Council Member Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island) was publicly endorsed June 13 by the Democratic Campaign Congressional Committee (DCCC) in his bid to replaced retiring Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).

The DCCC made an exception to its rule of not endorsing in a primary—McMahon potentially faces 2006 nominee Steve Harrison—but northeast recruiting head Rep. Steve Israel (D-Suffolk) and DCCC chair Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Maryland) said McMahon’s candidacy was a special circumstance.

“You cannot run a strong race without a top tier, top notch candidate,” Van Hollen said. “In Mike, we have that.”

However, McMahon will only receive financial assistance for the general election, Van Hollen said.

The district is the only congressional seat in the city held by a Republican, and has been in GOP hands for nearly three decades. If McMahon receives the nomination and is able to demonstrate major strength as a candidate, he may qualify for the DCCC’s Red to Blue Program, which gives additional assistance to promising candidates in districts currently represented by Republicans.

McMahon faces MTA board member and former Wall Street executive Frank Powers, who received the Republican endorsement after several others passed on the race.

The rally was organized days after all but one of the city’s Democratic congressional delegation endorsed McMahon. The letter of endorsement was organized by delegation dean Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Manhattan). However, of the city delegation, only Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan/Queens) attended the rally.

Though Rangel’s letter refers to 12 congressional representatives—and there are 12 in the city—Rep. Nydia Velázquez (Queens/Brooklyn/Manhattan) did not sign the letter. Instead, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (Nassau) was on the list.

A source said that Velázquez, chair of the House Progressive Caucus, did not endorse in the race because she is friends with Steve Harrison, a lawyer and former Brooklyn Community Board 10 chair. She also gave $2,000 to Harrison’s 2006 campaign. Velázquez’s office said she would not comment on the endorsement or issue a statement about the race.

Fossella, who chose not to run for re-election after news surfaced of his drunk driving arrest and love child with a Virginia woman, was not mentioned at the McMahon rally, though McMahon said that he would bring “integrity and respect” back to the district.

He also addressed Harrison’s accusations that he supports the Iraq war.

“For some time now, I’ve called for the responsible redeployment of our troops from Iraq and bring them home safely,” McMahon said. “Any misconstruction of my statements was, of course, clarified immediately thereafter and Steve Harrison knew that as well.”

McMahon was flanked by several of his colleagues on the Council, including Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan). State Sen. Diane Savino (D-Brooklyn/Staten Island) attended as well, as did Staten Island Democratic Party chair John Gulino.

Photo by Andrew Schwartz.