|
|
Click for larger image
|
General
Election Results
x-James P. Molinaro, Rep 50,667 - 50 percent
Jerome X. O'Donovan, Dem 43,779 - 43 percent
Robert A. Straniere, Ind 5,422 - 5 percent
John Walker, Lib 1,286 - 1 percent
Primary
Election Results
James P. Molinaro 8,512
Robert A. Straniere 4,414
(Official Vote Count from the Board of Elections)
Incumbent: Guy Molinari (cannot
run again in 2001)
The Candidates:
For who has donated to these candidates see the Campaign
Finance Board:
Contributors
to James Molinaro
Contributors
to Jerome X O'Donovan
Contributors to Robert Straniere
Contributors to John P. Walker
Interviews
With The Candidates
Jeffrey Kroessler, historian of the Archives and Special
Collections of the Library at the College of Staten Island,
interviewed three of the four candidates for Staten Island
borough president. (The fourth, James Molinaro, refused
to participate.)
In the order in which they were interviewed:
Campaign
Feature:
Tripartisan Tumble
Staten Island is the only borough with a viable borough-wide Republican Party. That means the race for Staten Island borough president will be decided in the general election in November, not a primary in September.
In fact, Staten Island this fall could become not bipartisan, but tripartisan. Yes, there could be a three-way race for borough president.
This could come about because the poo-bahs in the Republican Party, from
Governor George Pataki on down, are backing Jim Molinaro, deputy borough president to term-limited borough president Guy Molinari. Molinaro is not a Republican, but vice chairman of the state Conservative Party. But the Conservative and the Republicans parties are close allies on Staten Island, as they are in the rest of the state, and Molinaro has run many a local GOP campaign, despite his Conservative credentials.
Also, the Conservatives are long-time allies of the governor and the Conservative chairman, Michael Long, pushed hard for the governor to back Molinaro.
The problem for Republicans is that Republican Assemblyman Robert Straniere decided he wanted to be borough president and wasn't about to step aside for a Conservative Party stalwart. Even a sit-down at the governor's mansion with the governor and other GOP party leaders failed to persuade Straniere to drop out of the race.
As a result, Republicans now have a primary between Straniere, the Republican on the outs with the GOP establishment, and Molinaro, the Conservative with the backing of the GOP leadership.
If Molinaro wins the GOP primary, then Republicans will be united again and Molinaro will be favored to win the office. But if Straniere wins the GOP primary, both he and Molinaro would appear on the November ballot.
That would split the conservative (with a small "c") vote and perhaps allow the Democratic candidate, term-limited Councilman Jay O'Donovan, to slip in. It has been 12 years since the Democrats ran Staten Island, but the feuding Republicans could let it happen again.
Philip Lentz
posted 6/25/01
Previous Staten Island Race Features
Campaign Trail
9/01
The New York Times makes endorsements in Staten Island:
"For Borough President: Many New York City officeholders facing
term limits are looking for ways to extend their influence. Some
are trying to make sure that children, spouses or parents succeed
them. Others are promoting proteges. Staten Island's borough president,
Guy Molinari, is backing the candidacy of his deputy, James Molinaro,
a top official of the state's Conservative Party. Mr. Molinaro is
running for the Republican nomination against Assemblyman Robert
Straniere.
"Mr. Straniere, a lawyer, has the backing of many Republicans who dislike
the idea of giving their nomination to a non-party member. He is also the
superior candidate on the issues. He has focused directly on the borough's
most crucial questions of overbuilding and the overcrowding of facilities,
especially schools. His farsighted efforts on campaign finance and the
environment have also won him the endorsement of the Citizens Union and the
Sierra Club. Because he provides a refreshing departure from the Molinari
era, we endorse Robert Straniere in the Republican primary for Staten Island
borough president.
"For City Council: District 49 (North Staten Island): Though Staten Island
is the city's most Republican borough, this district is a Democratic
stronghold. The three impressive candidates are Michael McMahon, a lawyer
who is currently counsel to Jerome O'Donovan, the outgoing Council member;
Jon Del Giorno, administrative manager of the New York City Board of
Elections; and Deborah Rose, an educator who runs a dropout prevention
program and has been a longtime Community Board member.
"Any one of them would make a good Council member. But Ms. Rose has shown a
particular energy and persistence in the face of party opposition to her
candidacy. We endorse Deborah Rose, who hopes to become Staten Island's
first African-American political officeholder." (NY Times)
7/27/01
Republican Assemblyman Robert Straniere has filed a complaint with the
city's Campaign Finance Board, alleging financial improprieties with
opponent James Molinaro's campaign, including what he contends is an
inappropriate overlap of resources with the Molinari Republican Club. But
Molinaro strongly denied anything illegal and said Straniere is merely
"looking to create negative headlines" against him.
(Staten Island Advance)
7/13/01
District Council 37's surprise backing of Council Speaker Peter Vallone was
part of a wider pattern in which the mammoth municipal union has rewarded
several term-limited members of the City Council seeking higher office. For
comptroller, Herbert Berman; for public advocate, Stephen DiBrienza; for
Queens borough president, Helen Marshall; for Staten Island borough
president, Jerome X. O'Donovan. A little inside insight into the Vallone
endorsement: Karen Persichilli, a longtime Vallone loyalist now running
day-to-day campaign operations, happens to be married to Mike Keogh, the
union's political director. (Newsday)
6/23/01
The Department of Youth and Community Development apparently has no problem
getting by without three of its top eight officials. Mario Bruno, the
$70,000-a-year assistant commissioner for intergovernmental relations, quit
on May 25 to work on Jim Molinaro's campaign for Staten Island borough
president. Joseph Kovac, the $56,000-a-year special assistant to
Commissioner Jerry Cammarata, is currently "on vacation," also working for
Molinaro. So is Cammarata holding the place together? When a reporter tried
to reach him Wednesday, he was told to call the Board of Education, where
Cammarata serves on the board and has a second office. (NY Post)
6/6/01
The Independence Party has chosen Assemblyman Robert Straniere (R-S.I.) as
its candidate for Staten Island borough president, guaranteeing him a place
on the ballot in November. (Daily News)
5/24/01
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, the most powerful Republican in the
state Legislature, endorsed Deputy Borough President James Molinaro, a
Conservative, in the race for Staten Island's next borough president.
5/24/01
The Working Families Party endorsed Staten Island borough presidential
candidate Jerome X. O1Donovan.
5/19/01
The Republican Party in Staten Island has dropped its support of Republican
Robert Straniere and has given it instead to James P. Molinaro, the state
executive vice chairman of the Conservative Party. By doing so, the
committee has allowed Mr. Molinaro to run in a Republican primary against
Mr. Straniere. Previously, the Republican leaders had said they were not
inclined to give their endorsement to a non-Republican. (NY Times)
5/16/01
Governor Pataki endorsed Conservative Jim Molinaro over Republican
Assemblyman Robert Straniere to succeed Guy Molinari as Staten Island
Borough President. (Daily News)
3/3/01
There is already petty squabbling and posturing in the race for Staten
Island Borough President (Staten Island Advance)
2/15/01
Republican Assemblyman Bob Straniere (R,C-South Shore) will announce his
candidacy for Staten Island borough president today at City Hall.
(Daily News)
2/11/01
The recent ruling by the Conflicts of Interest Board that bars appointed
officials, but not elected ones, from campaign fundraising unless they
resign, will affect several races, including Staten Island Borough President
(where deputy borough president James Molinaro is a candidate and has been
actively promoted by his boss Guy Molinari). (Daily News)
2/7/01
More repercussions from the ruling by the Conflicts of Interest Board that
bars top city employees from raising campaign funds. Conservative James
Molinaro, who is running for Staten Island Borough President, may have to
resign his job as Deputy Borough President. (Staten Island Advance)
2/3/01
In what is being called continuing machinations in the Staten Island borough
president's race, there is increasing speculation that Republican leaders
are moving to clear the way for Deputy Borough President James Molinaro, a
Conservative Party member, to run in the GOP primary. This would involve
easing out the county Republican chairwoman, Leticia Remauro, who is
believed to oppose Molinaro's participation in the party primary. Remauro,
an assistant to the president of the Battery Park City Authority, has been
mentioned for a possible job with the Bush administration in Washington and
more recently for county clerk. Molinaro's candidacy has the backing of
Mayor Giuliani and the outgoing borough president, Guy Molinari.(Crain's NY)
9/29/00
Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari endorsed a successor with more
than a year to go before the elections. He endorsed his deputy, Jim
Molinaro, and said he was committed to seeing his partner win. (Daily News)