Staten Islanders Made Their Voices Heard In South Shore City Council Special Election: Results Are In For District 51, Joe Borelli’s Former Seat – Frank Morano Prevails: UPDATED

Staten Island’s South Shore City Council Special Election: Early Voting Started Monday For District 51, Joe Borelli’s Former Seat

The most recent special election occurred in March to elect a new Council member to one of Brooklyn’ districts. 

We also previously shared a discussion on the importance of getting out to vote, particularly in local elections.  For cities such as ours, day to day living is much more affected by the City Council than by any national politicians (though many times senators and congressional representatives will work together with local senators, Council members, assembly members, and borough presidents to pass critical funding or special grants). This makes these types of special elections, which usually have very low voter turnout, all the more important. While this seat will be voted on again in November, it’s important for Islanders to be represented in the council (especially as the “Forgotten Borough”). 

***Post-Election Update: According to City and State New York, Staten Islanders in this district made their voices heard loudly, particularly for a special election:

“For a special election, turnout was relatively high – more than 3,700 cast ballots during early voting alone, according to the New York City Board of Elections. (Last month’s City Council special election in southern Brooklyn garnered fewer than 700 ballots cast during early voting [Election Day turnout in Brooklyn was 5,500].) More than 9,400 votes were counted by 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with 99% of scanners reporting. [emphasis added]”

According to The City, the population of District 51 on Staten Island is 164,103.  For comparison, the population of Brooklyn’s District 44 is a little higher, at 186,978.

And further: “Not long after polls closed at 9 p.m., Morano held a commanding lead over two other candidates, with 59% of the vote and 99% of scanners reporting. Next in the race was Clifford Hagen, a conservative Democrat who logged roughly 21% of the vote, followed by Griffin Fosella, a Republican and the son of Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, who stood at roughly 20% of the vote. Special elections are nonpartisan – Morano ran on a ‘SI Patriotism’ line, while Hagen ran on a ‘Common Ground’ line, and Fossella ran on a ‘We the People’ line”

According to Wikipedia: 

New York City’s 51st City Council district is one of 51 districts in the New York City Council. It is currently vacant, having most recently been represented by Republican Joe Borelli from 2015 to 2025.

The district holds a number of distinctions. It is by far the most Republican-leaning Council district in the city; it is the only Council district to have more registered Republicans than Democrats; and, at 84% white, it is the city’s whitest and most politically conservative Council district.

District 51 covers the South Shore of Staten Island, including the neighborhoods of Great Kills, Tottenville, Annadale, Huguenot, Rossville, Pleasant Plains, Eltingville, Bay Terrace, Charleston, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley, Woodrow, Arden Heights, Greenridge, and parts of Heartland Village and New Springville.^[3]

 

 

Statement from Staten Island Conservative Party Chairman David Mario Curcio:

 

Congratulations to Frank Morano on his decisive victory in the Special Election for City Council to fill the existing vacancy in the 51st District for the remainder of this year. The Staten Island Conservative Party is proud to have been the first political party organization to officially nominate and endorse Frank Morano for public office this year and we wish him continued success in both the June primaries and the November general election, in which he will be the Conservative Party nominee.

 

For the election results, visit www.vote.nyc. For the latest news and statements from the Staten Island Conservative Party, visit www.truthsocial.com/@StatenIslandConservativeParty.

Following are the candidates:

​
Frank Morano (R)  (endorsed by local Republicans and Conservatives)

Griffin Fossella (R)

Clifford Hagen (D)

Joe Borelli has endorsed Frank Morano for his seat.

Banner Image: Staten Island district map. Image Credit – Wikipedia