GOP picks Lanza for Senate run

Staten Island's Republican Party's executive committee last night unanimously endorsed City Councilman Andrew Lanza to replace retiring state Sen. John Marchi, setting up a potential three-way primary for the GOP nomination.

Lanza (R-South Shore) received the votes of all 30 committee members who met in GOP headquarters, New Dorp, besting borough Republican chairman Robert Helbock and attorney and NASCAR lobbyist John D'Amato.

"It's exciting and encouraging to have the support of the party and to have their confidence," said Lanza.

Helbock last night did not rule out running a primary for the nomination.

"I'm still looking and evaluating," said Helbock, who has been an aide to Marchi for 17 years. "I'm not saying this isn't a setback, but it's not the deciding factor."

Helbock said he was "disappointed" that the endorsement he received from Marchi didn't carry more weight with the committee.

"But I understand the competition I'm up against," he said. "Andy's a quality guy."

Lanza called Helbock "a gentleman."

"It's a tough process," he said.

As he left following his interview, D'Amato said he would continue to look at the race for Marchi's seat no matter what the panel decided. "It's not going to dictate my decision," he said.

D'Amato said his interview with the committee was "cordial and very respectful." Only one panelist questioned him about the controversial NASCAR proposal, he said.

Lanza and Helbock awaited the panel's decision in the headquarters together, swapping stories and jokes with Assemblyman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) and Thomas Ognibene, the former Queens councilman who served as an informal adviser to the GOP last night.

"It was with a heavy heart that we had to make this decision between these two great candidates," said GOP first vice chair Mary Reilly.

But most observers had thought the nod would go to Lanza, who was endorsed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Island GOP elected officials earlier this week.

Ms. Reilly said the panel was unconcerned by recent reports concerning Lanza's poor attendance record at Council committee hearings. "It didn't come up" during Lanza's interview with the panel, she said.

Matthew Titone and Michael Arvanites are looking at the race on the Democratic side.

OTHER CANDIDATES BACKED

The panel also endorsed candidates in other races last night, but emerged without a choice to run against state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn). Helbock said the party would work with Brooklyn Republicans to find a candidate to challenge Ms. Savino.

The Republican Party's county committee is expected to ratify the picks at a convention on May 25.

The GOP panel endorsed Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), Ignizio and Republican Civil Court Judge Philip Straniere for re-election, and gave its endorsement to Democratic Civil Court Judge Barbara Panepinto as well.

The committee also supported former Family Court Judge Ralph Porzio to run for Judge Eric Vitaliano's vacant Civil Court seat.

In Assembly races, the panel backed Rose Margarella to run against Assemblyman John Lavelle (D-North Shore), Anthony Xanthakis to run for retiring GOP Assemblyman Matthew Mirones' East Shore/Brooklyn seat, and Victor Grossman to again battle Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island).

Retired police officer and teacher Joseph Cammarata also interviewed for the Mirones seat.

Helbock said Ms. Margarella, a teacher, would be an "energetic" and "enthusiastic" candidate who would focus on education and crime issues.

He also praised Porzio, who withdrew from consideration for another Family Court term after encountering resistance from Bloomberg's judicial screening panel.

"Having an experienced jurist willing to stand for election will be a real asset to our party," Helbock said.

Kim Dollard has been endorsed by the Democrats in the race.

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