Vincent Ignizio

Former Republican Assemblyman Bob Straniere - who was unseated in a primary back in 2004 - tonight was selected to become the Republican’s candidate to run for the congressional seat vacated by Vito Fossella.

The Staten Island Advance has the story.

The party originally backed the candidacy of Frank Powers, a rich Republican who passed away late last month.

Although a number of other Republicans had already declined to run for the seat - including State Senator Andrew Lanza, District Attorney Dan Donovan and City Councilman Jimmy Oddo - the fact that the party is turning to an elected official they shunned a few short years ago shows the shallowness of the Republicans' political bench.  read more »

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?

Here's an interesting (if not particularly significant) factoid buried deep in a profile in the Staten Island Advance of freshman City Councilman Vinny Ignizio: he's applying for a gun license so he can buy a rifle.

I'm guessing this is a pretty rare distinction among New York City elected officials. Are there any other gun owners?

Mark your calendars: the state Independence Party is getting together, apart.

A week from Monday, the New York County chapter of the party, which is closely associated with Lenora Fulani, will have its annual fund-raiser at the Woolworth Kitchen Tower.

Tomorrow, a rival, Staten Island-based faction will hold an event to present awards to Councilman Vinny Ignizio, Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer and Village Voice writer Tom Robbins.

It’s safe to say whoever shows up to one probably won’t show up to the other. But it's nice to know that party infighting isn't putting a damper on the social schedule.

A special election for ex-Assemblyman Vincent M. Ignizio's seat in the 62nd District will be held today.

11:30 a.m. A ground breaking for renovations will be held at Gravesend Park on 18th Avenue between 56th and 58th streets in Brooklyn.  read more »

11:30 a.m. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer announces a free tax preparation campaign for low-income neighborhoods at the Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union at 37 Avenue B at 3rd Street.

Citizens Union just released a statement applauding the City Council for investigating the residency claims of Councilman-elect Dr. Mathieu Eugene.

"While it can be debated as to how long a candidate should have to live in a district to represent that district, it is in the best interest of voters for there to be a clear record of residency established at the very least by Election Day, and quite possibly sooner."

The full statement is after the jump.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Because of "credible allegations" about Mathieu Eugene's place of residence leading up to and on the day of his election, the City Council will launch an investigation to determine whether he meets residency requirements to hold office, Speaker Christine Quinn said in a public statement just now.

Both Vincent Ignizio and Dr. Eugene will be asked to sign an affidavit that affirms they each meet the qualifications for office (age, citizenship, etc), including residing in his district on the day of the election. This includes providing documentation of meeting the qualifications, which could include but not be limited to a lease, drivers license, rent payment, electrical bill, etc.

Because credible allegations have been made about Dr. Eugene's residency, we will also begin an investigation to determine whether Dr. Eugene had established residency on Election Day. This investigation will include, but not be limited to, talking to Dr. Eugene, his family, his landlord and neighbors.

The full statement is after the jump.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Unofficial election results from the city's Board of Elections have Dr. Matthieu Eugene and Vincent Ignizio as winners in the City Council races in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

Which proves Republicans can still win on Staten Island, and 1199 (which backed Eugene) can still get things done in Brooklyn.

Here are the unofficial results.

Staten Island With 100 percent of the precincts reporting Vincent Ignizio 72.09 percent 3,902 votes

Emanuele Innamorato 27.9 percent 1,511 votes

368 paper ballots to count.

Brooklyn

With 96.77 reporting

Matthieu Eugene 34.21 percent 1,935 votes

Jennifer James 15.15 percent 857 votes

Wellington Sharpe 11.74 percent 664 votes

Harry Schiffman 7.78 percent 440 ballots

Moe Razvi 7.32 percent 414 votes

Jesse Hamilton 7.25 percent 410 votes

Zenobia McNally 6.22 percent 352 votes

Richie Tulloch 4.93 percent 279 votes

Joel Toney 4.30 percent 243 votes

Karlene Gordon 1.11 percent 63 votes

-- Azi Paybarah

Here are some fund-raising numbers from the city's Campaign Finance Board for people running in the Staten Island and Brooklyn special council elections:

Staten Island (51)

Vincent Ignizio -- $58,327 Emanuele Innamorato -- $17,360

Brooklyn (40)

Mathieu Eugene -- $38,445 Joel Toney -- $29,094 Jennifer James -- $27,528

More campaign figures for both races are here.

-- 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