Republican Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan easily bested Bay Ridge City Councilman Vinnie Gentile yesterday to win the vacant 11th Congressional District seat covering Staten Island and a piece of southwest Brooklyn.
According to the unofficial tally, Donovan had 23,409 or 60 percent of the vote to Gentile’s 15,808 or 40 percent of the vote. The win makes Donovan the only GOP congressman from New York City.
“You sent a message to President Obama, to [House Minority Leader] Nancy Pelosi and yes, even to [Mayor] Bill de Blasio that their policies are wrong for our nation, they’re wrong for our city and they’re wrong for our congressional district,” Donovan said in his victory speech at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island.
Donovan, 58, vowed to fight to lower taxes and end political gridlock in Washington. He also vowed to continue to fight for FEMA funds to help homeowners and small businesses still struggling in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
The contest never really became close as Donovan, who convened the Grand Jury that failed to indict anyone in the death of Staten Island resident Eric Garner after his death while in a confrontation with police, easily carried one of the most conservative districts in the city.
Staten Island is also home to many of the city’s police and fire department personal.
Gentile thanked his supporters and said he fought the good fight, but came up short.
