Tensions heightened for the 13th City Council Republican primary race this week when the Bronx GOP protested outside candidate George Havranek’s fundraiser.
After Phyllis “Tiz” Nastasio and Grace Marrero were knocked off the ballot, three candidates — Kristy Marmorato, Hasime “Samantha” Zherka and Havranek — are left fighting in the June primary in hopes of challenging incumbent Democrat Marjorie Velázquez in the November general election.
After all five candidates presented to the Bronx GOP committee earlier this year to earn the establishment’s endorsement, the group overwhelmingly chose Marmorato, who also happens to be the sister of the Bronx GOP Chair Michael Rendino and the wife of the NYC Board of Elections (BOE) GOP Commissioner Gino Marmorato.
