He is a 1982 graduate of Monsignor Farrell High School in Oakwood. He is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor degree and St. John's University, where he received a B.S. in Accounting. He is admitted for the practice of law to the Bars of New York, New Jersey, SDNY and DNJ. Prior to his entry into politics, Lanza was associated with Mercury Securities LLC, a Wall Street software development and stock trading firm, where he was a Managing Member and General Counsel Partner. He also served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office as a prosecutor of street crimes, felony cases, New York State Welfare Fraud and procedural and constitutional issues. Lanza received his corporate legal training with KPMG Peat Marwick as a Senior Auditor where he was in charge of auditing public and private firms, banks, importers and hospitals. Running as a Republican, Lanza was first elected to the New York City Council in 2001. He was re-elected for a second term in 2003 and 2005. Out of 51 council members, he was one of three Republicans. The other two Republicans were Minority Leader James Oddo and Minority Whip Dennis Gallagher. Lanza lives in Great Kills with his wife, Marcele, a public school administrator at a middle school in his district, and their three children. Lanza is a childhood friend of former United States Congressman Vito Fossella of Staten Island. In 2006, Lanza was elected to the New York State Senate, filling the seat vacated by Senator John J. Marchi, who retired after 50 years of service in the State Senate. Since his initial election, he has faced no serious opposition, and has run unopposed three times. The Democrats took control of the state senate in the 2018 elections for only the third time since World War II. Lanza was left as the only Republican representing part of New York City in the chamber. Judicial Independence: On June 21, 2007, Lanza and Assemblyman Michael Cusick announced passage of a new law that established the 13th Judicial District, consisting solely of Richmond County. This historic law separated Staten Island from the 2nd Judicial District (Brooklyn), thus giving Staten Island residents the opportunity to elect judges without the influence of another county. Prior to Judicial Independence, 91.6% of judges in the 2nd Judicial District were from Brooklyn even though Staten Island's population accounted for more than 15% of the population. Lanza introduced additional legislation in future years to further, to further increase the number of elected judges.