Just as with the rest of the non-retiring members of Congress, Michael Grimm (R-NY11) will stand for election again next year. And like many of the rest of the members, he’s already drawn an opponent in the person of Brooklyn City Councilman Dominic Recchia. Among Dominic’s no doubt numerous fine qualities, he’s very interested in helping out his constituents. (Surely a good quality in a potential House member, you’ll all agree.) In fact, Councilman Recchia is so willing to go the extra mile to help out the residents of his area, he’s even willing to exert his considerable influence to help them even after they get in a spot of trouble. (Hat Tip, Big Government)

A Brooklyn city councilman running for Congress has written to a federal judge seeking leniency for a reputed Colombo mobster who will be sentenced this month for money laundering and illegal gambling.

Dominic Recchia, a Democrat representing Coney Island, Gravesend and Bensonhurst, sent the letter on City Council letterhead extolling the community service performed by reputed mobster Angelo Spata after Hurricane Sandy…

Recchia’s letter, dated Aug. 23, informs Judge Kiyo Matsumoto that Spata participated in relief efforts and hosted a children’s carnival at MCU Park after the superstorm.

Well, that’s certainly nice of Mr. Spata to help out the local children and pitch in for the recovery after Sandy. But then, it’s also a consideration that he’s about to be sentenced. And while nobody should be pinned down for guilt by association, it’s also worth noting that his father-in-law is Carmine Persico. Carmine is another popular, well known figure in the neighborhood. Of course, people haven’t seen much of him since 1987. Back then, Carmine “The Snake” Persico was sentenced to 139 years in the slammer. Those are some, uh… interesting connections that Mr. Recchia has.

Of course, you don’t find candidates of this caliber just hanging around anywhere. As Big Government alertly points out, he was one of the first people tapped in the Democrats’ Jumpstart program, their ambitious effort to flip GOP seats in the House. He’s got to be somebody special to be courted so heavily by New York Democrats, and with stories like this we may be finding out exactly how special in the months to come.