You can't make this stuff up.

Son of GOP nominee throws hat into ring for Staten Island's seat
by Staten Island Advance

It could be father versus son in the race for Staten Island's seat in the House of Representatives.

An already topsy-turvy political year grew even more so today when Francis M. Powers, the son of GOP designee Francis H. Powers, said he would seek the Libertarian Party line to run for the 13th Congressional District seat.

"This is not about my dad," said the younger Powers, 47, a master carpenter from Clifton who plays and sings with the Staten Island band Box of Crayons and runs an indie record label called Penny for the Guy Records. "I'm running against the Republican candidate."

That's just beautiful.

Known as Fran, Powers is the eldest of five children from his father's first marriage, which ended in divorce 30 years ago.

Fran Powers insisted his candidacy is not a "vendetta" against his father.

"I'm not going to say that my dad treated me bad when I was a kid," Fran Powers said. "I know his policies. I'm running against someone I know."

If your own kid feels so strongly about you not being in Congress that he's willing to run against you, that might be a problem.

When asked about the timing of his entry into the race, Powers said, "Me being his son gives me a different platform than normal," a platform that Powers said he wouldn't have against another candidate.

"We can't have the Republicans take this seat again," he added. "A vote for my father is a vote for the straight Republican ticket."

Yup.

The married father of two, Fran Powers said his campaign would focus on home port redevelopment, increased public transit, the borough's overdevelopment problem, as well as toll and transit-fare hikes.

When asked how much responsibility his father, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member, should bear for those toll and fare hikes, Fran Powers said, "I don't put it on the doorstep of my father."

Yeah, because the MTA is, like, super-popular on the island.

Though known as Fran Powers, the younger Powers said he would look to be listed on the ballot as Francis M. Powers.

Just like his dad. That's awesome.

When asked about the head scratching that might cause voters, Powers said, "If people can't tell the difference between the Republican Party and the Libertarian Party, maybe they shouldn't be voting."

Yup. Okay, Democrats - how are we doing with our war chests? Are we ready to seriously contest this seat yet?