Battle over GOP Senate pick

The political nose-counting has been going on in earnest in anticipation of tonight's Republican Party showdown over retiring state Sen. John Marchi's seat.

By most calculations, attorney Robert Helbock has a tough row to hoe against City Councilman Andrew Lanza.

Helbock, who resigned last week as Staten Island GOP chairman to avoid a conflict of interest, will tonight ask the party's county committee to nominate him to succeed Marchi (R-Staten Island).

The Republican choice will face Democratic nominee Matthew Titone, a Sunnyside attorney. He is the son of the late Judge Vito Titone, who was the only Islander to serve on the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals.

The borough GOP's executive committee has unanimously endorsed Lanza (R-South Shore) for the seat, and the county committee is expected to ratify that selection, despite Marchi's endorsement of Helbock.

"I can't remember the last time the county committee didn't follow the executive committee," said one longtime Republican.

Approximately 220 people are on the county committee, according to the latest city Board of Elections roster, even though some put the number at 250 or higher. Many believe that around 150 will show up at tonight's convention in the VFW Labetti Post in Rosebank.

That's how many attended the contentious 2001 convention, which saw Conservative James Molinaro nominated by the GOP for borough president over Republican Robert Straniere.

The majority of current GOP committee members are either relatives, friends, staffers or otherwise allied with Lanza or his top supporter, Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), said Republicans who examined the roster at the Advance's request.

Fossella and Lanza are said to control the votes of between 100 and 120 committee members, especially those from the Mid-Island and South Shore.

"There's no doubt that Fossella and Lanza outweigh the Marchi-Helbock forces," said one Helbock supporter.

"I don't have a nosecount," said Lanza. "My feeling is that it's good."

PARTY FACTIONS

But Lanza dismissed the suggestion that he'd "stacked" the committee in recent years.

"When you get involved in politics, your family and friends want to help out," he said.

Committee members loyal to Councilman James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) and Assemblymen Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) and Matthew Mirones (R-East Shore/Brooklyn), are also expected to back Lanza.

Helbock, observers said, has between 50 and 70 supporters on the committee, with his strength concentrated in the North Shore's 61st Assembly District.

But Helbock also is expected to draw support from longtime party members who will vote for him out of affection for Marchi; because they feel Helbock has gotten a raw deal, or because they respect the chairmanship.

"I'm confident that I will have a contingent of people there supporting me," said Helbock, who is expected to be nominated by Kate Rooney, Marchi's counsel.

Members who still pledge allegiance to former Borough President Guy Molinari also could back Helbock, since Molinari favorite, attorney John D'Amato, has not decided if he will run and will not place his name in nomination.

The floor fight is akin to a special election, with the key being to identify your supporters and bring them out to vote.

"It's going to depend on who shows up," said one committee member.

ROLL CALL

But some members abhor party fights and might stay home, especially if they think they will be asked to openly state their preference in a roll-call vote, instead of the more common, and more confidential, "yea or nay" voice vote.

Some Republicans said the Lanza-Fossella wing wants a roll call so it can keep track of who opposes them.

"If they do a roll call," one Republican said, "you're going to have guys in the back jotting down notes."

"That's ridiculous," said Lanza. "I have no preference. We understand that people are 'with' certain people."

The meeting chair or committee members on the floor can request a roll call.

"I'm fine with whatever the party believes is the best way to choose a candidate," said Helbock. "This is a step in the process, not a determining factor."

While a roll call would dispel any doubt about the outcome, it could also cause lasting hard feelings, as it did when it was employed in the Straniere-Molinaro battle.

"That tore a lot of people up," said a former party official. "You don't want to go through that. Those wounds didn't heal."

While emotions are running high, few expect any open hostility tonight.

"It's not going to get nasty," said a Helbock backer.

The party, meanwhile, is not expected to pick a new chair tonight, and will likely reconvene in the near future to do so.

Party treasurer Dianne Powers and first vice chair Mary Reilly are two names being mentioned for the slot.

Tom Wrobleski covers politics for the Advance. He may be reached at wrobleski@siadvance.com.

TALE OF THE TAPE \

City Councilman Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) and attorney Robert Helbock will square off tonight to see who will get the Republican Party endorsement to replace retiring state Sen. John Marchi (R-Staten Island).

NAME: Andrew Lanza AGE: 42 HOME COMMUNITY: Great Kills EXPERIENCE: Attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor. QUOTE: "I'm keeping my focus on the prize here."

NAME: Robert Helbock AGE: 43 HOME COMMUNITY: Randall Manor EXPERIENCE: Attorney; partner in the West Brighton law firm Helbock, Nappa & Gallucci; Marchi aide and former borough GOP chairman. QUOTE: "I'm looking forward to having my side of the story heard."