Robert A. Straniere
Robert Alan Straniere (born March 28, 1941) 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 until 2004, sitting in the 184th, 185th, 186th, 187th, 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st, 192nd, 193rd, 194th and 195th New York State  Legislatures. For the last 10 years he was Assistant Minority Leader. In 2004, he ran for re-nomination, but was defeated by Vincent M. Ignizio in the Republican primary. 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.