Election Day 2025 this Tuesday might prove the most consequential in the history of New York City. Polls show a democratic socialist with a commanding lead over a former Democratic governor and a Republican crime-fighting radio host. There are races for City Council and borough president on the ballot, as well as important ballot questions. The Advance/SILive.com has published recommendations and analysis over the past month. Today, we offer a wrap-up of our endorsements.
Andrew Cuomo, former Governor and current candidate for Mayor of New York City meets with the Advance Editorial Board in the Bloomfield newsroom on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) Jason PaderonJason Paderon
For mayor: Andrew Cuomo
The choice is clear between two of the three candidates to lead the city of New York. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has the experience and gravitas to govern New York City over Zohran Mamdani, an unproven assemblyman with unrealistic proposals that cannot be achieved financially. The wild card in the race is Curtis Sliwa, the Republican who knows Staten Island better than the other two candidates. There is little doubt Sliwa would be attentive to Staten Island’s needs. But there is also little doubt that Republican Sliwa will lose in our overwhelmingly Democratic city, especially with poll-after-poll showing Mamdani with a commanding lead. Andrew Cuomo brings baggage. But a vote for Cuomo is a vote to lessen Mamdani’s chances of winning. We urge every Staten Island Democrat and every Staten Island Republican, Sliwa supporter or not, to vote for Andrew Cuomo. We think the former governor has learned lessons since his fall from grace in Albany and would make a good mayor for all of New York.
Borough President Vito Fossella meets with the Advance Editorial Board in the Bloomfield Editorial Board on Monday, Sept 22, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) Jason Paderon
For Borough President: Vito Fossella
Republican Vito Fossella has served Staten Island at various levels of government – City Council, Congress and now, Borough President. On every level, he has been a strong advocate for Staten Island, and we urge voters to return him to the Office of the Borough President. He supports what’s right, like Staten Island’s cultural institutions, and battles what is wrong, like the City of Yes, battery energy storage sites within residential communities and congestion pricing. He negotiates behind the scenes, and when that doesn’t work, he’ll take the issue to court. We take issue with some of Fossella’s decisions, such as his purge of Community Board 3 members, including a Democratic opponent in a race for the South Shore Council seat in which Fossella’s son also was a candidate. But that said, Vito Fossella has been a fighter for Staten Island. His opponent is Democrat Michael Colombo.
For the City Council: Hanks, Carr and Morano
We urge a vote for all three incumbents. Whether Zohran Mamdani is the next mayor or not, Staten Island needs strong and experienced leadership in a progressive City Council where we are three of 51 members. It is crucial that Councilmembers Kamillah Hanks on the North Shore, David Carr in the Mid-Island and Frank Morano on the South Shore be returned to the Council.
City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance)Owen Reiter
In the 49th District: Kamillah Hanks
Democrat Kamillah Hanks is relentless in her advocacy for the entire North Shore and its $400 million North Shore Action plan, which includes housing and a new waterfront esplanade. She has set sights on reimagining the failed Empire Outlets and has a vision for the rebirth of the community she has worked most of her adult life to improve. Her opponents are Republican John Shea, and Sarah Blas on the Working Families Party line.
City Councilmember David Carr (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)Steve White
In the 50th District: David Carr
Republican David Carr has used his considerable talent to bring a new Gifted and Talented school to Staten Island, expected to open in 2030. He is firmly opposed to the battery energy storage sites in residential areas, as well as a very vocal opponent of the City of Yes plan. He has questioned the proliferation of electric bikes on the roads and suggested they should be at least registered with the state. He is opposed by Democrat Radhakrishna Mohan.
City Councilmember Frank Morano STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
In the 51st District: Frank Morano
Republican Frank Morano may be new to the City Council, but not new to the community. A longtime voice in Staten Island politics and community issues, he should be returned to the Council. He is opposed to battery energy storage sites and condemns the City of Yes plan. He has called for discounts on express buses and wants to explore right-on-red turns on Staten Island. He has also called for daylighting at intersections, a plan we applaud but on a case-by-case basis. We admire Morano’s public “cheerleading” style for all that’s good about Staten Island. He knows how to use the bully pulpit. Morano is opposed by Democrat Cliff Hagen and independent John Buthorn.
The ballot questions: Vote NO
There are six ballot questions for voters to decide on this year. Ballot Proposal #1 deals with an Essex County issue. We will leave it to Essex County residents to decide on that one. We urge Staten Islanders to vote “No” on the remaining five. Four of the five would pull back or undermine local influence over decisions on new housing and development in our communities. Proposal #5 creates a new digital map of the city managed by the Department of City Planning. It sounds good. But a closer look will tell you it removes local oversight of the paper maps housed in Staten Island Borough Hall and accessed there by the public. Vote “No” on Proposals 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Read the full opinion piece on the ballot proposals >>
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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