the games begin.
SSP currently rates this race as Leans Democratic.
Only a motley cast of characters such as these guys would play out on a stage such as Staten Island.
Republicans are not contesting two seats outside the City (NY-18, in Westchester and NY-2 on Long Island). Nita Lowey gets a complete free ride in 18 and Steve Israel will face a Conservative Party nominee, Frank Stalzer. Hard to tell about the City districts. Last cycle one of the small papers (the Sun, I think) had coverage of filing night.
Politics1 shows no Republican opponent in 9 of the City districts so we could have had a very big night.
….you have five candidates all vulnerable to one dgree or another to petition challenges. Two third party candidates who need but may not get Wilson-Pakula waivers to run in the Republican Primary. And one candidate to be named later.
This is how Sir. ToBeNamedLater gets selected if I’m reading the law correctly.
I assume that commitee and the Richmond Republican County Committee are if not in name than in fact one in the same.
And will be the same people that will decide Wilson-Pakula waivers under the 50+1 rule that you need endorsements from orgnizations representing 50% + 1 of all members of a party in the area. Though the most recent ruling on the subject said state parties can step in.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/nyc…
Everyone should eventually get on the ballot. But some, perhaps even all will need to work for it and have some good lawyers on their payroll.
how does that work?