Guy Molinari

Gaetano Victor "Guy" Molinari (born November 23, 1928) is a former United States Representative and borough president of Staten Island, New York.

Education and military service
Molinari was born in Manhattan, New York, the son of Elizabeth Margaret (Majoros) and S. Robert Molinari (1897–1957), a politician who represented the 2nd District of Richmond County in the New York State Assembly from 1943 to 1944. He attended private schools growing up and graduated from New Dorp High School in Staten Island in 1945. He attained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wagner College in Staten Island in 1949 and his law degree from New York Law School in 1951. He served in the United States Marine Corps (attaining the rank of Sergeant), from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War. He was admitted to the New York State Bar following his discharge from the military in 1953 and commenced practice in Staten Island.

Political career
He was a Republican member of the New York State Assembly from 1975 to 1980, sitting in the 181st, 182nd and 183rd New York State Legislatures. He was a delegate to the New York State Republican conventions in 1979 and the Republican National Convention in both 1980 and 1984.

In 1980, he was elected to the House of Representatives, unseating nine-term Democrat John M. Murphy. In 1982, his district was merged with that of four-term Democrat Leo Zeferetti, and he won with 57%. He was reelected to the three succeeding Congresses with minimal opposition and served from January 3, 1981, until his resignation December 31, 1989, to become Borough President of Staten Island. He was succeeded in the House by his daughter, Susan, who also served on the New York City Council. He served as Borough President from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2001.

In 1994, a week before the statewide elections, Molinari announced that Karen Burstein, the Democratic nominee for New York Attorney General, was not qualified to serve as attorney general because she was a lesbian. The combination of Molinari's remarks, a strong national Republican showing, and the win of George Pataki in the governor's race, led to Republican Dennis Vacco's narrowly defeating Burstein. The New York Times called his remarks, "gutter politics".

Family and personal
Guy Molinari's daughter Susan succeeded him as a member of Congress. She is married to Bill Paxon, a former United States House Representative from Buffalo.