Dan Donovan

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 »

Here are unofficial results from the city Board of Elections:

In the Staten Island District Attorney's race , with 92 percent of the precincts reporting back, incumbent Republican Dan Donovan got 17,523 votes (67 percent). Democratic challenger Mike Ryan got 8,527 (32.7 percent).

In the City Council race in Brooklyn, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting back, incumbent Democrat Mathieu Eugene got 3,024 votes (90.4 percent). Republican challenger Clarence John got 322 votes (9.6 percent).

In the civil court judicial race in Brooklyn, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting back, Democrat Noach Dear got 7,634 votes (65 percent). Republican James McCall got 4,106 votes (35 percent).

There are a more local election results here and here.

And here are links to more results for races in and around Dutchess County, Erie County, Mt. Vernon, Nassau County, Syracuse and Westchester County.

Last week I posted a campaign ad from Democratic Staten Island District Attorney candidate Mike Ryan. This week, an ad from the other side.

Above is one of the dozen or so created for the incumbent, Republican Dan Donovan. In this one, he discusses his felony conviction rate in the borough.

In case you needed a reminder that there's a competitive election this year, here's an ad from the Staten Island's DA's race.

It’s for the Democratic District Attorney candidate, Mike Ryan, and it features Jo Marie Damato, the mother of an alleged sexual assault victim whose case ended with the alleged perpetrator free.

“Donovan, you were wrong," she says. "Thanks to you Mr. Donovan, there’s a sexual abuser walking the streets now.”

The incumbent in the race is Republican Dan Donovan, who is also coming under fire from his one-time employer, Jim Molinaro, the Borough President. Molinaro is unhappy Donovan didn’t get his grandson off on charges of assault.

A Ryan campaign aide said the spot will run 150 times on the most watched cable stations on Staten Island.
 read more »

The only sort-of competitive race in the city got a little more interesting when Jim Molinaro placed this full-page $7,000 ad Jim Molinaro in the Staten Island Advance yesterday, slamming District Attorney Dan Donovan for not going easier on Molinaro’s grandson, who was recently sentenced to five years in jail.

Donovan, who used to work for Molinaro, recused himself and a prosecutor from Manhattan handled the case.

I’m reading Tom Wrobleski’s reporting on this, but it seem like Molinaro is accusing Donovan of not showing the kind of prosecutorial favoritism that gets most DA’s in trouble.

Either way, all this is coming just two weeks before Donovan, a Republican, faces voters in a general election.

Whether or not Donovan wins, more Molinaro ads may be coming. Referring to his grandson, Molinaro said in the ad, "I am committed to proving this young man is innocent. I will dedicate the rest of my life to proving it."

UPDATE: Here is a clip of radio hosts Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby, who chimed in on the story this morning. Sliwa says "Why didn't he just
eliminate all those words and just say, 'Donovan, I thought you were my friend. You were my deputy borough president. You should have
thrown the case in the direction of my nephew.'" [It's actually Molinaro's grandson.]

Kuby , also in mock imitation of Molinaro, says, "I elected you to be corrupt."

It's usually a good move in a two-baseball team town to avoid deliberately antagonizing fans of one or the other.

Will Smith, a spokesman for the Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan, isn't worried about such niceties. Here he outside City Hall discussing today's Quinnipiac poll showing that most New Yorkers are Yankee fans.

Saturday

9:30 a.m. Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan is honored by the Whitestone Republican Club with its"Hero of Justice" award at 167-17 Northern Boulevard, Queens.

11 a.m. Health care advocates protest budget cuts to AIDS support services at 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Noon. The NYC Bar Association provides free help to people applying for US citizenship at 110-04 Atlantic Avenue, Queens.

12:30 p.m. Latin-American and Korean groups host a forum on the "devastating impact" of free trade agreements at 35-59 81st Street, Queens.

12:30 p.m. State Senator Malcolm Smith hosts a workshop on Minority and Women Owned-Business Enterprises at the Black, Puerto Rican & Hispanic Legislative Caucus in Albany.

1 p.m. Anti-war activists march to the offices of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chuck Schumer demanding they cut troop funding at 42nd Street and Broadway.

7:30 p.m. World Can't Wait holds a Bush impeachment summit at 165 West 86th Street.

Sunday

11:30 a.m. Rep. Charlie Rangel delivers the keynote speech at "Celebrating Our Heritage" Inspirational Service at Williams Institutional Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Manhattan.

3 p.m. Rep Charlie Rangel speaks at the Iraq War Town Hall organized by United for Peace and Justice at the North Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.

7 p.m. Eliot Spitzer delivers remarks at the Black, Puerto Rican & Hispanic Legislative Caucus dinner in Albany.

Monday

9 a.m.Qunnipiac University Polling Institute releases results of a poll of Connecticut voters and their opinions about 2008 candidates.

10 a.m. WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer hosts the candidates running in the special election for the City Council seat in Brooklyn.

1 p.m. New York Coalition to Expand Voting Rights calls for allowing legal residents who are non--citizens to vote in municipal elections under some circumstances inside City Hall,

-- Azi Paybarah

The New York Young Republican Club hosts its 94th Annual Dinner with Curtis Sliwa as Master of Ceremonies at Battery Gardens. [Corrected: Governor has scheduling conflict.]

The New York Times will hold a forum entitled, The Pentagon Papers and What They Mean Today.

Dan Donovan hosts a fundraiser for his re-election campaign.

Friends of the High Line host a Summer Benefit with Christine Quinn, Diane von Furstenberg, and Kevin Bacon at Cipriani Wall Street.

New York Society for Ethical Culture will hold a forum on corruption in politics.

—Nicole Brydson

Joe Bruno is backing her, The Politicker is told.

The Senate Majority Leader's move makes Al D'Amato the sole anti-Pirro power center, and deals a blow to Dan Donovan's prospects.

(It also gives me the opportunity to point out that you read about Donovan's bid for Attorney General here first.)