REMARKS
Council Member Carr pays tribute to former colleague Joe Borelli
1:18:31
·
103 sec
Council Member David M. Carr delivers a heartfelt tribute to former colleague Joe Borelli, who recently left the City Council. Carr recounts his history with Borelli, praising his authenticity, wit, and effectiveness as a public servant and Republican voice in New York City.
- Carr shares an anecdote from Borelli's first campaign that exemplifies his straightforward approach to politics
- The speech highlights Borelli's ability to work across the aisle while remaining true to his principles
- Carr expresses his personal friendship with Borelli and wishes him well in his future endeavors
David M. Carr
1:18:31
Thank you, majority leader.
1:18:32
I just wanna say a couple of words about our now former colleague, Joe Borelli, who left over the last couple of weeks, from this body.
1:18:39
I met Joe in 2011 when we were staffers to different elected officials.
1:18:43
And the following year, he asked me to be the campaign manager of his first bid for office.
1:18:48
And Joe set early the tone for the kind of public figure he would be.
1:18:52
While we were out campaigning at a grocery store in the South Shore, a voter refused an outstretched palm card from him.
1:18:59
And as he was walking away, said in typical Staten Island style, I don't like politicians.
1:19:04
And without skipping a beat, Joe responded, I don't like you.
1:19:08
And here I was, first day on the job, thinking this guy already got me in the middle of a fight.
1:19:14
And the voter turned and stretched out his hand and said, you're real.
1:19:18
You got my vote.
1:19:20
And Joe, in a moment, turned on its head everything I thought I knew about voter contact and voter engagement.
1:19:26
And that's what he continued to do for the rest of his career.
1:19:29
He was always true to who he was.
1:19:31
He always spoke eloquently with a wit that was both equal parts zinging and endearing.
1:19:37
He fought with colleagues across the aisle.
1:19:39
He worked with colleagues across the aisle, and he achieved so much in championing his native South Shore and the borough that we both call home.
1:19:46
And he found a way to give voice, on a scale unprecedented, from those before him to the concerns and principles of Republicans across the city and even, I would say, the region.
1:19:59
And he became a leader in every sense of the word.
1:20:02
And I certainly miss having him here in the halls of government, but I'm privileged to have him as a friend in life.
1:20:07
And I wish him, his wife Rachel, and his two sons nothing but the best as he embarks on his next chapter.
1:20:13
Thank you.