Robert Straniere
Encyclopedia
Robert Alan Straniere is a Republican
politician from New York City
. He represented a district in Staten Island
in the New York State Assembly
from 1981 until 2004, serving as the Assistant Minority Leader from 1995 until 2004. In the 2008 Congressional election
, he was a candidate for the House of Representatives
in New York's 13th Congressional District
, a seat being vacated by Vito Fossella
.
Born in Manhattan
and raised in Staten Island, Straniere received his Bachelor's degree
from Wagner College
in 1962, and attended New York University Law School, where he was awarded a Juris Doctor
degree in 1965. He joined the New York Army National Guard
in 1966, and returned to NYU Law School, where he was awarded a Master of Laws
degree in 1969. He then served as Counsel
to New York State Senator John J. Marchi from 1970 until 1980, when he ran for the New York State Assembly seat which was being vacated by Guy Molinari
. He won the election and served in the Assembly for 24 years, including 10 years as the Assistant Minority Leader, until his defeat by Vincent Ignizio
in the Republican primary and a contentious four candidate general election in 2004.
After his re-election defeat, Straniere moved to Manhattan and in April 2007 he opened up a restaurant at the corner of Chambers
and Church
Streets in Tribeca
called the New York City Hot Dog Company. In early October 2008, Straniere closed the restaurant after business dropped off; he is currently being sued by one of his business partners, Fred Catapano, for allegedly failing to give Catapano the full percentage of shares to which he was entitled and improperly removing him from leadership positions within the company.
At the beginning of 2008, Vito Fossella, also a Republican, had been expected to win re-election to his Congressional seat easily. The political picture in the district changed dramatically in May
, however, when Fossella was arrested for drunk driving. The arrest led to the revelation that he had maintained a longtime adulterous relationship with a woman in Virginia
, with whom he had a child. Fossella subsequently announced that he would not seek re-election.
Straniere received the endorsement of the Staten Island Republican Party. On September 9, 2008, Staniere defeated Dr. Jamshad I. Wyne in the Republican primary
to become the Republican candidate. He opposed the winner of the Democratic
primary, Michael E. McMahon, a member of the New York City Council
. McMahon won the election on November 4.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He represented a district in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1981 until 2004, serving as the Assistant Minority Leader from 1995 until 2004. In the 2008 Congressional election
United States House of Representatives elections, 2008 - complete list
Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 111th Congress were held on November 4, 2008, in which 257 Democrats and 178 Republicans were elected to the 435 seats of the House of Representatives. At the beginning of the 110th Congress, Democrats held 233 seats and Republicans...
, he was a candidate for the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in New York's 13th Congressional District
New York's 13th congressional district
New York's 13th Congressional District is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives located in New York City. It includes all of Staten Island and the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, and Gravesend in Brooklyn.A swing district, it is represented...
, a seat being vacated by Vito Fossella
Vito Fossella
Vito John Fossella, Jr. is a U.S. Republican politician from the state of New York who formerly represented the state's 13th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms, from 1997 to 2009 serving as the lone Republican from New York City. Fossella, a Staten Island...
.
Born in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and raised in Staten Island, Straniere received his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Wagner College
Wagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
in 1962, and attended New York University Law School, where he was awarded a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 1965. He joined the New York Army National Guard
New York Army National Guard
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
in 1966, and returned to NYU Law School, where he was awarded a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
degree in 1969. He then served as Counsel
Counsel
A counsel or a counselor gives advice, more particularly in legal matters.-U.K. and Ireland:The legal system in England uses the term counsel as an approximate synonym for a barrister-at-law, and may apply it to mean either a single person who pleads a cause, or collectively, the body of barristers...
to New York State Senator John J. Marchi from 1970 until 1980, when he ran for the New York State Assembly seat which was being vacated by Guy Molinari
Guy Molinari
Gaetano Victor "Guy" Molinari is a former United States Representative and borough president of Staten Island, New York.-Education and Military Service:...
. He won the election and served in the Assembly for 24 years, including 10 years as the Assistant Minority Leader, until his defeat by Vincent Ignizio
Vincent Ignizio
Vincent M. Ignizio is a member of the New York City Council representing Staten Island's 51st District. Before being elected to the City Council, he was a member of the New York State Assembly....
in the Republican primary and a contentious four candidate general election in 2004.
After his re-election defeat, Straniere moved to Manhattan and in April 2007 he opened up a restaurant at the corner of Chambers
Chambers Street (Manhattan)
Chambers Street is a bi-directional street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It runs from River Terrace, Battery Park City, in the west, past PS 234 and Stuyvesant High School to 1 Centre Street, the Manhattan Municipal Building, to the east. In the early 20th century the street...
and Church
Church Street (Manhattan)
Church Street is a short but heavily travelled north/south street in Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs along the eastern edge of the site of the World Trade Center destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Its southern end is at Trinity Place, of which it is a continuation...
Streets in Tribeca
TriBeCa
Tribeca is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York in the United States. Its name is an acronym based on the words "Triangle below Canal Street", and is properly bounded by Canal Street, West Street, Broadway, and Vesey Street...
called the New York City Hot Dog Company. In early October 2008, Straniere closed the restaurant after business dropped off; he is currently being sued by one of his business partners, Fred Catapano, for allegedly failing to give Catapano the full percentage of shares to which he was entitled and improperly removing him from leadership positions within the company.
At the beginning of 2008, Vito Fossella, also a Republican, had been expected to win re-election to his Congressional seat easily. The political picture in the district changed dramatically in May
May 2008
May 2008 was the fifth month of that year. It began on a Thursday and ended after 31 days on a Saturday.-International holidays:*May 1**Holocaust Remembrance Day **May Day **Ascension Day **Labour Day in the following countries:...
, however, when Fossella was arrested for drunk driving. The arrest led to the revelation that he had maintained a longtime adulterous relationship with a woman in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, with whom he had a child. Fossella subsequently announced that he would not seek re-election.
Straniere received the endorsement of the Staten Island Republican Party. On September 9, 2008, Staniere defeated Dr. Jamshad I. Wyne in the Republican primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to become the Republican candidate. He opposed the winner of the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary, Michael E. McMahon, a member of the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
. McMahon won the election on November 4.