What is it about Staten Island?
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First there was Rep. Vito Fossella’s May 1 drunk driving arrest in Virginia, and subsequent revelations about a secret life with a girlfriend with whom he had fathered a now 3-year-old daughter – without ever informing his wife of 18 years, and three children back home. The five-term congressman, who espoused family values, is the only Republican in New York City’s congressional delegation. He announced he would step down at the end of his term.
If that weren’t enough psychodrama, a father and son are now duking it out to be Fossella’s successor.
Francis M. Powers, the son of the likely Republican nominee Francis H. Powers, told the Staten Island Advance this week that he plans to run against his father on the Libertarian party ticket.
The 47-year old carpenter and member of the rock band, “Box of Crayons,” said that his candidacy is “not a vendetta against his father.”
“I’m not going to say that my dad treated me bad when I was a kid,” said the younger Powers, who is the eldest of five children from his father’s first marriage, which ended in divorce 30 years ago. “I know his policies. I’m running against someone I know.”
Asked, however, whether he would have thrown in his hat if his father were not a candidate, the younger Powers was blunt. “If I went against Joe Shmoe, I would have no platform,” he admitted. “…It has everything to do with having a platform as a springboard for advancing a different agenda.”
That agenda, he said, was very similar to the Republican one – “except no war mongering…and wasteful mismanagement.”
The younger Powers, who runs an indie record label called Penny for the Guy Records, said his campaign would focus on home port redevelopment and increased public transit, among other things.
The elder Powers, a retired Wall Stree executive and board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority who may face a GOP primary challenge from Staten Island doctor Jamshad Wyne, was equally blunt.
“I’ve tried very hard for many years to help my son,” he said in a written statement.
“Unfortunately, he’s rejected everyone’s help to live a healthy lifestyle. Regardless of whether he wants to run for Congress, I still stand ready to help him move his life in a positive direction.”
That comment provoked another outpouring from the son, which led to more headlines in the Staten Island Advance.
“It’s the first day and he’s already sniping at me in the newspaper,” said the younger Powers, who described himself as the married father of two. He said his father’s remarks were a “typical Republican tactic” to bring negativity into the campaign.
The elder Powers, who was Fossella’s finance chairman, has never held elective office but is a well-known GOP fund-raiser. He has reportedly told party executives that he would contribute $500,000 of his own money to the race, and raise another $500,000 – a strong selling point for the cash-strapped group.
The Democrats, meanwhile, are smacking their lips at the prospect of picking off another Republican seat. City Councilman Michael E. McMahon is running as the Democratic candidate.
Update June 10:
The Manhattan Libertarian Party has passed on the younger Powers — who’s platform included increased access to public transportation — and nominated Susan Overeem instead. Powers said he may still run as an anarchist.
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