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Fledgling congressman Michael Grimm settles old Staten IslandscoresPublished: Tuesday, January 04, 2011, 8:17 AMBy Judy L. RandallSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Admitting it mightbe a "politically incorrect" move, incomingRep. Michael Grimm said yesterday he hasdecided not to invite three top Republicanswho failed to support his candidacy to hisceremonial swearing-in Sunday.Grimm said it would be "inappropriate"and "hypocritical" of him to ask state Sen.Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Lou Tobaccoand GOP chairman John Friscia to join himon stage at the College of Staten Island'sCenter for the Arts.Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-"This is not a snub," said Grimm. "I ranHammelbecause Congress has failed to live up to Michael Allegretti, center, not Michael Grimm, was the fair-haired boyof Staten Island's GOP establishment, including state Sen. Anthonycertain standards. My election was about a Lanza, left, Assemblyman Lou Tobacco and, at right, party chairmanJohn Friscia.new beginning for the Republican Party. Iwant people to be proud of theircongressman. I would feel like a hypocrite to have them share the stage. And it would be hypocritical to thepeople who worked hard for me, like [Councilman] Vinnie Ignizio and Guy Molinari. It would degrade whatthey and all of my supporters did. I don't want to start off my elective career that way."Lanza and Tobacco backed Grimm's failed primary opponent, Michael Allegretti, and never got around toendorsing Grimm in his general election battle with former Rep. Michael McMahon.Prior to the primary, in a shocking move, Friscia engineered the party nod for disgraced former Rep. VitoFossella, whom Lanza and Tobacco supported. When Fossella said he would not run, Lanza and Tobaccoswitched their allegiance to Allegretti. Allegretti was viewed as the weaker candidate against McMahon, andthereby a possible place-holder for a Fossella comeback in 2012.Page 108 of 157