Metropolis Council Member Joann Ariola (Queens) was elected because the physique’s new Republican minority chief on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.
Picture Credit score: Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit.
Somewhat over per week after Metropolis Council Member David Carr claimed victory as town legislature’s new Republican minority chief, with half the GOP caucus voting in his favor, the opposite half confirmed up Friday to carry a do-over vote that elevated Council Member Joann Ariola to the put up as a substitute.
The dueling votes, the place one half of the caucus elected a minority chief, who was then changed by the opposite half, confirmed a rising divide between the caucus’ Queens and Staten Island representatives.
The midday vote on Feb. 7 noticed Ariola (Queens) chosen as former Council Member Joe Borelli’s substitute within the minority chief’s workplace. She received with the votes of three council members, together with herself, Vickie Paladino (Queens), and Kristy Marmorato (Bronx).
“We had a majority of the delegation, which constituted a caucus, and two members were not present,” Ariola mentioned.
The council members who didn’t attend the vote had been Carr and Inna Vernikov (Brooklyn). Carr had a conflicting occasion and Vernikov didn’t reply when contacted, in line with Ariola.
Ariola mentioned the vote was legitimate even with two lawmakers lacking as a result of that they had a quorrum with a majority of three out of 5 members current.
The second vote got here after the Metropolis Council’s basic counsel and parliamentarian declined to acknowledge Carr’s victory, citing the dearth of a quorum throughout the Jan. 28 vote the place there have been three out of six members current. These members had been Borelli — earlier than he stepped down, Carr, and Vernikov.
“It was determined that there was no quorum at the last meeting, therefore there was no election for minority leader, leaving that office vacant,” Ariola mentioned. “The vote that was held was against our own bylaws, because our own bylaws note that a majority of the delegation needed to be present.”
Metropolis Council Member David Carr (R-Staten Island).Credit score: Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit
The dedication adopted Ariola, Paladino, and Marmorato contesting Carr’s election in a letter to Democratic Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. They contended not solely that the primary vote was taken and not using a quorum but in addition that Borelli didn’t present 24 hours’ discover of the assembly.
Nevertheless, Borelli mentioned final week that Carr’s election was official as a result of the caucus’ bylaws don’t require a quorum for choosing a brand new minority chief. Carr maintained that argument in a Friday assertion, the place he decried his election getting voided by officers chosen by Speaker Adams.
“Intervention by an unelected bureaucrat, appointed by and beholden to a Democrat Speaker, into the affairs of the Republican delegation sets a dangerous precedent and should give people of all political stripes cause for concern,” Carr mentioned. “I continue to believe that decision to be gravely wrong, and in contravention of our bylaws.”
Nonetheless, Carr mentioned he won’t let the facility wrestle stand in the way in which of working along with his colleagues going ahead.
“We have serious issues confronting our city, and I will continue to be a leader and work with my colleagues on these crucial matters moving forward, no matter my title,” Carr mentioned.
Ariola mentioned that in her new management position she will probably be trying to develop the Republican caucus’ affect inside the council and past.
“It’s important that this office is recognized and respected for what it is,” Ariola mentioned. “We may be a minority delegation, but we are still members of the New York City Council, and we need to be treated with a respect as such.”
