Out of Staten Island, Face of a New Generation Eyes Assembly
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

ALBANY – The odds-on favorite to become the next state assemblyman from Staten Island’s 61st district, Vincent Ignizio, represents a new generation in more ways than one.
Mr. Ignizio, who ousted a 24-year veteran of Albany, Robert Straniere, in a bruising Republican primary earlier this month, stands to become the youngest member of the Legislature if, as expected, he defeats the Democratic candidate, Emanuele Innamorato, in November.
Mr. Ignizio won’t turn 30 until Saturday, making him three days younger than the current junior lawmaker, Assemblyman Ryan Karben of Rockland County.
“It’s important to have representatives not only from your geographic region – here in Staten Island – but also from your generation,” he told The New York Sun in an interview. “I’m looking forward to going up there and working hard.”
This is not the first time Mr. Ignizio, who was born the year President Nixon resigned, has achieved responsibility beyond his years. He was just 22 and one year out of New Jersey’s Rider University when he ran the City Council campaign of Stephen Fiala and was appointed the youngest chief of staff in council history.
“I guess I got started at a pretty young age,” he said.
When Mr. Fiala left to become clerk of Richmond County, Mr. Ignizio filled in as his administrator. He has been the staff director for Mr. Fiala’s successor, Council Member Andrew Lanza, ever since.
“Getting the job was a function of working hard in the campaign,” Mr. Ignizio said. “Keeping the job is difficult. You have to produce…. You build a reputation as someone who can get things done. I hope to maintain that reputation throughout my career in politics.”
A native of Staten Island’s South Shore, Mr. Ignizio is the son of Vince, a former heliport supervisor at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Camille, who worked as a receptionist at Goldman Sachs. He attended P.S. 42 and St. Joseph-by-the-Sea high school. At Rider, he majored in journalism and communications.
During his junior year, he interned at the city’s Department of Consumer Af fairs under the commissioner at the time, Alfred Cerullo, another former South Shore council member. Mr. Ignizio went into politics right after graduation.
As a council aide, Mr. Ignizio said he spent most of his time focusing on the quality-of-life issues facing the people of Staten Island: burdensome taxes, lack of city sewer service, high-density housing development, grueling commutes. He promises to do the same at Albany, but recognizes that the political deck is stacked against members of the minority parties at the state Capitol. “I’m not going to sit here and say I’m going to pass all these bills when I get to Albany,” he said. “The fact of the matter is you need to be practical and work within the system.” He said he planned to work with members of the Democratic majority on issues of mutual interest, and that he will not mind if his name does not appear on bills. Rep. Vito Fossella of Staten Island said he expects the Mr. Ignizio will be most effective when it comes to helping constituents resolve problems.
“It doesn’t always mean passing bills,” Mr. Fossella said. “It’s dealing with agencies that can hurt local citizens sometimes. It’s dealing with bureaucrats and getting results. At the local level, I think he will be a tremendous improvement.”
Many observers saw the primary as a battle between Republican factions on Staten Island, with Mr. Fossella backing Mr. Ignizio and the former borough president, Guy Molinari, supporting Mario Bruno. Mr. Straniere – who alienated party leaders by unsuccessfully running for borough president in 2001 – became the odd man out.
Mr. Straniere was at a conference for state legislators in Alaska yesterday and not immediately available to comment.
The minority leader of the City Council, James Oddo of Staten Island, said Mr. Ignizio won because he had more “fire in the belly.”
Compared to Mr. Straniere, who he said had gotten “stale” in office, Mr. Ignizio’s election is “is like opening a window in a stale room,” Mr. Oddo said. “This kid is going to be a breath of fresh air.”
Mr. Ignizio said attributing his victory to a feud among party leader is “insulting to the voters.”
“They knew they were voting for someone who has worked hard and will continue to work hard for them,” he said. “And that wasn’t the case with the incumbent.”