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{{Short description|American politician (born 1965)}}
{{Infobox_Congressman
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Vito Fossella, Jr.
| name = Vito Fossella
| image name = Vito Fossella, official 109th Congress photo.jpg
| image = File:Vito Fossella 2022 (cropped).jpg
| date of birth = {{birth date and age|1965|03|09}}
| caption = Fossella in 2022
| place of birth = ]
| office1 = 16th ] of ]
| death_date =
| term_start1 = January 1, 2022
| death_place =
| term_end1 =
| state = ]
| predecessor1 = ]
| district = ]
| successor =
| term_start = ], ]
| state2 = ]
| preceded = ]
| district2 = {{ushr|New York|13|13th}}
| succeeded = Incumbent
| term_start2 = November 4, 1997
| party = ]
| term_end2 = January 3, 2009
| spouse = Mary Patricia Rowann
| religion = ] | predecessor2 = ]
| successor2 = ]
| office3 = Member of the ]<br>from the ] district
| term_start3 = April 27, 1994
| term_end3 = November 4, 1997
| predecessor3 = ]
| successor3 = ]
| birth_name = Vito John Fossella Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|3|9}}
| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = ] (1990–present) <br> ] (before 1990)
| spouse = {{marriage|Mary Rowan|1990}}
| children = 4
| residence = ], New York, U.S.
| education = ]<br>] (])<br>] (])
| website = {{URL|statenislandusa.com|Official website}}
}} }}
'''Vito John Fossella Jr.''' (born March 9, 1965)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VIlN3-wn0WIC&dq=vito+fossella+1965&pg=PA182 | title=Official Congressional Directory | date=2007 }}</ref> is an American politician serving as the ] ] since 2022. A member of the Republican Party, Fossella previously represented the state's ] in the ] for six terms, from 1997 to 2009 serving as the lone Republican from New York City. A ] native, Fossella initially took office in 1997 after winning a special election held to replace the resigning ].


After a ] arrest in ] on May 1, 2008, it was discovered that he was living with Laura Fay, a retired ] ], while Fossella was married. The two had a child together and lived in Virginia as a married couple while he lived in Staten Island with his wife.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2008/05/staten_islands_fossella_admits.html|title=Staten Island's Fossella admits child from affair|date=May 8, 2008|website=silive}}</ref> He announced on his official website on May 20 that he had chosen to serve out the remainder of his term, which ended on January 3, 2009, but decided not to run for re-election.<ref name="SIAResign">{{cite web|url=http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/exclusive_fossella_will_not_se.html |title=Staten Island's Fossella will not seek re-election |website=SILive.com |date=2008-05-19 |access-date=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref name="retire">Barrett, Devlin, , 2008-05-20, retrieved 2005-05-20.</ref>
'''Vito John Fossella, Jr.''' (born ], ]), is a ] ] from the ] of ] who has represented the state's ] () in the ] since 1997. The district includes ] and the ], ], ] and ] neighborhoods of ]. Fossella, a Staten Island native, was born to a family that included several politicians. Fossella initially took office in 1997, after winning a special election held to replace the resigning ]. He is currently in his sixth term, having won re-election in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, and again in 2006. Fossella is the only Republican Congressman now serving from ].


In November 2021, Fosella was elected ] of ].
A ] arrest in ] on May 1, 2008 complicates his bid for re-election in November 2008. The arrest, and his confession on May 8, 2008 that he had fathered a (now) 3-year old child out of wedlock, (), could seriously jeopardize Fossella's bid for re-election. ()


==Early life, education, and family== == Early life, education, and family ==
Fossella was born on Staten Island into a Roman Catholic family of ] and ] descent. Fossella's great-grandfather, ], represented Staten Island in Congress from 1935 to 1944. One of his uncles, Frank Fossella, was a prominent Staten Island Democrat who was a City Council member for four years, ending in 1985.<ref name="NYT-6-3-97">Jonathan P. Hicks, , ''The New York Times'', June 3, 1997</ref> His father served in various appointed positions in the city administrations of Democratic Mayors ] and ], then became a successful construction engineer.<ref name="NYT-11-6-97">Jonathan P. Hicks, , ''New York Times'', November 6, 1997</ref> Fossella was born on Staten Island into a Roman Catholic family of Irish and Italian descent. Fossella's great-grandfather ] represented Staten Island in Congress from 1935 to 1944. One of his uncles, ], was a prominent Staten Island Democrat who was a City Council member in 1985.<ref>Diane C. Lore, , ''Staten Island Advance'', August 19, 2014.</ref> His father, Vito John Fossella Sr., served in various appointed positions in the city administrations of Democratic Mayors ] and ], then became a successful construction engineer.<ref name="NYT-11-6-97">Jonathan P. Hicks, , ''New York Times'', November 6, 1997.</ref>


Fossella, the fourth of seven children, was a basketball player at ], where he got his first political experience in the student council. He attended ] in ], then transferred to the ], where he received a ] degree in economics in 1987.<ref name="NYT-11-6-97"/> At Penn, he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Fossella, the fourth of seven children, was a basketball player at ], where he got his first political experience in the student council. He briefly played violin and percussion with the Christian pop band ]. He attended ] in ], then transferred to the ], where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics in 1987.<ref name="NYT-11-6-97"/> At Penn, he was a member of the ] fraternity.


After college, Fossella worked as a management consultant at the accounting firm ]. ] was the second largest campaign contributor to Fossella in the 2006 campaign cycle () and is among the largest contributors in the 2008 campaign cycle () After college, Fossella worked as a management consultant at the accounting firm ]. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu was the second largest campaign contributor to Fossella in the 2006 campaign cycle<ref>] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119191107/http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?CID=N00000983&cycle=2006 |date=2007-11-19 }}</ref> and among the largest contributors in the 2008 campaign cycle.<ref>] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212224937/http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?CID=N00000983&cycle=2008 |date=2007-12-12 }}</ref>


Fossella then attended law school.<ref name="NYT-11-6-97"/> He received a ] from the ] in 1993, and worked as an associate at a medical malpractice defense law firm Schiavetti Begos & Nicholson. Fossella then attended law school.<ref name="NYT-11-6-97"/> He received a ] from the ] in 1993 and worked as an associate at a medical malpractice defense law firm Schiavetti Begos & Nicholson.


In 1990, Fossella married Mary Patricia Rowan. They have three children and live in the ] neighborhood on Staten Island. In 1990, Fossella married Mary Patricia Rowan. They have three children and live in the ] neighborhood on Staten Island. Fossella also had a daughter out-of-wedlock in 2005 with retired Lt. Col. Laura Fay.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/05/03/2008-05-03_vito_fossellas_mystery_woman_va_lady_who-2.html | location=New York | work=Daily News | title=Vito Fossella's mystery woman: Va. lady who sprung him from jail lives nearby | first1=Thomas M. | last1=DeFrank | first2=Rich | last2=Schapiro | first3=Mike | last3=Jaccarino | date=May 4, 2008}}</ref>


== New York City Council == == New York City Council ==

=== Early political work; election === === Early political work; election ===
Fossella was a political protégé of Michael J. Petrides, a member of the city's School Board and a Staten Island political strategist. In 1990, Fossella changed his voter registration from the ] to become the family's first Republican. "I found myself voting more and more for Republicans," he said in 1997. "For the most part, my family reacted well. But still, I would love to have been a fly on the wall."<ref name="NYT-11-6-97"/>Under Petrides' guidance, he joined the 1992 re-election campaign of Staten Island Congresswoman ] and, in 1993, the mayoral campaign of ]. Fossella was a political protégé of Michael J. Petrides, a city school board member and a Staten Island political strategist. In 1990, Fossella changed his voter registration from the ] to become the family's first Republican. "I found myself voting more and more for Republicans," he said in 1997. "For the most part, my family reacted well. But still, I would love to have been a fly on the wall."<ref name="NYT-11-6-97"/> Under Petrides' guidance, he joined the 1992 re-election campaign of Staten Island Congresswoman ] and, in 1993, the mayoral campaign of ].


Fossella's political career began in April 1994, when he won a special election to the ], representing Staten Island's South Shore and Mid-Island section. He replaced Councilman Alfred C. Cerullo 3d, who had left to become Commissioner of Consumer Affairs in the Rudy Giuliani administration. Fossella spent $92,000 in the election, in which he had five opponents.<ref>Jonathan P. Hicks, , ''New York Times'', November 8, 1994</ref> Fossella's political career began in April 1994, when he won a special election to the ], representing Staten Island's South Shore and Mid-Island section. He replaced Councilman ], who had left to become Commissioner of Consumer Affairs in the Rudy Giuliani administration. Fossella spent $92,000 in the election, in which he had five opponents.<ref>Jonathan P. Hicks, , ''New York Times'', November 8, 1994.</ref>


In November 1994, Fossella was reelected to the remaining three years of Cerullo's term, defeating Democrat Rosemarie Mangano. He served on the Council until November 1997. In November 1994, Fossella was reelected to the remaining three years of Cerullo's term, defeating Democrat Rosemarie Mangano. He served on the Council until November 1997.
Line 42: Line 61:
Fossella's council initiatives included: Fossella's council initiatives included:


* Authoring the legislation that led to the agreement to permanently close the ] * Authoring the legislation that led to the agreement to close the ] permanently
* Conceiving the idea of the South Richmond Rezoning Study, a comprehensive rezoning initiative on Staten Island * Conceiving the idea of the South Richmond Rezoning Study, a comprehensive rezoning initiative on Staten Island
* Securing funding for the construction of P.S. 56 and P.S. 6, the first new schools to be built on Staten Island in over a decade. * Securing funding for constructing P.S. 56 and P.S. 6, the first new schools built on Staten Island in over a decade.


==United States Congress == ==United States Congress ==
] in 1997]]
] on September 12, 2001.]]

=== Initial election === === Initial election ===
In June 1997, Fossella was selected by executive committee of the Staten Island Republican Party as its candidate to run for the Congressional seat being vacated by Representative ].<ref name="NYT-6-3-97"/> In June 1997, Fossella was selected by executive committee of the Staten Island Republican Party as its candidate to run for the Congressional seat being vacated by Representative ].<ref name="NYT-6-3-97">Jonathan P. Hicks, , ''The New York Times'', June 3, 1997.</ref>
Fossella won the special election in November 1997, defeating Democratic Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano with 61 percent of the vote. () Fossella won the special election in November 1997, defeating Democratic Assemblyman ] with 61 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hicks|first=Jonathan P.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/05/nyregion/the-1997-elections-congress-republican-wins-us-house-seat-left-by-molinari.html|title=THE 1997 ELECTIONS: CONGRESS; Republican Wins U.S. House Seat Left by Molinari|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 5, 1997|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref>
], and ] in 2002.]]


=== Re-elections === === Re-elections ===
In November 1998, Fossella won a full term with 68 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2000, winning 65 percent of the vote against Democrat Katina M. Johnstone even as ] carried the district. In 2002, he was re-elected with 70 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Arne M. Mattsson. In November 1998, Fossella won a full term with 68 percent of the vote. He was reelected in 2000, winning 65 percent of the vote against Democrat Katina M. Johnstone even as ] carried the district. In 2002, he was reelected with 70 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Arne M. Mattsson.
] and ] in 2004.]]
In 2004, Fossella faced his first close contest against former state assemblyman and judge ]. Barbaro won the Brooklyn portion of the district by seven points, the first time Fossella had not won that area; Barbaro had represented much of this area in Albany for 23 years. However, Barbaro performed poorly on Staten Island, and Fossella won by 26 points—enough to win a fourth full term with 59% of the vote districtwide. Some have speculated that he was helped by ]'s 13-point win on Staten Island.


Fossella was considered a possible challenger to ] ] in the 2005 election,<ref>{{Citation| last = Hicks| first = Jonathan P. | title = He May Run. Or So They Tell Him.; G.O.P. Congressman Seen as Possible Bloomberg Challenger| newspaper = ]| date = December 24, 2003| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/24/nyregion/he-may-run-so-they-tell-him-gop-congressman-seen-possible-bloomberg-challenger.html}}</ref> but he chose not to make the race.
In 2004, Fossella faced his first close contest against former state assemblyman and judge Frank Barbaro. Barbaro actually won the Brooklyn portion of the district by seven points, the first time Fossella had not won that area; Barbaro had represented much of this area in Albany for 23 years. However, Barbaro performed poorly on Staten Island, and Fossella won there by 26 points—enough for him to win a fourth full term with 59% of the vote districtwide. Some have speculated that he was helped by ]'s 13-point win on Staten Island.


In 2006, incumbent Fossella defeated Democrat ], a relatively unknown Brooklyn attorney, by a margin of 56.7%-43.3%. ] and ] carried the 13th by overwhelming margins. In 2006, incumbent Fossella defeated Democrat Steve Harrison, a relatively unknown Brooklyn attorney, by a margin of 56.7%-43.3%.


=== Family scandal and congressional retirement ===
===2008 election===
Before Fossella announced that he would not run in 2008, he was included in the ]'s list of Republican candidates who qualified for fundraising help because they were considered particularly vulnerable.<ref>
] hopes to run against Fossella again in the 2008 election, but ] member ] is also seeking the Democratic nomination.<ref>{{Citation| last = Paybarah| first = Azi | title = Democratic Clubs Stage Anti-Fossella Convention| newspaper = ]| year = 2008| date = ], 2008| url = http://www.observer.com/2008/democratic-clubs-meeting-fossella-race-0}}</ref><ref>
{{Citation| last = Rubinstein| first = Dana| title = SI Dems want Harrison| newspaper = ]| year = 2008| date = March 1, 2008| url =http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/9/31_09_si_dems_want_harrison.html }}</ref> The Democratic ] will be held on September 9, 2008 (the last day to register to vote in this primary is August 15, 2008). () {{Citation| last = Giroux| first = Greg | title = Ten More Republicans Gain Extra Aid for Tough House Races | newspaper = ] | date = April 8, 2008| url = https://rollcall.com/2008/04/08/ten-more-republicans-gain-extra-aid-for-tough-house-races/| publisher = ]}}</ref>


Steve Harrison hoped to run against Fossella again in the 2008 election, but ] member ] also began seeking the Democratic nomination.<ref>{{Citation| last = Paybarah| first = Azi| title = Democratic Clubs Stage Anti-Fossella Convention| newspaper = ]| date = April 15, 2008| url = http://www.observer.com/2008/democratic-clubs-meeting-fossella-race-0| publisher = ]| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080726102333/http://www.observer.com/2008/democratic-clubs-meeting-fossella-race-0| archive-date = July 26, 2008}}</ref>
In April 2008, Fossella was included in the ]'s list of Republican candidates who qualified for fundraising help because they were thought to be particularly vulnerable.<ref>
{{Citation| last = Giroux| first = Greg | title = Ten More Republicans Gain Extra Aid for Tough House Races | newspaper = ] | year = 2008| date = ], 2008| url = http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20080408/pl_cq_politics/politics2698838}}</ref> After his arrest for driving into a Washington suburb while severely intoxicated, his district is "puzzled and torn" according to the ] and Democrats had pledged to challenge Fossella this fall.


Fossella became mired in controversy in May 2008. He was, first, arrested in ]. Details of his arrest led to the revelation that Fossella, a self-proclaimed "family values" politician, had kept a secret second family in Washington, D.C., including a three-year old child that he had fathered out-of-wedlock.<ref name="Intelligencer1">{{cite web |last1=Stieb |first1=Matt |title=Staten Island Forgives Vito Fossella for Keeping a Secret Second Family |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/11/vito-fossella-overcomes-scandalous-past-in-staten-island-win.html |website=Intelligencer |access-date=1 October 2023 |language=en |date=2 November 2021}}</ref> Fossella, at first, indicated that he might run for re-election despite these problems.<ref>{{Citation| last = Hicks| first = Jonathan P.|title = Signs Fossella May Run Again Unnerve G.O.P.| newspaper = ]| date = May 19, 2008| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/nyregion/19fossella.html?_r=1&oref=slogin}}</ref> On May 20, however, he dropped out of the race.<ref name="retire"/> Fossella was succeeded by Democrat ].
===Committee assignments===

*Committee on Energy and Commerce
=== Committee assignments ===
**Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
* ''']'''
**Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
**Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet ** Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
** Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
** Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet


=== Political positions === === Political positions ===
In August 2002, appearing on CNN's '']'', Fossella argued for partly privatizing Social Security and allowing some of the funds to be placed on Wall Street investments. He said, "I happen to think the President is on the right side of history here. And I think the more you empower American people, the more you give them the opportunity to invest on their own and being in control of their own destiny and their own retirement, the better off we'll be."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialsecurity.org/sstw/sstw08-26-02.pdf|title=Social Security|work=Cato Institute|access-date=23 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324234929/http://www.socialsecurity.org/sstw/sstw08-26-02.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2009}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2022}}
Fossella is considered a conservative although his rating from the ] dropped from 87% in 2005 to 84% in 2007.


In June 2003, Fossella wrote an ] for the '']'', in which he said, "The claims that progress is too slow, the situation unstable and the United States lacks the expertise to get the job done does not reflect reality on the ground in Baghdad, Kirkuk and beyond. Indeed, the critics who complain that the seeds of democracy will not take root in the sands of a desert where tyranny ruled are as wrong today as the pessimists were in 1945." The final sentence of the column was, "The United States will fulfill its commitment to Iraq, and then we will depart, having liberated a nation, freed a people and established a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people."<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829104605/http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/Archive/2004/Feb/11-736457.html |date=2006-08-29 }}, opinion column by Fossella, ''Washington Times'', June 4, 2003.</ref> In August 2006, Fossella said that leaving Iraq now would "do a disservice to the noble sacrifice that the troops have made on behalf of our national security."<ref>Tom Wrobleski, , ''Staten Island Advance'', August 23, 2006.</ref>
After the 2007 State of the Union Address, Fossella crossed the aisle to join with Senator ] in 2007 to raise awareness of health issues suffered those who at worked at the World Trade Center site on and after 9/11. Fossella is quoted as saying "We have made progress over the last year to begin getting the resources necessary to help our 9/11 heroes. However, we now need a significant investment by the federal government into health monitoring and treatment for those who are sick or injured. In addition, the federal government must develop a comprehensive plan to address the health impacts of 9/11. We continue urging the White House to provide adequate funding in the 2008 budget to help all those who are sick or injured as a result of the terror attacks."
<ref>Press Release, Senator Clinton</ref>


Fossella voted for the ] in 2004 and for the ] in 2004 and 2006, all of which would nationally define marriage as between a man and a woman. In 2007, Fossella voted for the ], a bill nationally prohibiting job discrimination based on ].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ontheissues.org/NY/Vito_Fossella_Civil_Rights.htm |title=Vito Fossella on Civil Rights |publisher=On The Issues |access-date=2012-05-27 }}</ref>
Fossella has spoken out against the Bush Administration's handling of appropriating Homeland Security funds.<ref>Press Release, , July 13, 2005</ref>


In 2005, Fossella spoke out against the Bush Administration's handling of appropriating Homeland Security funds.<ref>Press Release, {{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/fossella/Press/press2005/050713_london.html |title=Fossella (NY13) - Press Release - Rep. Fossella to Senate: Pass a Threat-Based Formula Now |access-date=2007-01-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110130921/http://www.house.gov/fossella/Press/press2005/050713_london.html |archive-date=2007-01-10 }}, July 13, 2005.</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2022}}
In August 2002, appearing on CNN's ], Fossella argued for partly privatizing Social Security and allow some of the funds be placed on Wall Street investments. He said "I happen to think the President is on the right side of history here. And I think the more you empower American people, the more you give them the opportunity to invest on their own and being in control of their own destiny and their own retirement, the better off we'll be."<ref>], ] (pdf)], ]</ref> In a standardized constituent letter in February 2005, Fossella said "We need to examine the viability of voluntary personal savings accounts in which young people would have the opportunity to invest a small portion of their savings."<ref>], ], discussing his position on the Social Security system]</ref>


After the 2007 State of the Union Address, Fossella crossed the aisle to join with Senator ] in 2007 to raise awareness of health issues suffered by those who worked at the ] on and after 9/11. Fossella said, "We have made progress over the last year to begin getting the resources necessary to help our 9/11 heroes. However, we now need a significant investment by the federal government into health monitoring and treatment for those who are sick or injured. In addition, the federal government must develop a comprehensive plan to address the health impacts of 9/11. We continue urging the White House to provide adequate funding in the 2008 budget to help all those who are sick or injured as a result of the terror attacks."<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070201004930/http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=267786 |date=2007-02-01 }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2022}}
]'s house in Kirkuk, Iraq]]
In June 2003, Fossella wrote an ] for the '']'', in which he said "The claims that progress is too slow, the situation unstable and the United States lacks the expertise to get the job done does not reflect reality on the ground in Baghdad, Kirkuk and beyond. Indeed, the critics who complain that the seeds of democracy will not take root in the sands of a desert where tyranny ruled are as wrong today as the pessimists were in 1945." The final sentence of the column was "The United States will fulfill its commitment to Iraq, and then we will depart, having liberated a nation, freed a people and established a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people."<ref>, opinion column by Fossella, ''Washington Times'', June 4, 2003.</ref> In August 2006, Fossella said that leaving Iraq now would "do a disservice to the noble sacrifice that the troops have made on behalf of our national security."<ref>Tom Wrobleski, , ''Staten Island Advance'', August 23, 2006</ref>


===Legislative initiatives=== === Legislative initiatives ===
Fossella's legislative initiatives include the following: Fossella's legislative initiatives while in Congress included the following:


* Return over $700 million to individual investors by eliminating fees by the ] with the Investor and Capital Markets Fee Relief Act.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/107/hr1088|title=Investor and Capital Markets Fee Relief Act (2002 - H.R. 1088)|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref> The Act was signed into law by President Bush on January 16, 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020116-6.html|title=President Signs Investor & Capital Markets Fee Relief Act|date=16 January 2002|work=archives.gov|access-date=23 July 2015}}</ref>
*Obtaining federal funding to help repair the 86th Street subway station in the ] area of ]. This station serves as a transfer point where passengers connect to bus service to ] over the ].<ref>"86th Street rehab back on track" by Matthew Lysiak, ''The Brooklyn Paper,'' February 3, 2007</ref>
* Help repair the 86th Street subway station in the ] area of ]. This station serves as a transfer point where passengers connect to bus service to ] over the ].<ref> by Matthew Lysiak, ''The Brooklyn Paper,'' February 3, 2007</ref>
*Sponsoring a law to return over $700 million to individual investors by eliminating fees by the ] with the Investor and Capital Markets Fee Relief Act. () The Act was signed into law by President Bush on January 16, 2002. ()


==Staten Island borough president==
==Controversies==
In March 2021, Fossella announced that he was running for ] of ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/03/16/vito-fossella-seeks-comeback-in-race-for-staten-island-borough-president/|title = Scandal-scarred Vito Fossella seeks comeback in race for Staten Island borough president|date = 16 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/politics/2021/03/former-congressman-vito-fossella-joins-borough-president-race.html|title = Former congressman Vito Fossella joins borough president race|website=SILive.com |date = 17 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/03/17/vito-fossella-seeks-return-to-office-with-bid-for-staten-island-borough-president|title=Vito Fossella Running for Staten Island Borough President|website=www.ny1.com|last=Ngo|first=Emily|date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> He was endorsed by ] and won the Republican nomination in July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2021/07/staten-island-2021-primary-election-results-fossella-makes-big-comeback-as-winners-emerge.html|title = Staten Island 2021 primary election results: Fossella makes big comeback as winners emerge|website=SILive.com|date = 6 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='I LOVE STATEN ISLAND!' Trump celebrates primary win of ex-congressman he endorsed for GOP boro president|date=7 July 2021|url=https://www.audacy.com/1010wins/news/local/nyc-republican-borough-president-winner-is-vito-fossella}}</ref> He was elected borough president after defeating opponents Mark Murphy and Leticia Remauro.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/politics/2021/11/staten-island-election-night-2021-live-coverage-bp-council-seats-up-for-grabs.html|title=Staten Island Election Night 2021 wrap-up: Fossella completes comeback; Hanks only Dem to win|date=3 November 2021 |publisher=SILive.com|accessdate=November 3, 2021}}</ref> Fosella won the November general election.<ref name="Intelligencer1"/> He took office in January 2022.
===Top aides with their own consulting business===
Fossella chief of staff Thomas Quaadman and spokesman Craig Donner run a firm called Danton Communications Group, based in ]. Between its inception in 2002, and mid-2006, the firm had revenues from local candidates of at least $150,000, including about $40,000 from Fossella.<ref name="SIA-7-3-06">Tom Wrobleski, , ''Staten Island Advance'', July 3, 2006</ref>


== See also ==
In August 2006, the ''Staten Island Advance'' reported that the two had ignored guidelines from the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, which "strongly" recommend that all House employees maintain "careful records" of political work they do, paid or otherwise. The rules state that "Maintaining such records helps to ensure that no campaign work is done on 'official' time, i.e., time for which the individual is compensated with House funds." Donner said that "There is no requirement to do it," and that the two would consider keeping a formal record of the hours they spend doing political work in the future. Donner added that "We follow the rules rigorously," and "Everything I do is after hours, when I'm home."<ref name="SIA-7-3-06"/>
* ]

Donner's wife separately billed the Fossella campaigns for more than $20,000 of services and supplies between 2004 and mid-2006.<ref name="SIA-7-3-06"/>

=== Use of campaign funds ===
In March 2005, the '']'' reported that Fossella had spent more than $20,000 of campaign funds to pay for restaurant meals during his 2004 re-election campaign. The funds paid for more than 100 meals at restaurants in Washington D.C., New York, and elsewhere. Members of Congress are allowed to bill their campaigns for meals if the dinners are for fund-raising or strategy sessions. Fossella spokesman Craig Donner said the purpose of the dinners complied with those guidelines.<ref>Ian Bishop, , ''New York Post'', March 14, 2005</ref>

In June 2006, the '']'' reported that since 2000, Fossella had spent $53,000 in campaign funds on trips to luxury resorts in Las Vegas, Colorado and Florida, often accompanied by with his wife and children. Campaign funds also paid for attending a ] playoff game in Pittsburgh, playing 18 holes of golf in ], and ski school for his wife and children.<ref name="NYDN-6-25-06"> Greg. B. Smith, , ''New York Daily News'', June 25, 2006</ref>

The ''Daily News'' investigation also found that Fossella often failed to identify the nature of the expenses and several times did not disclose who was paying for his trips; as is required by law. For example, he failed to disclose who paid for a February 25–28, 2001, trip with his wife and children to a conference outside Palm Springs that cost $2,082. Donner stated the trip was paid for by the ], and that omitting the name was "an oversight". In another example the paying organization was not disclosed on another trip, this time in early 2003 to La Hague, on the coast of France.<ref> Greg. B. Smith, , ''New York Daily News'', June 24, 2006</ref>

Fossella insisted that all expenses were for legitimate campaign events or fact-finding missions that are part of his duties in Congress. Donner would not provide the names of donors or what he termed "potential donors" that Fossella met with that justified the campaign expenses.<ref name="NYDN-6-25-06"/>

After the ''Daily News'' submitted written questions to Fossella about his financial reporting, he amended 18 disclosure forms that he had previously filed with the ], dating back to 2000.<ref name="NYDN-6-25-06"/> Fossella also said he fired the accountant who was responsible for reporting his campaign contributions and expenses.<ref> Greg. B. Smith, , ''New York Daily News'', June 27, 2006</ref>

===Fundraising===
In April 2006, Donner said Fossella would likely raise a record $2 million for the current two-year election cycle, which ends on ], ]. Fossella raised $184,000 in the first quarter of 2006<ref>Terence J. Kivlan, , ''Staten Island Advance'', April 14, 2006</ref> and had raised $1,025,000 through the first five quarters of the cycle. In the second quarter of 2006, Fossella raised $157,000, bringing his total for the cycle to $1,172,000. As of ], ], he had $520,000 cash on hand.<ref> ], ], Committee to Re-elect Vito Fossella (large pdf)]</ref> As of October, Fossella's total raised was $1.3 million, compared to the original $2 million prediction, but Harrison had only raised about $100,000.<ref>Dana Rubinstein, , ''The Brooklyn Papers'', November 4, 2006</ref>

===Debates===
In a letter dated July 27, Steve Harrison challenged Fossella to debate him. Harrison listed eight dates for Fossella to choose from in the letter. The Congressman's camp initially denied receiving the letter, accusing Harrison of only sending it to the media. (Staten Island Advance 7/28/06)

In mid-August, Harrison invited the media to accompany him to Fossella's campaign office to deliver the letter to Fossella again. Fossella campaign manager Matt Mika, seeing his opponent's entourage and the reporters from the Staten Island Advance and two of the Brooklyn weeklies, quickly typed a response to the letter and faxed it over to Harrison's Brooklyn office at 2:08 pm, eight minutes after Harrison began briefing the press. Mika's response indicated that Fossella would be in Washington during all of the proposed dates and that they would try to come up with alternatives (Staten Island Advance 8/21/06)

In September, Fossella agreed to four debates, more than Susan Molinari and Fossella had been in during all their previous election campaigns combined.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} In early October, the number was increased to five.<ref>tom Wrobleski, , ''Staten Island Advance'', October 8, 2006</ref>

===Issues with constituent mailing===
On ], ], the ''New York Daily News'' reported that Fossella's campaign had violated House rules by using at least three photos in campaign flyers and in free mailings to constituents that were also on the campaign website.

One of the photos was a shot of Fossella with Muppet characters Elmo and Rosita. The News noted that Fossella would need to claim that the two Muppets were people in order to avoid violating another Congressional rule. That rule says that members of Congress can use only one photo of themselves alone in any single constituent mailing — but the mailing also showed Fossella standing by himself by the ].

A third problem raised by the ''Daily News'' was whether a member of Fossella's Congressional staff took the pictures, a House violation because taxpayer dollars cannot be spent on campaigns.<ref name="NYDN-6-29-06">Greg B. Smith, , ''New York Daily News'', June 29, 2006</ref>

After the story appeared, Harrison filed a complaint with the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, arguing that the four Fossella mailings, which he estimated cost $161,000, contained 14 violations. Donner, said the mistake was "inadvertent," the photos had been taken from the internet, and the flyer with one of the photos, of firefighters, would no longer be distributed.<ref name="NYDN-6-30-06">, Kathleen Lucadamo, , ''New York Daily News'', June 30, 2006</ref>

In August, in his response to the investigation by the commission, Donner said, in a sworn affidavit, that the two shots were different photos in sequence from his personal digital Sony DSC-P100 camera. Fossella said in his response to the commission that although Donner, his press secretary, had taken the firefighter photos, "no official funds were used to shoot the photos or to cause their reproduction." Donner did not respond to written questions from the ''Daily News'' about how he was able to take campaign and congressional photos within seconds of each other without violating the rule barring staffers from doing campaign work.<ref name="NYDN-8-13-06">Greg B. Smith, , ''New York Daily News'', August 13, 2006</ref>

===Shore Parkway seawall and bike path===
In August 2006, the local ''Courier-Life'' reported that Harrison, then chair of CB10, and then-District Manager Denise Virga visited Fossella's chief of staff, Tom Quaadman, in 2001 to discuss board priorities, including its number one priority, the repair of the seawall. Harrison said that they "were told it wasn't a federal matter. We received no assistance, not even any interest, from the congressman."<ref name="CL-8-10-06">Helen Klein, , ''Courier-Life'' Publications, August 10, 2006</ref>

In December 2003, Fossella wrote CB10 that he had "requested $16 million in the Transportation Equity Act currently being developed to be allocated for this specific project."<ref name="CL-8-10-06"/> In July 2005, Fossella issued a press release that he had obtained a $5 million federal authorization for the project.<ref>, press release, July 26, 2005</ref>. In April 2006 another press release mentioned the authorization, adding "An authorization represents the first step in securing funding for a project, but does not represent an allocation of money."<ref>, press release, April 5, 2006</ref>.

Actual funding for the project has only come from city and state sources. Matt Mika, campaign spokesperson for Fossella, acknowledged in August 2006 that no federal money had yet been forthcoming for the project, but said that Fossella had, indeed, been instrumental in getting the repairs done. Mika said that "the seawall crumbled during Steve's tenure as Community Board chair. It was Vito Fossella and Craig Eaton (the board's current chair) who worked together to secure the agreement to get the seawall and bike path repaired." Eaton, who is also the chair of the Brooklyn Republican Party, credited the site inspection by the Army Corps of Engineers, which he said Fossella had arranged, as the catalyst for the repairs. Eaton also stated that "Fossella and the community board made the case to the comptroller's office and officials at City Hall that the deteriorating conditions posed a serious threat and that repairs needed to be made immediately."<ref name="CL-8-10-06"/>

===DWI arrest===
On May 1, 2008 Fossella was arrested in ] for driving while intoxicated. <ref>Daniela Deane, , ''Washington Post'', May 1, 2008; </ref> Fossella had a blood alcohol level of .17 (more than double the legal limit of .08) when he was arrested. <ref>Tim Minton, , ''WNBC.com'', May 2, 2008; </ref>() <ref></ref>. Fossella admitted in a press conference held on May 2, 2008 that he had been out partying just prior to taking the wheel. () Fossella had been at the trendy Logan Tavern () when he and a friend were asked to leave. ()

At the time of the arrest, Fossella initially told the police that he was on his way to pick up his sick daughter, but the next day he revised his story to claim that he was headed to visit a sick friend.()

Fossella, during a press conference, also refused to deny that he had previously driven under the influence of alcohol and apologized for his actions. <ref>RAW Video, , ''WNBC.com'', May 2, 2008; </ref>

===Affair and out-of-wedlock child===

The police released Fossella to the custody of retired Lt. Col. Laura Fay () seven hours after his arrest. Fay lives about 3 miles from the spot where police officers stopped Fossella for running a red light. The two met while she was the Air Force's House liaison - a position she held from July 2001 until her retirement in September 2006. Fay is an intelligence officer by trade; her last duty assignment was as chief of the intelligence applications division at the Pentagon. British government documents show Fossella and Fay attended an Air Force-sponsored dinner in Britain on July 27, 2003, with several other members of Congress. Fossella's wife, Mary Pat, was not in attendance, a guest list for the event shows. The couple has three children. Fay's then-husband, Guy Shoaf, filed for divorce in an Arlington County, Va., court five months after the Air Force-sponsored dinner, records show. The couple, married in Honolulu in 1995, had no children when they stopped living together in 2003, the records show. A source familiar with the proceedings said the couple had a "bad breakup" and no longer speak to each other. Shoaf refused to talk with reporters when they knocked on his door. He still lives around the corner from his ex-wife. (

After a day of denials, Fossella admitted on May 8, 2008 that he had an extramarital affair with Fay and fathered her 3-year old child out of wedlock.<ref>], May 8, 2008.]</ref> ()

===Congressional Absenteeism===
Immediately after his arrest, Fossella missed Congressional votes.()


== References == == References ==
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==External links== == External links ==
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Latest revision as of 05:20, 5 January 2025

American politician (born 1965)
Vito Fossella
Fossella in 2022
16th Borough President of Staten Island
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2022
Preceded byJames Oddo
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th district
In office
November 4, 1997 – January 3, 2009
Preceded bySusan Molinari
Succeeded byMichael McMahon
Member of the New York City Council
from the 51st district
In office
April 27, 1994 – November 4, 1997
Preceded byAlfred Cerullo
Succeeded byStephen Fiala
Personal details
BornVito John Fossella Jr.
(1965-03-09) March 9, 1965 (age 59)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (1990–present)
Democratic (before 1990)
Spouse Mary Rowan ​(m. 1990)​
Children4
Residence(s)Great Kills, New York, U.S.
EducationIona College
University of Pennsylvania (BS)
Fordham University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Vito John Fossella Jr. (born March 9, 1965) is an American politician serving as the Staten Island Borough President since 2022. A member of the Republican Party, Fossella previously represented the state's 13th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms, from 1997 to 2009 serving as the lone Republican from New York City. A Staten Island native, Fossella initially took office in 1997 after winning a special election held to replace the resigning Susan Molinari.

After a DUI arrest in Alexandria, Virginia on May 1, 2008, it was discovered that he was living with Laura Fay, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, while Fossella was married. The two had a child together and lived in Virginia as a married couple while he lived in Staten Island with his wife. He announced on his official website on May 20 that he had chosen to serve out the remainder of his term, which ended on January 3, 2009, but decided not to run for re-election.

In November 2021, Fosella was elected borough president of Staten Island.

Early life, education, and family

Fossella was born on Staten Island into a Roman Catholic family of Irish and Italian descent. Fossella's great-grandfather James A. O'Leary represented Staten Island in Congress from 1935 to 1944. One of his uncles, Frank Fossella, was a prominent Staten Island Democrat who was a City Council member in 1985. His father, Vito John Fossella Sr., served in various appointed positions in the city administrations of Democratic Mayors Ed Koch and Abraham Beame, then became a successful construction engineer.

Fossella, the fourth of seven children, was a basketball player at Monsignor Farrell High School, where he got his first political experience in the student council. He briefly played violin and percussion with the Christian pop band Sonseed. He attended Iona College in New Rochelle, then transferred to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics in 1987. At Penn, he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

After college, Fossella worked as a management consultant at the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu was the second largest campaign contributor to Fossella in the 2006 campaign cycle and among the largest contributors in the 2008 campaign cycle.

Fossella then attended law school. He received a Juris Doctor from the Fordham University School of Law in 1993 and worked as an associate at a medical malpractice defense law firm Schiavetti Begos & Nicholson.

In 1990, Fossella married Mary Patricia Rowan. They have three children and live in the Great Kills neighborhood on Staten Island. Fossella also had a daughter out-of-wedlock in 2005 with retired Lt. Col. Laura Fay.

New York City Council

Early political work; election

Fossella was a political protégé of Michael J. Petrides, a city school board member and a Staten Island political strategist. In 1990, Fossella changed his voter registration from the Democratic Party to become the family's first Republican. "I found myself voting more and more for Republicans," he said in 1997. "For the most part, my family reacted well. But still, I would love to have been a fly on the wall." Under Petrides' guidance, he joined the 1992 re-election campaign of Staten Island Congresswoman Susan Molinari and, in 1993, the mayoral campaign of Rudy Giuliani.

Fossella's political career began in April 1994, when he won a special election to the New York City Council, representing Staten Island's South Shore and Mid-Island section. He replaced Councilman Alfred C. Cerullo III, who had left to become Commissioner of Consumer Affairs in the Rudy Giuliani administration. Fossella spent $92,000 in the election, in which he had five opponents.

In November 1994, Fossella was reelected to the remaining three years of Cerullo's term, defeating Democrat Rosemarie Mangano. He served on the Council until November 1997.

Council initiatives

Fossella's council initiatives included:

  • Authoring the legislation that led to the agreement to close the Fresh Kills Landfill permanently
  • Conceiving the idea of the South Richmond Rezoning Study, a comprehensive rezoning initiative on Staten Island
  • Securing funding for constructing P.S. 56 and P.S. 6, the first new schools built on Staten Island in over a decade.

United States Congress

Fossella is sworn in as a member of the House by Newt Gingrich in 1997
Fossella in Lower Manhattan on September 12, 2001.

Initial election

In June 1997, Fossella was selected by executive committee of the Staten Island Republican Party as its candidate to run for the Congressional seat being vacated by Representative Susan Molinari. Fossella won the special election in November 1997, defeating Democratic Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano with 61 percent of the vote.

Vito Fossella, Nancy Reagan, and Rudy Giuliani in 2002.

Re-elections

In November 1998, Fossella won a full term with 68 percent of the vote. He was reelected in 2000, winning 65 percent of the vote against Democrat Katina M. Johnstone even as Al Gore carried the district. In 2002, he was reelected with 70 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Arne M. Mattsson.

Fossella with President George W. Bush and Peter King in 2004.

In 2004, Fossella faced his first close contest against former state assemblyman and judge Frank J. Barbaro. Barbaro won the Brooklyn portion of the district by seven points, the first time Fossella had not won that area; Barbaro had represented much of this area in Albany for 23 years. However, Barbaro performed poorly on Staten Island, and Fossella won by 26 points—enough to win a fourth full term with 59% of the vote districtwide. Some have speculated that he was helped by George W. Bush's 13-point win on Staten Island.

Fossella was considered a possible challenger to Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the 2005 election, but he chose not to make the race.

In 2006, incumbent Fossella defeated Democrat Steve Harrison, a relatively unknown Brooklyn attorney, by a margin of 56.7%-43.3%.

Family scandal and congressional retirement

Before Fossella announced that he would not run in 2008, he was included in the National Republican Congressional Committee's list of Republican candidates who qualified for fundraising help because they were considered particularly vulnerable.

Steve Harrison hoped to run against Fossella again in the 2008 election, but New York City Council member Domenic Recchia also began seeking the Democratic nomination.

Fossella became mired in controversy in May 2008. He was, first, arrested in Alexandria, Virginia. Details of his arrest led to the revelation that Fossella, a self-proclaimed "family values" politician, had kept a secret second family in Washington, D.C., including a three-year old child that he had fathered out-of-wedlock. Fossella, at first, indicated that he might run for re-election despite these problems. On May 20, however, he dropped out of the race. Fossella was succeeded by Democrat Michael McMahon.

Committee assignments

  • Committee on Energy and Commerce
    • Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
    • Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
    • Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet

Political positions

In August 2002, appearing on CNN's Crossfire, Fossella argued for partly privatizing Social Security and allowing some of the funds to be placed on Wall Street investments. He said, "I happen to think the President is on the right side of history here. And I think the more you empower American people, the more you give them the opportunity to invest on their own and being in control of their own destiny and their own retirement, the better off we'll be."

In June 2003, Fossella wrote an op-ed for the Washington Times, in which he said, "The claims that progress is too slow, the situation unstable and the United States lacks the expertise to get the job done does not reflect reality on the ground in Baghdad, Kirkuk and beyond. Indeed, the critics who complain that the seeds of democracy will not take root in the sands of a desert where tyranny ruled are as wrong today as the pessimists were in 1945." The final sentence of the column was, "The United States will fulfill its commitment to Iraq, and then we will depart, having liberated a nation, freed a people and established a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people." In August 2006, Fossella said that leaving Iraq now would "do a disservice to the noble sacrifice that the troops have made on behalf of our national security."

Fossella voted for the Marriage Protection Act in 2004 and for the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and 2006, all of which would nationally define marriage as between a man and a woman. In 2007, Fossella voted for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill nationally prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In 2005, Fossella spoke out against the Bush Administration's handling of appropriating Homeland Security funds.

After the 2007 State of the Union Address, Fossella crossed the aisle to join with Senator Hillary Clinton in 2007 to raise awareness of health issues suffered by those who worked at the World Trade Center site on and after 9/11. Fossella said, "We have made progress over the last year to begin getting the resources necessary to help our 9/11 heroes. However, we now need a significant investment by the federal government into health monitoring and treatment for those who are sick or injured. In addition, the federal government must develop a comprehensive plan to address the health impacts of 9/11. We continue urging the White House to provide adequate funding in the 2008 budget to help all those who are sick or injured as a result of the terror attacks."

Legislative initiatives

Fossella's legislative initiatives while in Congress included the following:

  • Return over $700 million to individual investors by eliminating fees by the SEC with the Investor and Capital Markets Fee Relief Act. The Act was signed into law by President Bush on January 16, 2002.
  • Help repair the 86th Street subway station in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn. This station serves as a transfer point where passengers connect to bus service to Staten Island over the Verrazano Bridge.

Staten Island borough president

In March 2021, Fossella announced that he was running for Borough president of Staten Island. He was endorsed by Donald Trump and won the Republican nomination in July 2021. He was elected borough president after defeating opponents Mark Murphy and Leticia Remauro. Fosella won the November general election. He took office in January 2022.

See also

References

  1. "Official Congressional Directory". 2007.
  2. "Staten Island's Fossella admits child from affair". silive. May 8, 2008.
  3. "Staten Island's Fossella will not seek re-election". SILive.com. 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  4. ^ Barrett, Devlin, NY Congressman Fossella says he won't seek re-election, 2008-05-20, retrieved 2005-05-20.
  5. Diane C. Lore, "Frank Fossella, 88, political mentor, teacher and family patriarch", Staten Island Advance, August 19, 2014.
  6. ^ Jonathan P. Hicks, "Man in The News — Vito John Fossella Jr.; City Hall To Capitol", New York Times, November 6, 1997.
  7. OpenSecretsVito Fossella: Campaign Finance/Money - Top Donors - Congressman 2006. Archived 2007-11-19 at the Wayback Machine
  8. OpenSecrets Vito Fossella: Campaign Finance/Money - Top Donors - Congressman 2008. Archived 2007-12-12 at the Wayback Machine
  9. DeFrank, Thomas M.; Schapiro, Rich; Jaccarino, Mike (May 4, 2008). "Vito Fossella's mystery woman: Va. lady who sprung him from jail lives nearby". Daily News. New York.
  10. Jonathan P. Hicks, "Question Haunts a Candidate: 'Didn't You Just Run?'", New York Times, November 8, 1994.
  11. Jonathan P. Hicks, "Republican Is Chosen To Seek Molinari Seat", The New York Times, June 3, 1997.
  12. Hicks, Jonathan P. (November 5, 1997). "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: CONGRESS; Republican Wins U.S. House Seat Left by Molinari". The New York Times. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  13. Hicks, Jonathan P. (December 24, 2003), "He May Run. Or So They Tell Him.; G.O.P. Congressman Seen as Possible Bloomberg Challenger", The New York Times
  14. Giroux, Greg (April 8, 2008), "Ten More Republicans Gain Extra Aid for Tough House Races", CQ Politics, Yahoo! News
  15. Paybarah, Azi (April 15, 2008), "Democratic Clubs Stage Anti-Fossella Convention", The New York Observer, New York Observer, archived from the original on July 26, 2008
  16. ^ Stieb, Matt (2 November 2021). "Staten Island Forgives Vito Fossella for Keeping a Secret Second Family". Intelligencer. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  17. Hicks, Jonathan P. (May 19, 2008), "Signs Fossella May Run Again Unnerve G.O.P.", The New York Times
  18. "Social Security" (PDF). Cato Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  19. "Progress in Iraq" Archived 2006-08-29 at the Wayback Machine, opinion column by Fossella, Washington Times, June 4, 2003.
  20. Tom Wrobleski, "Congressional hopeful calls on Bush to begin withdrawal from Iraq: Democratic candidate Harrison says country is less secure from terrorism because of the war", Staten Island Advance, August 23, 2006.
  21. "Vito Fossella on Civil Rights". On The Issues. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  22. Press Release, "Fossella (NY13) - Press Release - Rep. Fossella to Senate: Pass a Threat-Based Formula Now". Archived from the original on 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-01-10., July 13, 2005.
  23. Press Release, Senator Clinton Archived 2007-02-01 at the Wayback Machine
  24. "Investor and Capital Markets Fee Relief Act (2002 - H.R. 1088)". GovTrack.us.
  25. "President Signs Investor & Capital Markets Fee Relief Act". archives.gov. 16 January 2002. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  26. "86th Street rehab back on track" by Matthew Lysiak, The Brooklyn Paper, February 3, 2007
  27. "Scandal-scarred Vito Fossella seeks comeback in race for Staten Island borough president". 16 March 2021.
  28. "Former congressman Vito Fossella joins borough president race". SILive.com. 17 March 2021.
  29. Ngo, Emily (March 17, 2021). "Vito Fossella Running for Staten Island Borough President". www.ny1.com.
  30. "Staten Island 2021 primary election results: Fossella makes big comeback as winners emerge". SILive.com. 6 July 2021.
  31. "'I LOVE STATEN ISLAND!' Trump celebrates primary win of ex-congressman he endorsed for GOP boro president". 7 July 2021.
  32. "Staten Island Election Night 2021 wrap-up: Fossella completes comeback; Hanks only Dem to win". SILive.com. 3 November 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.

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Civic offices
Preceded byAlfred Cerullo Member of the New York City Council
from the 51st district
1994–1997 		Succeeded byStephen Fiala
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded bySusan Molinari Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th congressional district
1997–2009 		Succeeded byMichael McMahon
Political offices
Preceded byJames Oddo Borough President of Staten Island
2022–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded bySue W. Kellyas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byAnthony Weineras Former US Representative
Current New York City borough presidents

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