Prior to his election to the New York State Assembly in 2004, Ignizio served as the Chief of Staff to former Staten Island City Councilmember Stephen Fiala, and then as the Chief of Staff of City Councilmember Andrew J. Lanza. In 2004, he launched a successful campaign to unseat Assemblymember Robert Straniere, who had held this seat since 1981. Even though he had not earned the support of the Conservative Party of New York State, which usually cross-endorses Republican nominees, he won the general election, defeating Straniere, who was running on a third-party line; Mario Bruno Jr., the Conservative endorsee; and Emanuele Innamorato, his main Democratic Party opponent.