After all we'd been hearing about how Vito Fossella was going to try to buck pressure from fellow Republicans and run again in the fall, the congressman says in a statement today on his Website that he won't go through with it.

After a great deal of consideration, I have made the decision not to seek reelection to the United States House of Representatives this November. This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family.

Wait, Vito. Don't you mean "families"? Guffaw, sorry, couldn't be helped. Fossella will stay through the end of his term. According to the Daily News, Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan and State Senator Andrew Lanza are possible GOP candidates to replace him. For the Democrats, State Assemblymen Michael Cusick and Peter Abbate, as well as lawyer Stephen Harrison, have been mentioned. Since the balance of U.S. Congress is up for grabs this fall, expect it to be a hotly contested race. Fossella is the only Republican congressman representing the city at the moment.

Vito Fossella Won't Seek Re-Election [NYDN]
Vito Fossella Congressional Website [House.gov]