REPUBLICAN DELEGATION ELECTS JOE BORELLI AS MINORITY LEADER OF THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL
SI South Shore Councilman Pledges to Uphold the Tradition of the Office by Providing “Robust but Respectful” Opposition When Necessary, and Work With All His Colleagues for the Betterment of the City
New York, NY – The Republican Delegation of the New York City Council today elected Councilman Joseph C. Borelli (R-Staten Island) as Minority Leader of the New York City Council. Borelli officially replaces term-limited Minority Leader Steven Matteo, who also resigned his position today in advance of leaving the Council for the non-profit sector.
“When I began my career in public service nearly two decades ago, I could not imagine I would at some point have the honor and privilege of holding this office. I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of some of the great Republican leaders in this city, and I promise to uphold the Minority Leader Office by providing robust but respectful opposition to my Democrat colleagues when necessary, and also working with all my colleagues for the betterment of our city’s residents,” said Borelli. “This next Council will be facing some real challenges, including an economy still reeling from questionable pandemic policies, a law enforcement community beleaguered by rising crime, low morale and a lack of institutional support; and challenging budget that already faces a multi-billion dollar deficit. I’m excited to get to work with my new colleagues in the Republican Delegation, our next speaker, and the Adams administration to tackle these issues and to provide an alternative perspective on how to move our great city forward.”
The Minority Leader of the New York City Council is the leader of the Republican Delegation of the City Council, consisting of Minority Leader Borelli, Councilman Matteo and Councilman Eric Ulrich of Queens. The delegation will increase to five members this January, with Borelli, and Council Member-elect Inna Vernikov (District 48 – Brooklyn), Council Member-elect David Carr (District 50-Staten Island), Council Member-elect Joanne Ariola (District 32- Queens) and Council Member-elect Vickie Palladino (District 19-Queens).
The Minority Leader’s duties include a leadership role in the Council and participation in Council-Mayoral budget negotiations.
“I am thrilled to congratulate Minority Leader Joe Borelli on his election today. There is no one better equipped to lead the incoming, larger delegation of Republican Councilmembers. I am looking forward to working with the Minority Leader and my new colleagues to bring about positive change for our districts and the entire city of New York.” – Council Member-Elect Vernikov said.
“Councilman Borelli has some big shoes to fill, following the outstanding tenures of Minority Leader Matteo and his predecessors. But I am confident he will be a great Minority Leader in his own right and lead this re-energized delegation to new heights and continue to be a string Republican voice for this city,” Council Member-Elect Carr said.
“As a newly elected member of the city council I am looking forward to working with Joe Borelli as the leader of the Republican conference. He brings years of experience to the conference and will be a great role model and teacher for all the new members,’ Council Member-Elect Palladino said.
Council Member-Elect Ariola said, “I am looking forward to working with Councilman Joe Borelli and congratulate him on his election to minority leader. We have a lot of work to do and I am confident that under his leadership we will get the much needed work done for our District and the City of New York “
About Minority Leader Joseph Borelli
Joe Borelli was elected to the 51st Council District in a special election held on November 3, 2015. He was re-elected to his first full term in November 2017 and to his second term this November. His district includes the South Shore of Staten Island. Borelli is the current Chairperson for the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management at the New York City Council. He also is a member of the Committee on Education, Committee on Parks and Recreation, and the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations.
Borelli previously represented his South Shore constituents in the New York State Assembly. He was the ranking minority member of the Assembly Cities Committee, and he also served on committees for Health, Housing, Transportation, Mental Health, Banking, Education, and Energy. Joe was a staunch advocate against energy cost increases, and the common core curriculum.
Prior to his career as an elected official, Joe served as Chief of Staff to former Councilman Vincent Ignizio since 2007, formerly serving in the same role for Ignizio in the state Assembly since 2005. Dedicated to improving the quality of life on Staten Island, Joe was successful in coordinating the development of several Park and Rides on the South Shore, securing funds to outfit nearly every classroom in the district with a Smartboard and has worked with the Parks Department on the renovation and construction of several parks on Staten Island and most recently authored and passed legislation to lower the cost to homeowners for replacing trees.
A lifelong Staten Islander, Borelli attended Public School 4, Our Lady Star of the Sea Grammar School, and St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School from which he graduated in 2000. He graduated from Marist College with a B.A. in Political Science, and an M.A. from the College of Staten Island, a subject that he has been teaching locally as an Adjunct Professor at the College of Staten Island since 2008.
Borelli lives in the Annadale section of Staten Island with his wife, Rachel, their two sons Joseph and John, and his English Bulldog, Luna