Staten Island's New Councilwoman Ready To Hit The Ground Running
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Staten Island voters Tuesday night elected an African-American to public office for the first time ever. NY1’s Amanda Farinacci was with City Councilwoman-elect Debi Rose early Wednesday morning as she went to thank her new constituents.Debi Rose had a hug and a kiss, for just about everyone who passed through the St. George Ferry Terminal early Wednesday morning. The long-time Democrat was out only hours after making history by winning the North Shore City Council seat.
“It's overwhelming,” she said. “In fact, it's just surreal. I still haven't, it hasn't sunk in really that I have arrived at this place. It was a long battle.”
The battle began in 2001, when she lost to former City Councilman Michael McMahon by a small margin.
She ran again in a special election earlier this year, when the seat opened up after McMahon became a congressman – but lost to McMahon's chief of staff, Ken Mitchell, by just over 300 votes.
This time around, she says she was set to win.
“Staten Island has dispelled a lot of the stereotypes that people felt about it,” Rose said. “The North Shore is a very progressive area, and the fact that the African-American community was also more than ready to have representation [allowed me to win].”
Rose won the Democratic primary, but Mitchell picked up the support of the Conservative Party, and ran with their backing, something Rose says did not surprise her.
“The Conservative Party did in fact work to keep him on the line and to give him support,” she said. “After all, he was the incumbent, and I am sure it was difficult for him to not have another shot at it.”
Still, Rose walked away with 57 percent of the votes, while Mitchell took 26 percent. Republican Timothy Kuhn came in last, with support from 16 percent of voters.
Rose supporters say they're elated she won.
“She's always been a champion for the people, even when she wasn't in office,” said supporter Jasmine Robinson. “So I'm just imagining now what she can do for the people of Staten Island now that she has this position.”
Rose says she's more than ready for the job, preparing to focus primarily on the island's waterfront, transportation and healthcare concerns. And she plans to hit the ground running, and she even wore the sneakers to prove it.