May 6, 2025 • 7 mins
Mendte in the Morning talks to Joe Borelli about the results of the special election held to fill his seat and the NY Gubernatorial race next year.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now let's talk to Joe Burrelli, Managing director of
Chartwell Strategy Group and former minority leader of the New
York City Council. Joe, I know the special election went
your way. I'm sure you have to be happy.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Oh, definitely. I mean, if anything, I think the city
should be happy that we have a guy like Frank
Morano who comes in with decades of experience in the
political arena and a depth of knowledge a specific to
the South shore of Staten Island. He's hitting the ground
on day one, doesn't need the refresher course, doesn't need
the politics one oh one, doesn't need you know how
(00:34):
to be a city council member for dummies. So people
should be arresting quite easily knowing that this is a
guy who's going to represent them in city all.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
It had to be frustrating for you when you were
in city Hall and you were a minority leader, so
you had some power. It's going to be frustrating for
Frank Morano unless the percentages that the majority has the
Democrats have if he can do very little in there.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Can he Look it's also quality over quantity, right, I mean,
Republicans are always going to be the minority in our lifetime.
I don't I don't see that changing, but you know,
making sure some Democrats get elected who have some common ground,
some grasp on reality, some idea of what people in
the outer borough space. I mean, that's that's really what
(01:20):
it comes down to. I would break the City Council
down to a bunch of you know, wacky socialists who
you're never going to get through, to a bunch of
Manhattan liberals like the Upper west Side types, who you
know are perhaps more well meaning than the socialists, but
really don't have a grasp of what it is to
live on Staten Island or or in Southeast Queens or
(01:42):
in the Northern Bronx, et cetera. And then there's just
Democrats who who have to actually deal with with these
neighborhoods who you can actually find a lot of common ground,
a lot of commonality, and they represent a lot of
diverse neighborhoods. It turns out that you know, if you
represent Southeast Queens, you know you're constituents who were likely
(02:02):
black Americans, care about home ownership, and care about safe
schools and parks and driving and the cost of congestion
prising and all things like that. So it's going to
be an uphill battle for him, but it's finding out
those commonalities that will make him successful or make him
not successful. Hey, I'm betting on Frank, but you know
he'll have a reelection.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
To face, you know, speaking of wacky socialists, I'm starting
to get concerned about Zori and Mom Donnie. Every time
you see a new poll. He's rising in the polls.
He's got enough money to put TV commercials out, and
he maxed out on contributions.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Should we be concerned, Yes, So Zoewrin has a quality
that we should acknowledge. Right, he is a likable human.
I mean, maybe you don't like his politics, but he
is a charming, nice person. In fact, I know a
lot of the Republicans will probably I'll probably get shocked
for saying this, but a lot of the Republican members
of the Assembly actually kind of like him on a
(02:59):
personal level. Well, they played poked with him, like on
Tuesday Nights or whatever have you, but he had he
has that certain charm about him and ability to bond
with people who are not in great financial shape, not
in great safe neighborhoods, and he appeals to those people
and that should worry someone like Andrew Cuomo and Eric
(03:20):
Adams because he is building momentum. Politics is more about
trend lines. In fact, I taught this in my Cuney
Night class last week. We're talking about polling, you know,
and I said that no one poll makes a difference, No,
no one pole is the end all be all, And
what people in politics look for is trend lines. And
if you're looking at Zorin Mamdani's trend line, he is
(03:42):
gaining ground every week, every month in the polls. That
should worry Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. And I imagine,
you know, Andrew is starting to feel this this dream,
that this thing that they that these lefties are saying,
you know, don't rank evil, Eric, evil Andrew, whatever it
stands for, right, don't rank Andrew Cuomo. And I think
(04:05):
he's starting to feel the pressure from that movement where
it's coming and preventing him from hitting that fifty percent
number he needs.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
You know, it's funny, from the very beginning, I've talked
to so many people and I'm trying to remember if
you said it, because so many very wise people in
politics said it's not going to be Eric Adams and
it's not going to be Andrew Cuomo. It's going to
be somebody else. I'm just hoping that somebody else is
in Zora and Mamdani.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I hope, I hope, you know, given the opportunity, I mean,
I Brad Lander might be a better pick than Zora Mamdani.
But I'm not sure that's true. I mean, neither one
of them wants my endorsement. I assure you that. But
it's it's going to be a dice roll. And it
also is going to come down to who filled the
speaker void in the next City Council. The Speaker's term limited,
(04:55):
she's a candidate for mayor. Not gaining too much ground,
But you know, this speaker race is equally as important
for New Yorkers because it is the quarterback of the
City Council. It is the shepherd of the wacky socialists,
and whoever wins that it's going to have a lot
of power over New yorkers lives. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Absolutely, let's widen the scope a little bit because it
has a lot of effect on the city as well,
and talk about it's a little bit further away. But
the governor's race is also extremely important at Least Dephonic
over the weekend did several interviews, and it sounds like
she is definitely running. If she runs, does she win
the Republican nomination, and could she be governor?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, I don't think she runs without the endorsement of
President Trump, So I think that obviously gives her a
huge leg up in any primary. Look, the Republicans are
in a good position, right. We actually have, for the
first time in generations, we have a generation of elected
leaders who are taking leadership roles in Washington who are bad,
(06:00):
tested and ready to govern New York State. And I'll
add a lot of people to that list. I'll add
obviously a Lease obviously Mike Lawler, but Anthony Diesposito, Mark Molinaro,
Lee Zelden. Right, this is an entire generation of New
Yorkers who were in their mid forties to mid fifties
who are able and willing and ready to govern New
York State. Right, We've never had that before. So I'm
(06:21):
happy with anyone mentioned in taking leadership roles in New
York State going forward. But look, look, at Least would
be a fantastic governor. She is a friend. She was
going to take on the world literally in the UN.
And that's the amount of confidence that the Republican Party
has in her that there wasn't even the remotest bit
of pushback when President Trump named her as UN ambassador.
(06:42):
In fact, people were getting their popcorn ready. I think
you're going to see some explosions from her over the
next couple of months at Kathy Hokeele, who is frankly,
if you ask Democrats or Republicans, she ain't doing a
great job. So you know, there's a lot of fodder
there what happens in the Republican I think that this
gets worked out before anyone enters the race. I think,
(07:06):
by the way, again, if Mike Lahler is the candidate,
we are going to have a great time running because
he is in some ways, you know, as good, if
not better positioned, you know, given the geography of the state,
in some of his positions to be the governor. So
we're we're in a again, We're in a situation where
we have to pick from great choices. Then you have
Bruce Blakeman on Long Island, who's you know, governs more
(07:27):
Republicans than anywhere else in the country right now. So
I mean, we have great choices and I think it's
going to be an exciting time to be a Republican.
It's certainly hopefully going to be an exciting time to
be a Republican lobbyist and strategist to get a.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Lot of money. You're absolutely right, Joe Burrelli, Managing director
of Chartwell Strategy Group and former Minority Leader of the
New York City Council. Thanks Joe, talk to you again
next week.
And now let's talk to Joe Burrelli, Managing director of
Chartwell Strategy Group and former minority leader of the New
York City Council. Joe, I know the special election went
your way. I'm sure you have to be happy.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Oh, definitely. I mean, if anything, I think the city
should be happy that we have a guy like Frank
Morano who comes in with decades of experience in the
political arena and a depth of knowledge a specific to
the South shore of Staten Island. He's hitting the ground
on day one, doesn't need the refresher course, doesn't need
the politics one oh one, doesn't need you know how
(00:34):
to be a city council member for dummies. So people
should be arresting quite easily knowing that this is a
guy who's going to represent them in city all.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
It had to be frustrating for you when you were
in city Hall and you were a minority leader, so
you had some power. It's going to be frustrating for
Frank Morano unless the percentages that the majority has the
Democrats have if he can do very little in there.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Can he Look it's also quality over quantity, right, I mean,
Republicans are always going to be the minority in our lifetime.
I don't I don't see that changing, but you know,
making sure some Democrats get elected who have some common ground,
some grasp on reality, some idea of what people in
the outer borough space. I mean, that's that's really what
(01:20):
it comes down to. I would break the City Council
down to a bunch of you know, wacky socialists who
you're never going to get through, to a bunch of
Manhattan liberals like the Upper west Side types, who you
know are perhaps more well meaning than the socialists, but
really don't have a grasp of what it is to
live on Staten Island or or in Southeast Queens or
(01:42):
in the Northern Bronx, et cetera. And then there's just
Democrats who who have to actually deal with with these
neighborhoods who you can actually find a lot of common ground,
a lot of commonality, and they represent a lot of
diverse neighborhoods. It turns out that you know, if you
represent Southeast Queens, you know you're constituents who were likely
(02:02):
black Americans, care about home ownership, and care about safe
schools and parks and driving and the cost of congestion
prising and all things like that. So it's going to
be an uphill battle for him, but it's finding out
those commonalities that will make him successful or make him
not successful. Hey, I'm betting on Frank, but you know
he'll have a reelection.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
To face, you know, speaking of wacky socialists, I'm starting
to get concerned about Zori and Mom Donnie. Every time
you see a new poll. He's rising in the polls.
He's got enough money to put TV commercials out, and
he maxed out on contributions.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Should we be concerned, Yes, So Zoewrin has a quality
that we should acknowledge. Right, he is a likable human.
I mean, maybe you don't like his politics, but he
is a charming, nice person. In fact, I know a
lot of the Republicans will probably I'll probably get shocked
for saying this, but a lot of the Republican members
of the Assembly actually kind of like him on a
(02:59):
personal level. Well, they played poked with him, like on
Tuesday Nights or whatever have you, but he had he
has that certain charm about him and ability to bond
with people who are not in great financial shape, not
in great safe neighborhoods, and he appeals to those people
and that should worry someone like Andrew Cuomo and Eric
(03:20):
Adams because he is building momentum. Politics is more about
trend lines. In fact, I taught this in my Cuney
Night class last week. We're talking about polling, you know,
and I said that no one poll makes a difference, No,
no one pole is the end all be all, And
what people in politics look for is trend lines. And
if you're looking at Zorin Mamdani's trend line, he is
(03:42):
gaining ground every week, every month in the polls. That
should worry Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. And I imagine,
you know, Andrew is starting to feel this this dream,
that this thing that they that these lefties are saying,
you know, don't rank evil, Eric, evil Andrew, whatever it
stands for, right, don't rank Andrew Cuomo. And I think
(04:05):
he's starting to feel the pressure from that movement where
it's coming and preventing him from hitting that fifty percent
number he needs.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
You know, it's funny, from the very beginning, I've talked
to so many people and I'm trying to remember if
you said it, because so many very wise people in
politics said it's not going to be Eric Adams and
it's not going to be Andrew Cuomo. It's going to
be somebody else. I'm just hoping that somebody else is
in Zora and Mamdani.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I hope, I hope, you know, given the opportunity, I mean,
I Brad Lander might be a better pick than Zora Mamdani.
But I'm not sure that's true. I mean, neither one
of them wants my endorsement. I assure you that. But
it's it's going to be a dice roll. And it
also is going to come down to who filled the
speaker void in the next City Council. The Speaker's term limited,
(04:55):
she's a candidate for mayor. Not gaining too much ground,
But you know, this speaker race is equally as important
for New Yorkers because it is the quarterback of the
City Council. It is the shepherd of the wacky socialists,
and whoever wins that it's going to have a lot
of power over New yorkers lives. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Absolutely, let's widen the scope a little bit because it
has a lot of effect on the city as well,
and talk about it's a little bit further away. But
the governor's race is also extremely important at Least Dephonic
over the weekend did several interviews, and it sounds like
she is definitely running. If she runs, does she win
the Republican nomination, and could she be governor?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, I don't think she runs without the endorsement of
President Trump, So I think that obviously gives her a
huge leg up in any primary. Look, the Republicans are
in a good position, right. We actually have, for the
first time in generations, we have a generation of elected
leaders who are taking leadership roles in Washington who are bad,
(06:00):
tested and ready to govern New York State. And I'll
add a lot of people to that list. I'll add
obviously a Lease obviously Mike Lawler, but Anthony Diesposito, Mark Molinaro,
Lee Zelden. Right, this is an entire generation of New
Yorkers who were in their mid forties to mid fifties
who are able and willing and ready to govern New
York State. Right, We've never had that before. So I'm
(06:21):
happy with anyone mentioned in taking leadership roles in New
York State going forward. But look, look, at Least would
be a fantastic governor. She is a friend. She was
going to take on the world literally in the UN.
And that's the amount of confidence that the Republican Party
has in her that there wasn't even the remotest bit
of pushback when President Trump named her as UN ambassador.
(06:42):
In fact, people were getting their popcorn ready. I think
you're going to see some explosions from her over the
next couple of months at Kathy Hokeele, who is frankly,
if you ask Democrats or Republicans, she ain't doing a
great job. So you know, there's a lot of fodder
there what happens in the Republican I think that this
gets worked out before anyone enters the race. I think,
(07:06):
by the way, again, if Mike Lahler is the candidate,
we are going to have a great time running because
he is in some ways, you know, as good, if
not better positioned, you know, given the geography of the state,
in some of his positions to be the governor. So
we're we're in a again, We're in a situation where
we have to pick from great choices. Then you have
Bruce Blakeman on Long Island, who's you know, governs more
(07:27):
Republicans than anywhere else in the country right now. So
I mean, we have great choices and I think it's
going to be an exciting time to be a Republican.
It's certainly hopefully going to be an exciting time to
be a Republican lobbyist and strategist to get a.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Lot of money. You're absolutely right, Joe Burrelli, Managing director
of Chartwell Strategy Group and former Minority Leader of the
New York City Council. Thanks Joe, talk to you again
next week.
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