The executive committee of the Staten Island GOP voted tonight to endorse former Rep. Vito Fossella to make a comeback bid for the congressional seat he was forced to give up in the wake of a drunk driving/out-of-wedlock child scandal.

The vote was 23-4, sources said. The decision needs to be ratified by the entire SI GOP committee, which is scheduled to hold its convention next week.

Fossella was not present for the vote. Richmond GOP Chairman John Friscia nominated the former congressman – taking everyone in the room by surprise, according to a source who was present for the vote.

“Everyone was stunned,” said the source. “There was no discussion allowed. It was rushed through.”

Fossella has been rumored to be contemplating a run against Democratic Rep. Mike McMahon, who won the seat the five-term former Republican lawmaker vacated in 2008.

But as recently as this past weekend, Fossella refused to confirm or deny that he was considering a run for his old seat.

There are already two Republicans vying for the right to take on McMahon on Row B in the general election: Michael Grimm and Michael Allegretti.

The executive committee tabled an endorsement vote in the 60th AD. The hope, according to sources familiar with the GOP thinking, is that Allegretti would be willing to drop his congressional bid to take on Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer.

Allegretti has so far shown no interest in switching races.

UPDATE: McMahon campaign spokeswoman Jen Nelson forwarded the following response:

“Congressman McMahon is not concerned with the Republican party’s latest antics, he’s busy doing his job for the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn.”

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