NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Vito Fossella was elected Staten Island borough president, replacing Jimmy Oddo, NY1 projected.
CLICK HERE for full New York Election results.
VITO FOSSELLA (Republican)
TOP 3 ISSUES
None submitted.
BACKGROUND
Fossella is likely a familiar name to some New Yorkers — he was a U.S. Representative for Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn for over a decade before a drunk driving arrest that unveiled an affair and a secret child derailed his political career.
The Staten Island native is back, and alongside an endorsement from ex-President Donald Trump, won the GOP primary by just under two points over City Councilman Steven Matteo.
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Fossella has run a bit of a quiet campaign — he doesn’t appear to have an active campaign website and has never tweeted, but is somewhat active on Instagram and Facebook, where he has touted endorsements from the Sergeants Benevolent Association, Police Benevolent Association and many local residents.
But Fossella has been repeatedly denied public matching funds for his campaign after not disclosing his business dealings with government agencies, according to TheCity.NYC.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“I think the biggest issue right now across the board is crime. So I would have to be working with the next mayor, whoever the police commissioner is, the local captains and the precincts who want to keep our communities safe. That is the first order of business.” (via NY1).
MARK MURPHY (Democrat, Staten Island 1st)
TOP 3 ISSUES
Public Safety
Proper Healthcare Funding
Traffic and Public Transit
BACKGROUND
Mark Murphy is the son of former Rep. John Murphy, who represented New York’s 17th District for eight years. The West Brighton native says he’s entering the race as he sees how Staten Island has “changed over the years.”
Murphy said that decrepit infrastructure and an "increase in deadly shootings citywide” has drastically changed his home borough.
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Murphy is a former Staten Island representative in the Office of the Public Advocate, where he said he held the city accountable for “their failure to provide resources to Staten Island.”
Murphy has worked in real estate and construction in between political roles. He last ran for office as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House’s 11th district, but lost out to Michael Grimm by just over 10,000 votes.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“I’m running for borough president to put Staten Island first. As a life long Staten Islander, I have seen firsthand our borough has been ignored for too long. We deserve someone who has a track record of showing up for our community. We need a borough president who understands the job and will be effective on day one when it comes to advocating for the island. Staten Island deserves leaders with the integrity, and vision to stand up for all of us. As your next Borough President I will get us a seat at the table and put Staten Island first.”
LETICIA REMAURO (Conservative)
TOP 3 ISSUES
Reduce crime by supporting police
Abolish speed/red light cameras
Reduce Staten Island property taxes
BACKGROUND
Remauro has an extensive background working with some of the city and state’s biggest names in the 2000s. She worked under Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Gov. George Pataki as a community liaison.
Remauro lost out in the Republican primary for borough president, but is running on the conservative line. She announced her plans to run for the position on NY1 way back in 2018.
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The former VP of the Battery Park City Authority was also the former chair of Community Board 1 on Staten Island, and has spoken about her work helping “recover” lower Manhattan after 9/11 and the eastern shore of Staten Island after Superstorm Sandy.
Remauro caught flak late last year after comparing COVID-19 safety rules to Adolf Hitler. She said in the video, “Stand up for our right, the right to pay taxes so that we can pay the salaries of these good men and women, who yes are only doing their job, but not for nothing, sometimes you've got to say ‘Heil Hitler,’ not a good idea to send me here, we’re not going to do it.” She quickly apologized for the remarks.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“I will restore Staten Island's quality of life by: supporting police, easing traffic, providing quality education, reducing property taxes and upholding the conservative values that make our borough unique.”