Pols.jpg

Pictured in this 2013 photo with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, second from right, is now-Councilman Joe Borelli, Assemblyman Matthew Titone, Sen. Diane Savino, Sen. Andrew Lanza and Assemblyman Michael Cusick. All are running unopposed this year. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On Nov. 8, Staten Island voters will collectively see three races for judge on the ballot, two state Senate races, four Assembly races and one City Council race -- and not a single one is contested.

Federal races for president, U.S. Senate and Congress each have at least two candidates running, but locally, the Island's incumbents are in a winning position.

That's a losing situation for voters, some argue.

"It's not good in the sense that there's no airing of any issues and then that just leads to cynicism," said Bob Olivari, a Democrat and former political consultant.

Three sitting Civil Court judges -- Barbara Panepinto, Kim Dollard and Philip Straniere -- have been cross-endorsed by the parties and have no challengers.

State Sens. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) have no competition at the polls, and neither do the Assembly members: Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island), Matthew Titone (D-North Shore), Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) and Ron Castorina Jr. (R-South Shore). Castorina faced a heated Republican primary battle against Janine Materna, which he won on Sept. 13.

Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) faces no challenger in running to finish the remainder of his Council term after taking over for Vincent Ignizio last year.



LACK OF INTERESTED PEOPLE

The chairmen of the two major parties cite a lack of interested and qualified people as responsible for the dearth of challengers.

"It's just that as a result of redistricting, there really aren't competitive races," Olivari said. "It's so unattractive for people to run."

While expectations are placed on the Democratic Party and Republican Party to furnish candidates for the ballot, none of the minor parties have offered any, only cross-endorsing incumbents in those races.

Avi Gvili is the chairman of the Independence Party on Staten Island, and in rebuilding the party here is trying to put together a county committee.

His party cross-endorsed Lanza, Savino, Cusick, Malliotakis and Castorina in their unopposed races.

He's unsure why no one is interested in running, but thinks it has something to do with this particular year.

TONE OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE

"I think it's maybe a function of the presidential race," he said. "I think this year more than any other years in recent memory, people are really upset by the tone and tenor of the presidential race."

Gvili was clear to point out he supports most of the Island's office holders.

"By and large they are embracing a philosophy of 'we are doing what we can for our constituents regardless of party affiliation'," he said.

Stu Brenker, a Democrat and longtime president of the Mid-Island Political Action Committee, cited various reasons why one would be hesitant to run for office: candidates must raise a lot of money, it's next to impossible for Republicans to win on the North Shore and for Democrats to win on the South Shore.

"It's very hard to overcome that and it's a tremendous commitment to run for office," he said.

As for the uncontested races, "That's the first time that I can ever remember something like this happening," he said.

But like Gvili, he's clear his criticism of the political landscape shouldn't be confused as a critique of the Island's politicians.

"I feel like they all really care and they all get the job done that they're expected to do," he said.

'PARTIES NOT DOING THEIR JOB'

Republican godfather Guy Molinari blames the parties for not molding candidates.

"There's a thing called recruiting that's a very important element in the political environment," the former borough president and congressman said. "The parties are not doing their job."

When it comes time to select a candidate for public office, the parties often publicize and ask interested people to contact them. That's going about it the wrong way, Molinari said.

"There are plenty of people who would jump at the opportunity to run for public office but no one has ever reached them."

The untapped resource of everyday people is a gold mine if party leaders realized it, he said.

"There's plenty of candidates, it's not a lack of candidates. It's a question of most people don't know how to run."

MaryLou Shanahan, former chairwoman of the Conservative Party on Staten Island, said of the apathy in running for local office, "It's been getting worse and worse. We never really had uncontested elections."

Her criticism is also with the parties.

"They haven't vetted people over the years, they haven't brought people up in the ranks," she said. But, like Olivari pointed out, "People aren't interested in running a race they can't win."

Shanahan sees it as an issue with the Island's youth.

"They're running out of people to run and the parties aren't even bringing people in," she said. "There's no young people looking to get involved."

Eric Campione, president of the Richmond County Young Republicans, said while the GOP does include him and his cohorts in campaigns and party activities, it's hard to convince people to leave their personal and professional lives and run for office.

A self-ascribed lover of politics, Campione said of running for office: "It's too crazy, as far as your whole life being under a microscope. It's nuts. It's not how you should be living."

"That's why a lot of people don't step up," he added.

Dominick DeRubbio, president of the Richmond County Young Democrats, also has himself and his club members involved in party activities like carrying petitions.

But it's hard to take the extra strep to recruit people.

"Everyone ... wants to know they're going to win if they're going to run," he said.

On this politically-split Island, it's impossible to guarantee that.

But as far as campaigning and elections goes, DeRubbio wants to see his party try harder.

"Democrats need to be more aggressive as a whole, as a party," he said. "Republicans are aggressive on this Island and they are coordinated with how they move people up. It works."

Whatever the reason, having a slate of unchallenged incumbents is bad news for everyone, Molinari said.

"It's a sad state of affairs because when people fail to want to run for public office, we're all in trouble."