City/Town of Residence
Staten Island
Education
Bachelors in Criminal Justice, Masters Public Administration, Masters Social Work
Experience and Qualifications
U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran (Operation Iraqi Freedom), Retired NYPD Sergeant, current Licensed Master Social Worker
Community Involvement
Italian Club of Staten Island, CYO Basketball Coach
Party Affiliation
Republican
Key Endorsements
NA
Campaign Telephone Number
929-399-4622
Campaign Office Address
386 Oakdale St
CampaignWebsite
www.johnbuthorn4council.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/johnbuthorn4council/
Crime (Public Safety)
Mental Health
Education
Public Safety - increase NYPD personnel and retention of veteran officers, more training
Mental Health - resources for District, suicide awareness and prevention
Education - increase STEM and career vocational opportunities for MS and HS
halt the transient hotel proposed on South Shore, halt Battery Energy Storage Systems in residential neighborhoods, and fund the increase in NYPD through recruitment
I believe our children deserve protection with the threats we face today and I would want to eventually expand the NYPD School Safety Division to create a unit of armed Resource officers during school hours at each public school
City Council refusing an expansion of NYPD
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
City/Town of Residence
Staten Island
Current Political Office (if applicable)
City Council
Education
BA from NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, attended Graduate school at NYU's Robert Wagner School of Public Service.
Experience and Qualifications
Frank Morano is a lifelong Staten Islander with a career rooted in public service, civic engagement, and strengthening democratic institutions. As a veteran talk radio host, he has spent decades amplifying the concerns of everyday New Yorkers, holding public officials accountable, and promoting thoughtful dialogue on critical issues. His government service at both the city and state levels reflects a consistent focus on improving transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness in public policy. Wi
Community Involvement
longtime member of the Community Board
Party Affiliation
Republican
Key Endorsements
Citizens Union, The Republican Party, The Conservative Party, Teamsters Local 237, the NYPD SBA, COBA, The Staten Island Advance, the New York Post
Campaign Telephone Number
9177632180
Campaign Office Address
2300 Richmond Rd, Staten Island, NY 10306
Public Safety: Too many people feel less safe today than they did just a few years ago. I support strong, community-based policing and policies that prioritize the safety of our families, our neighborhoods, and our quality of life.
Affordability: The cost of living is out of control. Whether it’s property taxes, utility bills, or everyday expenses, people are being priced out of the city they love. I’ll fight to lower taxes, rein in reckless spending, and make sure that working- and middle-class families can afford to stay here.
Government Accountability: People are frustrated by a government that doesn’t seem to listen. I’ve spent my entire career asking tough questions, shining a light on broken systems, and standing up for transparency and responsiveness. That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to City Hall.
On public safety, I would advocate for increased resources for our local precincts, support the hiring and retention of quality police officers, and push for common-sense changes to laws that have made it harder to hold repeat offenders accountable. Safe streets are not a partisan issue — they’re a basic necessity.
To tackle affordability, I’d work to identify wasteful city spending and push for targeted tax relief for homeowners, renters, and small businesses. I’d also advocate for smarter zoning policies that preserve the character of our neighborhoods while allowing for responsible growth.
On government accountability, I would introduce reforms to increase transparency — from how the city awards contracts to how agencies respond to constituent concerns. I’ll make sure every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely and that local government actually works for the people it’s supposed to serve.
First, I’ll immediately submit my capital funding and discretionary spending requests to ensure Staten Island gets its fair share of city resources. I want to direct funding toward our schools, senior centers, parks, and vital infrastructure — the things that improve everyday life for our residents.
Second, I’ll work to build strong lines of communication between my office and city agencies so that constituent concerns are addressed quickly and effectively. I want to make sure Staten Islanders are treated with respect and responsiveness when they deal with city government.
Third, I’ll introduce legislation focused on public safety and accountability — measures to support our police, reduce quality-of-life crimes, and restore trust in our local institutions. People need to feel safe, heard, and served by their government — and I’ll get to work on that from day one.
Reforming New York City’s elections to either a non-partisan system or a form of proportional representation. Our current system too often rewards party loyalty over public service, limits voter choice, and discourages independent thinking. I believe we need a system that empowers voters — not party bosses — and encourages a broader range of voices and ideas in government. Moving to non-partisan elections or a proportional system would help restore trust, increase civic participation, and ensure that every vote truly counts. It’s a big lift, but it’s essential to making our democracy stronger and our government more accountable.
The biggest obstacle is entrenched political power. The current system benefits those in control of the major political parties, and they have little incentive to change it. There’s also a lack of public awareness about how alternative election systems — like non-partisan voting or proportional representation — can actually lead to better outcomes. Finally, any serious reform would likely require changes to the City Charter, which means a long campaign to educate voters and build a broad coalition of support. It’s not easy, but real reform rarely is. That’s exactly why it’s worth fighting for.
