Former Assemblyman Picked to Run for Fossella's Seat

After the Staten Island GOP's pick to run for Representative Vito Fossella's seat died, the GOP had been scrambling for a new candidate. But yesterday it decided to tap Robert Straniere for the job. Straniere had served 24 years in the Assembly until fellow Republican Vincent Ignizio defeated him in a 2004 primary. Straniere still has enemies in the Republican party, including Ignizio and former Staten Island BEEP Guy Molinari, who said, "I'm terribly outraged...They couldn't have made a worse mistake. The party was already in desperate shape. They've all but buried it."