Mike D'Amato
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Michael S. D'Amato (born in 1962) is an American politician and the Third District alderman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has held his current office as a representative of Milwaukee's East Side since 1996.
[edit] Political career
In April 1996, D'Amato was elected to the City of Milwaukee's Common Council as alderman of the Third District. Prior to being elected, he served as legislative assistant to former Alderwoman Larraine McNamara-McGraw. He also served as executive director for a neighborhood organization that worked on improving economic development and housing conditions on Milwaukee's northeast side.
Since being elected, D'Amato has been known as a strong supporter of public schools and of New Urbanist development in Milwaukee. On the East Side, he has dealt with student-homeowner and parking concerns around the UW-Milwaukee campus and has advocated close police-resident relationships.
D'Amato is currently chair of two committees: Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development and Judiciary and Legislation.
On November 26th, 2007, D'Amato announced he will not seek reelection in the 2008 election, choosing instead to pursue local opportunities in the "private sector, public sector or even the non-profit sector." His common council seat is currently being sought by legal staffer John Connelly, activist Sura Faraj, activist Patrick Flaherty, Daniel Fouliard, freelance journalist Nicholas Kovac, former D'Amato aide Sam McGovern-Rowen, cafe owner Matt Nelson, and David Schroeder. A primary election on February 19, 2008 will narrow the race down to two candidates.
[edit] Personal life
D'Amato was born to Italian immigrants in a little house on Booth Street in Riverwest. He graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and from UW-Madison and is married to Rebecca D'Amato. They have three children, Jack, Lily and Nicolas.
