Andrew Lanza

The death of Frank Powers means Republicans on Staten Island are, again, looking for someone to run for Vito Fossella’s seat.

So, who’s on the list?

Scratch off District Attorney Dan Donovan, whose spokesman said he hasn’t changed his mind from last month about not running for the seat. Also not interested in running is City Councilman Vinny Ignizio. When I asked him to appear on video saying he doesn’t want to run, he declined, calling it “a moot point.” City Councilman Jimmy Oddo and State Senator Andrew Lanza haven't changed their minds either.

Who does that leave?

The Republican district attorney of Staten Island, Dan Donovan, who many considered to be the leading congressional candidate to run for the seat being vacated by Republican Vito Fossella, says he is not in the running.  read more »

Here's what I've heard so far about who might run for Vito Fossella's seat now that the congressman has said he is staying in office but not seeking re-election.

A spokesman for Democratic City Councilman Domenic Recchia of Brooklyn, the best-funded challenger, said he’s still in the race, despite some rumblings that he might drop out. Democratic attorney Steve Harrison is also still running.

On the Republican side, the names of State Senator Andrew Lanza and District Attorney Dan Donovan have been floated. But a bid by either would come at a cost to the party. A Lanza run could jeopardize one of the State Senate seats that give Republicans a majority. And Donovan would have to give up his safe seat as district attorney, in which case David Paterson would almost certainly appoint a Democrat to that borough-wide position.  read more »

In his first appearance since being arrested in Virginia for drunk driving, Republican Congressman Vito Fossella said he’s not resigning and he hopes the residents of his Staten Island-Brooklyn district forgive him for what he said was a one-time mistake.

“It was a big mistake and I made it and I’m here to apologize to the people I represent,” he said, speaking at the Hilton hotel on Staten Island. “I was brought up man enough to know it’s time to admit mistakes and apologize.”

Fossella spoke for about six minutes, and walked away when I tried asking if he would enter rehab. An aide said later there was no need for it.  read more »

So, there have been calls for Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster's resignation since the crane collapse last month. It finally happened today, and Assemblyman Jonathan Bing thinks that's because there is an assembly hearing on the subject this Thursday.

"I was going to delve very deeply into the issue of why a building was built that caused the crane collapse, without proper permits,” Bing says.  read more »

A reader with his eye on the calendar sends word that while most people were listening to Eliot Spitzer's first major policy speech to lawmakers, there is some good old fashioned political work to get done elsewhere.

Today is the first day of petitioning for candidates looking to run for the City Council seats vacated by Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn, who is now in congress, and Andrew Lanza, who won a seat in the state Senate.

Because these are special elections, there are no primaries and candidates must run on party lines they create.

Hopefully, it will become clear pretty quickly how many of the army of candidates who are supposedly running for these seats are actually serious.

-- Azi Paybarah

One of only two special elections slated to take place next year will be for the Staten Island City Council seat being vacated by Republican Andrew Lanza, who is going to the state Senate.

As it stands, the field is expected to include Assemblyman Vincent Ignizio, who ran on the Republican, Independence and Conservative Party lines, and his challenger from 2004, Democrat Manny Innamorato, who has the backing of the county organization.

One possible wild card that could have benefited the Democrats has just been removed: Frank Morano, an Independence Party activist who is embroiled in a court battle with allies of Lenora Fulani, announced that he isn't running, which should clear the way for Ignizio to win the IP line.

So unless I'm mistaken, the only way this race gets competitive is if something wacky happens with the off-year turnout.

Anything I'm missing?

-- Azi Paybarah

UPDATE: As the comment section so helpfully reminded me, this special election will not be partisan. But, as this reader noted, party politics is still very much a factor:

"The only monkey-wrench in the race could be if SI BP Jim Molinaro chooses to support a Conservative Party member in the race due to a chasm between himself and the Fossella/Lanza/Ignizio group. One possible candidate is Anthony Liccardello who recently resigned from the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit to scope-out a run."

The race to fill the Staten Island City Council seat being vacated by Andrew Lanza, who is going to the state Senate, is shrinking before it really grows.

Independence Party activist Frank Morano announced he will not be a candidate in next year's special election for that seat, saying the ongoing court battle over control of the IP is taking up too much time.

In an email sent to supporters, Morano said, "First, I'm currently in the midst of a complicated court battle for the heart and soul of the Independence Party of Staten Island. If I were to run for any office at this point, it would be a distraction that could potentially lead to our borough's best hope for long-term political reform in the hands of divisive, controversial extremists who would undo the great work that so many of us have done."

He went on to endorse "Assemblyman Vincent Ignizio" who Morano called "a dear friend and someone who I trust enormously. "

"So, while I won't be a candidate for City Council this year, I'm incredibly excited about the upcoming election where I'll be campaigning hard for Vincent Ignizio."

Also running for that seat is Manny Innamorato, who announced his candidacy on Saturday.

Anybody else running for that seat?

-- Azi Paybarah

Here is Hiram Monserrate, one of only five City Council members to have voted against a 25 percent pay raise for the council.

The others were Michael McMahon, Andrew Lanza, Darlene Mealy, and Tony Avella.

One insider gave me some speculative reasons for why some of them might have voted this way:

McMahon hopes to run for Staten Island Borough President and this vote will give him ammunition to repel Conservative Party accusations that he's a free-spending liberal.

Lanza doesn't care about Council pay because he's going to the state Senate.

Avella, the only declared mayoral candidate, always objected to increases salaries and taking lulus.

My secret brain trust didn't crack the mystery of Mealy.  read more »

As for Monserrate, he explained himself to reporters after the vote by saying that he simply doesn't like the process of awarding himself a pay increase.

Here he is. -- Azi Paybarah

The Daily News writes about Ray Kelly and 2009; and Ben Smith reports on Rudy Giuliani's amassed wealth.

The Post reports that Council Member Andrew Lanza has been absent from the council almost half the time; and revisits the Spitzer-Whitehead feud.

And the Times wraps up the May Day schedule.

—Nicole Brydson

The first public meeting over the proposed NASCAR track is shut down, after just 45 minutes, on the advice of cops.

The Post's Rich Calder:

Councilman Andrew Lanza (R-S.I.) had a microphone snatched from his hands by three speedway supporters who rushed the podium.

-Matthew Schuerman