Molinaro served for 12 years as deputy borough president to former Borough President Guy V. Molinari. He also served as chief of staff to Molinari when the latter was a congressman representing New York's 14th Congressional District. Molinaro has had two deputy borough presidents while in office. His first was Daniel M. Donovan, Jr., who left to become the Richmond County District Attorney in January 2004 after winning election to that office the previous November. The deputy post was left vacant until November 2006. After much speculation Molinaro named Ed Burke to the deputy position. Ed Burke had been executive assistant to Guy V. Molinari for twelve years and to Molinaro for nearly five.