New York City is on the cusp of what could be one of the most consequential mayoral elections in recent history.
If democratic socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani wins City Hall, the reverberations will be felt in every borough, including Staten Island.
Our borough always needs strong, outspoken leaders in the City Council in order to protect our interests and to make sure our voice is heard in the halls of power.
That could be even more true if Mamdani, whose sweeping agenda would touch on everything from mass transit and schools to taxes and policing, is our next mayor.
That’s why the Advance/SILive.com believes it’s crucial that incumbent Councilmembers Kamillah Hanks, David Carr and Frank Morano be returned to the Council.
Election Day is Nov. 4. Early voting starts this Saturday, Oct. 25.
For the 49th City Council District: Councilmember Kamillah Hanks
City Councilmamber Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore). (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon)Jason Paderon
In her bid for another term in office, Democratic City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks faces Republican John Shea and third-party candidate Sarah Blas.
The Advance/SILive.com endorsed Hanks in a Democratic primary for the seat earlier this year after backing her when she successfully sought the seat in 2021.
Hanks again deserves our endorsement here.
Hanks has for years been a stalwart champion of the North Shore, most notably in her relentless advocacy for the $400 million North Shore Action Plan, which includes housing construction and a new waterfront esplanade.
And visible progress is already being made, including the currently under-construction Mary Cali Dalton Center, which will replace the lost and lamented Cromwell Center.
Under Hanks’ leadership, the city is also looking for ways to reimagine the Empire Outlets shopping mall.
The Advance/SILive has for years advocated for a North Shore rebirth. Hanks is to be lauded for taking up the mantle and making these efforts her focus.
Hanks has also delved into more granular issues, including her opposition to a ridiculous fence at the Martling Avenue bridge, which was later removed, and her work to keep newly reopened Silver Lake Park Road closed to vehicular traffic on weekends.
That said, we have heard rumblings that Hanks has been known to have contentious relationships with some organizations in the community, resulting in fears that their city funding could be affected. If true, we strongly urge the councilmember to reevaluate those relationships to ensure that all in the community feel that they are being treated fairly.
Candidates running for the North Shore City Council seat, (from left) incumbent Councilmember Kamillah Hanks, John Shea, and Sarah Blas, join the Advance Editorial Board meeting Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com|Jan Somma-Hammel)
Shea brings his background as a former police officer and firefighter to the fray, and his desire to further serve his community is admirable.
The Republican made a good point when he said that any North Shore redevelopment plan need to be viable not only now, but for years in the future.
Blas, who is running on the Working Families Pary line and the independent New North Shore line, has made a name for herself as a community activist and business owner.
She was recognized as an Advance Woman of Achievement in 2020 for her efforts, including her volunteer work during the COVID pandemic. Her dedication to the North Shore, including those in minority communities and the disabled, is beyond doubt.
But Hanks is the clear choice here.
The councilmember has kept her promises to her constituents and her focus on North Shore redevelopment is the right one. Voters in the 49th Council District should return Hanks to office so she can continue her work.
For the 50th City Council District: Councilmember David Carr
City Councilmember David Carr (R-Mid-Island). (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi
Carr clearly deserves another term in office.
A diligent and thoughtful lawmaker, Carr has made his presence felt in the Mid-Island and beyond.
Carr was a driving force in bringing a new Gifted and Talented school to the borough, which should be open by 2030.
Carr understands the concerns and frustrations of everyday Staten Islanders, including how the borough often feels like it must “row upstream” when it comes to having its voice heard in the corridors of Manhattan-centric city power.
We applaud Carr as well for his firm opposition to battery energy storage sites being placed in residential areas.
Carr’s opposition to the City of Yes building plan also has a nuanced twist in that the lawmaker believes that the plan will actually make housing more expensive by driving up the cost of property.
The lawmaker is also right when he says that the city Department of Transportation too often overrides the will of borough residents with traffic projects here.
Carr also spoke for many Islanders when he said that the city needs to revisit allowing e-bikes on roads because speed limits are being ignored. We found Carr’s suggestion that e-bikes and scooters should be required to have license plates in order to improve enforcement to be intriguing.
Mohan is a state IT specialist who has run races for Congress and borough president in the past. He has served on community boards and community councils.
Radhakrishna Mohan, left, is running against Councilmember David Carr, right, to represent Mid-Island in the New York City Council. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
Speaking from his technical expertise, Mohan made a good point when he suggested that AI could be used to better manage traffic flow here.
But while Mohan’s dedication to his community is admirable, Carr’s deep knowledge of the issues and experience in office are far superior.
Too often, Mohan called for studies to address chronic problems here and in the city. Staten Islanders know all too well that studies often aren’t worth the paper that they’re printed on and only serve to kick thorny issues down the road.
We also found it odd that Mohan, a Democrat, chose not to comment on the possibility that fellow party member Mamdani could be the next mayor.
Carr knows his Mid-Island constituents and understands them well. Voters should return the councilmember to office without hesitation.
For the 51st City Council District: Councilmember Frank Morano
City Councilmember Frank Morano (R-South Shore) (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
The race for the South Shore City Council seat is a three-way campaign featuring incumbent GOP Councilmember Frank Morano, Democrat Cliff Hagen and independent John Buthorn.
It is a rematch for Morano and Hagen, who battled earlier this year in a special election for the Council seat left vacant by GOP Councilmember Joe Borelli.
Morano won that matchup, which also included candidate Griffin Fossella, the son of Borough President Vito Fossella.
We endorsed Morano in that race and in a subsequent GOP primary that featured Buthorn and Fossella. We see no reason to change course now that Morano has shown what he can do in office.
Morano has been right on key issues facing the borough and his district, including his opposition to the proliferation of battery energy storage sites in residential areas and his condemnation of the City of Yes development plan.
BESS sites and City of Yes could irrevocably damage the character of the South Shore. We trust that Morano will continue his fight against them.
We also applaud Morano’s call for discounts for express bus riders and his proposal to take a look at allowing right turns on red lights here.
We also welcomed Morano’s efforts to instill a greater sense of pride among all Staten Islanders, who too often feel disconnected from the rest of the city.
The candidates running for South Shore City Council District, (from left) John Buthorn, Clifford Hagen, and Councilmember Frank Morano attend an Advance/SILive.com editorial board Tuesday, September 16, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com|Jan Somma-Hammel)
Hagen deserves plaudits for his environmental advocacy, community work and his calls for smart development, including his opposition to proposed changes in the city’s ULURP process.
Hagen’s comment that the South Shore needs to be protected from city interests that look to “wreak havoc” here was spot-on.
As a U.S. Marine veteran and retired NYPD officer, Buthorn has brought an important voice to the campaign. His pledge to focus on basic government functions, like education, public safety and supporting small businesses if elected is admirable. He is running on the Patriot Workers line.
But Morano, a longtime civic activist and a former radio talk show host, has brought deep borough knowledge and passion to his job. We are confident he will continue to do so in the future.
We urge South Shore voters to keep Councilmember Frank Morano in office.
(Editorials and endorsements are developed by the Advance/SILive.com Editorial Board, and do not represent the opinions of individual newsroom staff.)
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