STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Staten Island Democratic Party endorsed Anthony Catalano, Staten Island's public administrator, on Wednesday over Assemblyman Matthew Titone in his bid for the Staten Island Surrogate's Court judgeship.

"There's no doubt that both my opponent and I have many friends in this room," Catalano told members at the Excelsior Grand in New Dorp. "However, this court and this position is not about me, it's not about my opponent. It's about who can do the best job in this position for the people of Staten Island and tonight you Democrats have spoken."

Catalano added, "My commitment to the work of this court is long and it is deep."

As public administrator, Catalano oversees wills, trusts, estates, and guardianships.

Catalano won the endorsements with 75 votes, while Titone -- who was nominated by Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid Island) and Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) -- received 58 votes. Prior to the endorsement, the Democratic County Committee voted to add 23 members, who all voted for Catalano. After the vote, dozens of Titone supporters left the meeting.

A representative from Titone's campaign said that the North Shore Assemblyman has run without party support in the past and wasn't worried by the result.

"This comes as no surprise. More than a decade ago Matt Titone won his race for Assembly without the support of the party chairman and he plans to do it again when he becomes Staten Island's next Surrogate Judge," said Jonathan Yedin, a spokesman for Titone's campaign. "Matt has successfully run over a half dozen times and has won each election handily. He has served and delivered for Staten Islanders his entire career and Staten Islanders know that Matt has done so honestly, with integrity, and has always put their interest ahead of the personal interests of political party leaders."

Catalano has also been endorsed by the Staten Island Conservative Party and the Staten Island Independence Party.

Richmond County Surrogate's Court oversees the validity of wills and the distribution of estate assets according to terms of a will. Surrogate Robert Gigante, turning 70 this year, is required by law to retire at the end of 2018.

STATE ASSEMBLY, STATE SENATE ENDORSEMENTS

Charles Fall accepts his nomination on Wednesday. (Staten Island Advance/ Clifford Michel)

Charles Fall, chief of staff to the Parks Department Staten Island commissioner and a former aide to Mayor Bill de Blasio, won the endorsement for the open North Shore state Assembly race with 37 votes.

Fall's Democratic opponents also received support from members as well: Patricia Kane, a union leader and open heart surgery nurse, received 11 votes, and Bobby Digi Olisa, a small business owner and community activist, received one vote.

Fall spoke about helping to implement the city's universal pre-kindergarten program while working for the mayor, and fighting for capital funding at the Parks Department.

"Because of the love I have for this community, I will fight tirelessly until our community receives the resources that it's owed," said Fall, who was on the Staten Island Democrats' executive committee before announcing his campaign.

Olisa referred to the removal of several Staten Island Democrats executive committee members prior to their vote to recommend a slate of candidates and called the endorsement a "backroom deal."

"Through my campaign," Olisa told the Advance in a statement. "I will continue to meet with everyone and I hope that the people will see that we must dismantle establishment politics that are based on backroom deals and create a process based on transparency and equity so that the people can truly make the most informed decisions for the betterment of communities and future generations to come."

A campaign spokesperson for Kane didn't immediately return a request for comment.

State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid Island) were both unanimously endorsed in their re-election bids.

"Thank you again for allowing me to do the job I love to do," said Cusick.

Adam Baumel, a Bay Ridge Navy veteran, was also unanimously endorsed in his bid against Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis' (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) seat.

"This is going to be a long and personal campaign," said Baumel. "I'm going to travel to each and every street I hope to represent and learn from you, the people, how I can best serve. We will earn this victory. We will flip this seat."

FOLLOW CLIFFORD MICHEL ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.