CITY HALL — A politically-symbolic City Council position once again belongs to a Staten Islander after members of the city legislative body chose leadership Wednesday.
Councilmember David Carr, a Republican representing the Mid-Island, will serve as the Council’s new minority leader for the 51-member body’s five Republicans.
“I am humbled and honored to have been chosen to lead the City Council’s dynamic Republican Conference, and I will strive to be worthy of the role, understanding the eminent footsteps in which I am following,” Carr said. “I look forward to working with my fellow Republicans, as well as my colleagues in government, to ensure that voice is heard loud and clear.”
Carr previously held the position for a brief period last year after former Councilmember Joseph Borelli resigned, but soon faced an internal challenge from Queens Republican Councilmember Joann Ariola.
In a meeting shortly before his resignation, Borelli joined Carr and Brooklyn Councilmember Inna Vernikov in naming Carr as his leadership successor, but Ariola and two of her supporters challenged that move.
Ariola’s minor coup came down to former Speaker Adrienne Adams, another Queens representative, and the Council parliamentarian handing the leadership position to Adams’ borough mate.
With one of Ariola’s supporters, former Bronx Councilmember Kristy Marmorato, losing her seat in November, Carr gained a simple 3-2 majority of support — himself, Vernikov and South Shore Councilmember Frank Morano — among the Council Republicans.
“Now, more than ever, our city needs a compelling conservative voice to counterbalance the loud and radical left, to fight back against those who spew anti-American and anti-democratic dogma that seeks to divide and diminish us, and to stand up for the values and ideals that have made our city and our country great,” Carr said.
“New Yorkers need Republicans to show them we can provide real solutions to the difficult problems everyday New Yorkers face; that affordability and abundance are created by unleashing the power of the free market and innovation and by keeping government’s foot off of our necks; and hat uplifting the lives of our citizens begins by preserving and protecting the freedom and basic dignity of the individual,” he added.