Andy Unanue

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Andy Unanue is a former Vice President, General Manager, and COO of the family-owned Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States. In 2008 he was briefly a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey.


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[edit] Biography

The son of Goya Foods founder Joseph A. Unanue, Unanue attended the University of Miami before attending Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management.[1] He began working in his father's company in their Miami office, working his way up to President of Goya de Santo Domingo. Following his brother Joseph F. Unanue's unexpected death,[2] he became Executive Vice President. Unanue became Goya's COO in 2000, at the age of 33.[3]

In February 2004, Unanue and his father were ousted from the company by his two cousins.[4] In a subsequent lawsuit filed by Unanue and his father, allegations emerged that Unanue had shown up to work drunk, although Unanue claimed that, while he may have shown up to work hungover, he had never shown up drunk.[5] Unanue has been convicted of drunk driving.[6]

He now owns the restaurant Bagatelle and the club Kiss and Fly, both located in New York City.[7]

[edit] Candidacy for United States Senate

After the withdrawal of moderate Republican Anne Evans Estabrook, who was initially the New Jersey GOP establishment's choice, due to a mini-stroke[8], Unanue announced his candidacy in a letter to the party chairman on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, while on a week-long vacation in Vail, Colorado.[9] He was reportedly considering dropping out of the Senate race to make way for Princeton biotechnology executive John Crowley, but after Crowley signaled that he would not run, Unanue announced that he had filed petitions for the race on April 7, 2008.[10] However, on April 11, Unanue dropped out of the race, and his committee on vacancies designated former Congressman Dick Zimmer to enter the race under the Unanue petitions.[11]

[edit] Residence Controversy

When a political Web site reported that Unanue might not actually live at home with his elderly parents in Alpine, New Jersey, Unanue campaign manager Mark Duffy proclaimed:

Andy Unanue lives in New Jersey, he votes in New Jersey, his car is registered in New Jersey, he pays New Jersey auto insurance, and his business is in New Jersey. Andy Unanue is New Jersey.[12]

Unanue later admitted to other reporters that he has resided in New York City since 2004, although he plans to move back to New Jersey as soon as possible.[13][14] Unanue is registered to vote at his parents' New Jersey home, and has voted in New Jersey elections at least four times since moving to New York City in 2004.[15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Business Wire, July 18th, 2000
  2. ^ New York Times, December 4, 1998
  3. ^ Business Wire, July 18th, 2000
  4. ^ Morley, Hugh R. "Goya Foods president is ousted; son also removed in family coup", The Record, 12 February 2004. Retrieved on 2 April 2008.
  5. ^ Schwaneberg, Robert, "NJ Senate candidate Andy Unanue fell from grace at family's company", The Star-Ledger, 26 March 2008. Retrieved on 1 April 2008.
  6. ^ "The GOP mess: Crowley won't run; Unanue is reconsidering", PolitickerNJ.com, 6 April 2008. Retrieved on 8 April 2008.
  7. ^ Rispoli, Michael, "Former Goya Foods exec seeking GOP's U.S. Senate nomination", Asbury Park Press, 25 March 2008. Retrieved on 2 April 2008.
  8. ^ Margolin, Josh, "Anne Estabrook quits GOP U.S. Senate race, citing health problem", The Star-Ledger, 5 March 2008. Retrieved on 2 April 2008.
  9. ^ Mulshine, Paul, "Unanue fiddles while Byrne roams", The Star-Ledger, 28 March 2008. Retrieved on 1 April 2008.
  10. ^ "Unanue in the race - and in New Jersey - says spokesman". PolitickerNJ.com, April 7, 2008. Accessed April 8, 2008.
  11. ^ "Former Congressman Dick Zimmer to run for U.S. Senate". The Star-Ledger, April 11, 2008. Accessed April 11, 2008.
  12. ^ "New Jersey GOP Senate candidate lives in New York", Politicker NJ, 27 March 2008. Retrieved on 1 April 2008.
  13. ^ Schwaneberg, Robert, "GOPer seeking Lautenberg's seat is a resident of the Big Apple" The Star-Ledger 28 March 2008. Retrieved on 1 April 2008.
  14. ^ Schwaneberg, Robert, "NJ candidate for US Senate lives in NY", The Star-Ledger, 27 March 2008. Retrieved on 1 April 2008.
  15. ^ Jackson, Herb, "GOP rival urges probe of Senate hopeful", The Record 29 March 2008. Retrieved on 1 April 2008.