The New York City Council District 13 election is underway. The race is one of the most scrutinized in the city, as Democrats seek to take the seat from incumbent Kristy Marmorato, the lone Republican elected official in the Bronx. Election day is Tuesday, November 4, but early voting has already begun. You can find your polling location here.

District 13 covers the neighborhoods of Bruckner-Bronx River, Throggs Neck-Schuylerville, Pelham Bay-Country Club-City Island, Hart Island, Ferry Point Park-St. Raymond Cemetery, Pelham Parkway-Van Nest, Morris Park and Pelham Bay Park. You can use this website to find your council district and view a sample ballot. To help voters understand understand the issues at stake and who’s on the ballot in New York City Council District 13 election, we reached out to the candidates and asked them three questions:

1. Why are you running for City Council?
2. What issues affecting your district are most important to you?
3. What endorsements has your campaign received?

If you are voting in the City Council District 13 election, see below for the candidates’ answers.

Kristy Marmorato (Republican, Conservative)

City Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato. Source: kristyforny.com.

1. Why are you running for City Council?
I am running because while we have accomplished so much over the past few years together, there is more to be done. I am not a career politician. I decided to run for office because I opposed the Just Home Initiative at Jacobi Hospital. It was wrong for our community and I am proud to have received a commitment from the Mayor to move it to another location. I have expanded pre-k programs, done multiple domestic violence giveaways, created a Saturday program for nonverbal and disabled teenagers and allocated millions of dollars towards the education and school system of the children of district 13.

The people of District 13 always know where I stand. I will always fight for us and our quality of life and I will continue to be a common sense voice in City Hall. My opponents are supported by far left progressive City Council members who vote against the priorities of District 13. Our community deserves somebody who listens and delivers, not somebody that’s gonna go along to get along. I have delivered real results and I will continue to deliver on behalf of everyone in District 13.

2. What issues affecting your district are most important to you?
There are many issues important to the people of District 13, and I have fought for them on all of them. Three that are currently important are public safety, quality of life and affordability.

On public safety, I have met with both police commissioners and advocated for, and received more officers every year I have been in office. On quality of life, my office has closed thousands of cases holding city agencies accountable. In fact, my office processes the most veterans services cases out of any District in the City. I have also kept my promise about keeping District 13 affordable by voting against tax increases, and creating 1400 affordable apartments and 500 new homeownership opportunities.

I have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars to our community, including $300 Million with Bronx Metro North Rezoning, which includes $170 Million for sewer infrastructure and $50 million for local Park renovations. I’ve also secured $4 million for the City Island public library and over $800,000 towards the Pelham Parkway Van nest library.

I have been fighting and delivering for our district for the past two years, but there’s more work to be done and I need your vote this November.

3. What endorsements has your campaign received?
NYC Police Benevolent Association (PBA)
Corrections’ Officers Benevolent Association (COBA)
Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD (SBA)
Lieutenants Benevolent Association (LBA)
Detectives’ Endowment Association (DEA)
Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA)
Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA)
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 30
Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association Local 831
United Federation of Teachers (UFT)
Doctors Council
NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees
UA Local Union No. 1 The Plumbers of New York City

Shirley Aldebol (Democratic, Working Families)

Democratic candidate Shirley Aldebol. Source: Shirley Aldebol / Facebook.

1. Why are you running for City Council?
I was born and raised in the Bronx by parents who migrated from Puerto Rico and ran a small bodega in Soundview. Like many New Yorkers, I’ve had to juggle being a single mom, a public school parent, a caretaker, and a labor organizer, experiences that have shaped how I see the challenges facing our city.

As a labor leader at 32BJ SEIU, I spent my career standing up to powerful interests and winning real improvements for working people, from higher wages for custodial workers in our public schools to the first collective bargaining agreement for airport service employees. After twelve years as a homeowner in Throggs Neck, I’ve seen how much harder it’s become for regular New Yorkers to make ends meet.

I’m running for the City Council to fight for a New York that works for everyone: A New York that’s affordable, with great schools, safe communities, liveable neighborhoods, fully funded public services, and good-paying jobs for our workers.

2. What issues affecting your district are most important to you?
The most urgent challenge facing our district is the affordability crisis. Too many Bronx families are struggling to pay rent, afford childcare, and keep up with the rising cost of living. I’ll fight to expand affordable housing and create good-paying jobs that help people build stability. Affordable, high-quality childcare must also be part of that equation so working parents aren’t forced to choose between caring for their kids and keeping their jobs.

Improving our quality of life also means investing in the everyday things that make neighborhoods strong, like cleaner streets, public parks, reliable transit, and fully funded public schools. People deserve to live in communities that feel cared for.

Finally, public safety is essential for every neighborhood to thrive. That means addressing the root causes of crime by expanding youth programs, mental health services, and job opportunities, while also ensuring police are accountable and responsive to the communities they serve.

3. What endorsements has your campaign received?
I’m proud that my campaign has received the endorsements of 32BJ SEIU, 1199 SEIU, HTC, CWA, NYSNA, NYC Central Labor Council, DC37, UniteHere Local 100, Mason Tenders’ District Council, LiUNA-NY, The Bronx Democratic Party, New York Working Families Party, Open New York, The New Majority, Stonewall Democrats, and more.

Joel Rivera (Unity)

Joel Rivera did not respond to our requests for comment.