Nicole Malliotakis is pitching her candidacy in a succinct way.

“What's truly on the ballot on November 3rd is law and order versus lawlessness,” the Staten Island assemblywoman said on Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis and Congressman Max Rose are locked in a tough fight on Staten Island

  • The 11th congressional district, covering parts of Southern Brooklyn and all of Staten Island, is the city's only swing district

  • On new lawn signs in the district, Rose claimed Malliotakis increased residents' property taxes. As a state lawmaker, she does not typically vote on city property taxes

The GOP candidate for congress on Staten Island and southern Brooklyn is making her closing pitch. She did it surrounded by the city’s police unions, who have all endorsed her campaign, and in front of a building where an 85-year-old woman was allegedly attacked and nearly sexually assaulted.

She is trying to unseat the democratic incumbent here. She claims Max Rose is no friend to the police. 

“I am the law and order candidate,” Malliotakis said. "Max is wrong on these issues. I am right on these issues.”

Rose disagrees.

“It's yet another lie,” he told NY1. "Look, I am the only one in this race who has put on a uniform. I am the only one in this race who has bled for their country."

An army veteran himself, he says he knows what it's like to risk his life while serving. He was endorsed by the fire officers' union earlier this week. 

In the final days of campaigning, these two candidates were honing in on issues of clear importance to the 11th congressional district — Malliotakis using a crime spike to sell her conservative candidacy. 

While Rose hit another sensitive topic to Staten Islanders — property taxes. 

A Malliotakis campaign staffer sent NY1 a picture showing lawn signs that just appeared in the district, claiming Malliotakis raised residents’ property taxes. 

Malliotakis says she has never voted on New York City property taxes. Property taxes are controlled by local governments, like City Hall and the City Council. 

Rose gave this rationale for the new signs: “She has never voted on any federal legislation. But she openly expressed her support with the Republican Party with their signature tax bill. She openly expressed her support in it. She got right behind the party.”

Rose claims the signs are legit because Malliotakis supported the Trump tax cuts which increased some homeowners' tax liability.