NY-13: Straniere, Morano Gathering Signatures

Elizabeth Benjamin has some more straight dope from the nuttiest race of the year:

Multiple sources confirm that former Assemblyman Bob Staniere [sp], who has long desired to run for Congress, no longer lives in the district (not a requirement in this case; one must only live in the state) and is on the outs with the GOP powers-that-be on Staten Island, is indeed circulating petitions to run.

Frank Morano, a state Independence Party official, confirms his father, Carmine, is circulating petitions in an effort to get both the Indy and GOP lines (he’ll need a Wilson Pakula for the latter).

The only hitch for Straniere? Staten Island Republicans despise him, and his name was quickly swatted down as a potential candidate in May by local GOP power broker Guy Molinari:

But Republican leaders seemed cool if not hostile to the idea of Mr. Straniere as a candidate. They pointed out that he had long feuded with other party officials, particularly with Congressman Fossella and Mr. Molinari.

In fact, Mr. Molinari described Mr. Straniere’s chances of being supported by the Republican leadership as “impossible.” He said that Mr. Straniere “would not be at all acceptable to the Republican Party. I would speculate that 98 percent of the Republican County Committee would say, ‘No dice.’ They would rather vote for a Democrat than for Straniere.”

Straniere was locked in a vicious primary for the Staten Island Borough President race in 2001 against James Molinaro, which featured some extremely brutal attacks:

Charging that Mr. Straniere (pronounced stran-YER-ie) actually lives in Manhattan and that the Staten Island residence he claims is improbably crowded, Mr. Molinaro said: “Here is a man who claims to live in Staten Island, but he has four people registered to vote in a one-bedroom apartment. Now, I believe in closeness, but come on.” Mr. Straniere acknowledges the two residences.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mr. Molinaro added: “He has been a defendant in 20 court cases in 20 years. He’s been sued for everything from spending his law partner’s money illegally to being sued by the federal government for not paying his taxes.”

Earlier in the day, Mr. Straniere mocked his rival’s speaking ability and education. “He doesn’t even speak in his campaign ads.” He asked: “What is his educational background? He never talks about anything involving his education after high school.”

Straniere has been on the outs ever since. If he manages to petition his way onto the ballot, the disgust of Staten Island Republicans will be delicious.