Former Staten Island GOP Congressman Vito Fossella made a rare political splash yesterday — endorsing billionaire supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis for mayor.
“I will do whatever I can to help him,” Fossella told The Post.
Fossella has mostly kept a low public profile since quitting Congress amid a love-child scandal in 2008. It was discovered following a DUI arrest that he had a mistress and a 3-year-old daughter in the DC area.
Fossella has rebuilt his life and said he’s reconciled with his family in Staten Island, but he declined to elaborate.
He is now a managing partner in former Sen. Al D’Amato’s Park Strategies consulting firm.
As for the mayor’s race, Fossella said he admires Catsimatidis’ rags-to-riches immigrant success story.
“John is a wonderful, amazing guy. I admire his accomplishments. There’s not a guy out there who is more real. I know his passion for New York City,” Fossella said.
He likened Catsimatidis to Mayor Bloomberg, calling him an independent businessman who will do what’s right for the city.
Catsimatidis called Fossella “a great congressman” and said he’s “proud” of his backing.