STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A social media post criticizing the South Shore’s Republican city Councilmember for praising a Democratic candidate has exposed a growing rift among some of the borough’s Republican politicians.
Griffin Fossella, the son of Borough President Vito Fossella, took to Facebook on Saturday to blast Councilmember Frank Morano, claiming Morano appears to be supporting Michael Colombo, the Democratic challenger for borough president, over the incumbent Republican, who happens to be his father.
The post features a video that appears to have been taken from one of Morano’s own social media livestreams in which the sitting Councilmember praises Colombo’s efforts on the campaign trail and takes what could be interpreted as a veiled shot at the elder Fossella.
“This is Mike Colombo, he’s running for borough president. He’s doing a really great job. He’s everywhere. He’s the hardest working guy I’ve seen running for borough president this year,” Morano said in the video.
The praise for Colombo drew the ire of the younger Fossella, who unsuccessfully ran against Morano in an April special election and dropped out of the Republican primary for the general election in June.
“Can someone please explain to me why it appears that our current Republican South Shore City Councilman Frank Morano is openly advocating for the far left Democrat candidate and Zohran Mamdani supporter in Mike Colombo?” Fossella wrote.
“This confirms what we have been saying since day 1: Frank Morano is a complete fraud and not a real Republican (he became one in November of 2024. Where is the Staten Island Republican Party leadership on this matter? Are they going to condemn one of their own for breaking ranks and campaigning for a candidate who’s party chants defund the police and raise taxes on all of us so Mamdani can pay for his slush fund of free handouts?” he continued.
Colombo refuted Fossella’s claim that he supports Mamdani, telling the Advance/SILive.com that he hasn’t endorsed or supported anyone in the mayoral race and is ready to work with whomever wins to do what’s best for Staten Island.
When reached for comment, Morano told the Advance/SILive.com that he has not endorsed anyone for borough president, that Fossella hasn’t asked for his endorsement, and that he will only be voting for Republicans in the upcoming elections.
He went on to reiterate his praise for Colombo’s work ethic, noting that he’s seen him at several candidate forums that the borough president did not attend.
“I’ve said publicly that Mike Colombo is a nice guy and a hard worker, because he is. He’s attended every single candidate forum I’ve been to, no matter how big or small the crowd. Vito hasn’t shown up to one. Recognizing someone’s work ethic isn’t ‘endorsing’ them, it’s called being polite,” Morano said in a written statement.
Morano went on to note that the borough president has not issued any endorsements for his fellow local Republicans and has been notably absent from several of their events.
“If Griffin is really concerned about people ‘secretly helping Democrats,’ maybe he should ask his father why he hasn’t endorsed a single Republican for any office this year (including Mayor) — or why the only elected officials he seems to do events with are Democrats,” Morano wrote.
A review of press advisories from the borough president’s office showed that no other Staten Island Republican elected officials attended any of Fossella’s public events this year, including the launch of his re-election campaign, and it was unclear if they were even invited.
In recent weeks, the borough president and the borough’s city Councilmembers held separate press conferences to announce funding allocations to renovate the Staten Island Zoo’s Children’s Center, while in the past the borough’s elected officials would typically hold one joint press conference for that type of announcement.
When reached for comment regarding Morano’s comments, David Catalfamo, a spokesperson for the borough president’s reelection campaign, told the Advance/SILive.com, “The borough president is not going to dignify the remarks with a response.”
Assemblymember Michael Tannousis, chair of the Staten Island Republican Party, called for the elected officials to put aside their differences and come together in support ahead of Election Day.
“The rhetoric needs to be toned down. The Staten Island Republican Party endorses candidates that are proven fighters and that we know will continue to fight for Staten Islanders. We endorsed our candidates months ago and as we near Election Day, this is the time for our party to unite against a very real Democratic Socialist threat. As we have done during the past few months, we are encouraging Staten Islanders to go out and vote for all of our Republican candidates who will fight for them,” Tannousis said.
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