Democratic Clubs Stage Anti-Fossella Convention

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By Azi Paybarah

April 15, 2008 | 10:31 a.m.

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A number of local Democratic clubs, including the Howard Dean-spawned DFNYC, are meeting tonight to decide which Democrat they will support in the race to unseat the only Republican Congressman in the city, Vito Fossella.

They are choosing between term-limited City Councilman Domenic Recchia and Steve Harrison, who lost to Fossella in 2006.

Fossella, a 10-year incumbent who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, is a frequent target of left-of-center groups in the city--his opponent's supporters have called him the "last conservative in the city." (The effort to unseat him has even given rise to a dedicated blog.)

In a similar vein, an email reminder for tonight's event says, “Fossella has been a rubber-stamp for the Bush-Cheney White House.”

Both Democratic contenders have been fund-raising this year, although Fossella has made a point of making it known that he has plenty of money to get reelected.

Hosting the event tonight are the Stonewall Democratic Club, Three Parks Independent Democratic Club, Village Reform Democratic Club and an organization called Truth 13.

Here's the email:

(1) Forum Tonight (Tues): Democrats Running Against Vito Fossella in CD 13, 6:30pm

Tonight, Tuesday, April 15, join Democracy for NYC, Stonewall Democratic Club, Three Parks Independent Democratic Club, Village Reform Democratic Club and Truth 13 for a candidate forum in the Democratic primary in the 13th Congressional District:

When: Tonight, April 15, 2008, 6:30pm - 9pm (approx)

Where: Lafayette Grill and Bar, 54 Franklin Street (near Lafayette St)

Subway: Take the N,R,Q,6, C and A trains to Canal Street or the 1 train to Franklin Street.

Candidates:
Steven Harrison (invited, confirmed), Councilmember Dominic Recchia (invited, not yet confirmed)

The 13th District is currently represented by Republican Vito Fossella. As New York City’s only Republican member of Congress, Fossella has been a rubber-stamp for the Bush-Cheney White House.

The District covers Staten Island and part of southwest Brooklyn. This forum is being held in Manhattan to make it possible for many people to attend. Please contact us if you know of any candidate forums in the 13th CD, as we would be happy to help promote: xxxx@dfnyc.org.

DFNYC Endorsement Voting: Democracy for NYC will be holding an endorsement vote in this primary. DFNYC voting members, those who have been to three events in the past year, will be eligible to vote. Voting will start tonight and take place by paper ballot. The ballot will soon be available at our website and at events. You can turn in our ballots at events or by mail. We will have more details in the next newsletter and at our website.