Politico reports this morning that Vito Fossella, the New York Republican who dropped out of his re-election campaign in 2008 after a DUI arrest led to the revelation that he had fathered a child during an extramarital affair, is considering running for his old House seat.
Sources close to Fossella said he’s thinking about challenging Rep. Mike McMahon (D-NY) for his seat from a district in Staten Island. The Staten Island Republicans reportedly delayed a candidate screening meeting this week in order to allow Fossella more time.
Fossella received a standing ovation last week at the Staten Island Republicans’ big annual Lincoln Day Dinner, which drew 300 people, according to the Staten Island Advance. He introduced the group’s pick for governor, Rick Lazio.
Fossella was the star of the Staten Island Republicans, and his scandal left the local party fractured. Even after he announced he wouldn’t run for re-election in 2008, some local Republicans frantically tried to get him on the ballot anyway.
Fossella was arrested in May 2008 in Virginia for drunken driving, and convicted that October. He originally appealed his conviction, but then changed his plea to guilty and was ordered to serve four days in jail.
After a woman from Virginia — not his wife — picked him up from jail, he admitted to fathering a child, then three, with her. Fossella is married and has three children with is wife.
Ballot petitions in New York are due in July.
