STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- City Councilman Kenneth Mitchell formally confirmed yesterday that he will not actively campaign to retain his North Shore City Council seat, after losing 55 to 39 percent in last month's Democratic primary to candidate Debi Rose.
"After much thought and many discussions with my family and friends, I have decided that I will not be accepting matching funds from the City Campaign Finance Board and will not actively campaign. I will remain on the ballot as the candidate of the Conservative party, who I sincerely thank for their endorsement and support," Mitchell said in a statement released yesterday.
Mitchell thanked North Shore residents for having sent him to City Hall.
He said his time in the Council, coupled with his stint as chief of staff to his predecessor and mentor, Rep. Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn), "has afforded me some rich experiences and great memories. Being elected to represent the North Shore of Staten Island where I grew up is one of the greatest honors of my life."
He also congratulated Ms. Rose on her victory in the primary.
Mitchell thanked McMahon, his wife, staff members, volunteers and labor unions.
"I wish to acknowledge and praise all of Staten Island's elected officials. The elected officials of Staten Island work as a team -- regardless of political party affiliation -- for the benefit [of] all Staten Islanders. It is that bipartisanship and camaraderie that makes Staten Island unique and I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve with them," he said.