Robert Alan Straniere (born March 28, 1941) is a Republican politician from New York City. He represented a district in Staten Island in the New York State Assembly from 1981 until 2004, serving as the Assistant Minority Leader from 1995 until 2004. In the 2008 Congressional election, he was a candidate for the House of Representatives in New York's 13th congressional district, a seat being vacated by Vito Fossella. Straniere received the endorsement of the Staten Island Republican Party. On September 9, 2008, Staniere defeated Dr. Jamshad I. Wyne in the Republican primary to become the Republican candidate. He opposed the winner of the Democratic primary, Michael E. McMahon, a member of the New York City Council. McMahon won the election on November 4.