Republican voters once proved that cheating on your wife and leading a double life with a second secret family is not a deal breaker when it comes to holding public office.
Former U.S. Rep Vito Fossella was just elected Borough President in Staten Island, New York, a largely ceremonial public office the Republican party has held for the last four decades. The 56-year-old won 60 percent or 17,268 votes, handily defeating Democrat Mark Murphy and Republican Leticia Remauro.
Fossella previously represented the New York’s 13th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms, from 1997 to 2009, before his political career was derailed when he was arrested for drunk driving in Virginia and it was revealed that he had a second secret family living there.
During his time in Congress, he held a 0% rating with the HRC and was a vocal opponent of all things LGBTQ. In 1999, he voted to make it illegal for same-sex couples to adopt children. In 2004, he voted for the Marriage Protection Act, and in 2004 and 2006 he voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment, both of which aimed to define marriage as between “one man and one woman.”
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After retreating from the public eye for 12 years, he decided to run for Borough President this year, nabbing endorsements from the borough’s only daily newspaper, as well as guys like Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump.
Last week, Trump issued a statement calling him “the only true conservative Republican in the race who will stand up to the radical liberal mob” and praising him for being “strong” and “tough”.
“I’m humbled that the people of Staten Island have given me another opportunity to serve,” Fossella said at last night’s victory celebration with his wife (the first one), Mary Pat, by his side.“I’m grateful for how instrumental President Trump was in my victory.”
“There are crazy things going on in our city and country. We need to support the police and get crime under control.”
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
jkb
It’s Staten Island. They’re freaks from the get go
stevedon
Ahhhh now that’s not nice. Staten Island is home to hardworking ethic people who love their family and want to see a better quality of life for their children. We ask no more than any other fam would.
Is it the patriotism and love of country and freedom that bothers you?
Bengali
I’m in utter despair that this DUI convicted, adulterer got into office with 60% of the vote as well as other losses The Democrats suffered in yesterday’s election. So sad that our majorities in Congress will likely be no more. And tragically, if not in prison, Trump has as very real chance of being re-elected; something that could end our two party system forever as GOP refuses to relinquish power. This should frighten all of us who care about decency and having our rights protected. Just feeling devastated regarding what’s to come.
cubcmh
Or why he wasn’t charged/convicted of DUI and/or bigamy (if he was married to the second person). Then he’d be ineligible for office.
Mack
I sadly have to agree with you. If the Republicans get control of the House and the Senate again you know that Donald will get elected again and we’re back to Nazi Germany.
Openminded
cubcmh, you have to learn to read Queerty carefully. Graham is a master at implying things. This adulterer never married the 2nd woman. He had kids with her and apparently supported her and the kids like a 2nd family, but NO he never actually broke any laws against polygamy. Still a scum bag, but not quite as scummy as the alleged “author” would have you believe. For some reason Gilmore gets a boner out of making other people appear bad. Even when they are bad as Trump, he still has to beat the dead horse and try to make it look even worse than it actually is.
stevedon
What openminded said gives me hope in humanity. I know it seems small but to call out the authors egregious implications even when you don’t like the lead in the story is pretty darn cool. You were on point. If we want to end this divide in our country we all need to be fair and reasonable and you demonstrated that. Kudos.
cubcmh
Family Values. Gotta love ’em!
gregg2010
At this point, I firmly believe Trump will be re-elected in 2024. The Democrats just can’t seem to get it together. Sad.
My2CentsWorth
The worst thing about your comment is that you are very likely 100% correct. It is likely that he will win enough votes to become president and not again be selected due to a flawed election system.
Maybe humanity is doomed. There are many bad things that can happen if Trump win. If he screws up and faces defeat he could re-enact the the Bibilical tale of Samson destroying himself and others.
stevedon
He’s not running again. Let’s move on and focus on healing and bringing both parties together, but you have to work it out with the progressives that want government domination. Need to promote a middle ground.
Tonyi1234
It amazes me that Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump are still forces in politics, after these past four years, but clearly, the danger is not passed and only we, the public, can end the nightmare. The Democrats who were elected as our representatives are clearly, unwilling to act, or complicit.
Openminded
AMEN
SFMike
We’re witnessing the Christofascist takeover of the United States and sadly Democrats are doing nothing to fight against their success. Prepare to our rights to be slowly taken away piece by piece.
BoomerMyles
Staten Island needs to be absorbed by New Jersey or the New York bay.
The real Bruce
It seems that the law breakers are winning against the law makers in this country. Mitch and the GOP are blocking all efforts to getting anything passed. Meanwhile our Democratic reps are seemingly so passive as to not FIGHT for the very rights and ideals of this Democracy. We all know the two self-serving hold outs are messing things up. Send them packing! Being so beholden to lobbyists, special interest groups and millionaires is NOT representing the people who voted you into office.
MynameisSid
So, one man and one woman, unless it’s him? Jesus probably wishes he’d never come out of that tomb.
Ken A.
So that is Staten Island, he has no power really. NY is mainly Democrat with some republicans peppering here and there. Staten Island is way over there. Cute little Island.
JRamonMc
Unfortunately Joe is attempting to govern by making the old value of bringing parties together to make a unified decision which will never happen. If Joe wants to change things, he needs to grab Donald Trump’s use of executive order and run with it. Old school governing is dead.
stevedon
Where are you getting this information bc he’s been mandating shit all over the place. Good luck with the IRS watching your bank accounts.
Openminded
Is the political position really important or not? The article implies it’s a token position, if so, does it really matter who wins?
charlieeod74
So much for republican family values. More do as I say not as I do bullshit. He’s probably a deacon in both his xtian churches. Hey, two families got to go to different churches, right?
stevedon
Democrat family values are better? So you believe Governor Cuomo raping girls in his office and Sending 30,000 seniors to their deaths embodies decency and family values?? Just asking
stevedon
Look at the years those votes were taken. At that time many politicians both on Dems and reps swayed that way. More famous ones like the Clinton’s did as well, but have since made public that they no longer believe this way anymore and were forgiven. Times are different now. It’s been 20 years!!! It’s unfair to characterize someone from a vote they took in 1999. Ask and judge them on their merits now. I believe with his leadership the quality of life on Staten Island will improve. Infrastructure will get better and MAYBE just MAYBE the speed cameras will disappear! 😉
rawbeartop
PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP ANMD WATCH WHO THEY VOTE FOR!! IF THE REPUBLICANS TAKE THE SENATE AND THE CONGRESS AND WHITE HOUSE WERE DOMMED WE WILL LOSE ALL OUR RIGHTS AGAIN JUST LIKE BEFORE!!!