Meet Mark Amodei *(AM-UH-DAY)
Mark's love of Nevada and his country are as deep as his Nevada roots. When his Irish ancestors fled famine-ridden Ireland in the 1860's, they ultimately settled in Virginia City, slogging through the gray mud, to work in the gold mines. The mud was later determined to be silver, and the silver mines were also opened. There was plenty of work for the Galligan and Egan families.
It was the largest city in Nevada at the time, and by 1880, three-quarters of Nevada's Irish population lived in Virginia City. But by the end of the 1880's the boom was largely over. Still there was much rejoicing when Mary Egan married Richard Galligan and they settled down to raise their family.
Daughter Lillian Galligan left the Virginia City area when she married Mark A. Amodei, an Italian immigrant, and they settled down in Elko, Nevada, where he worked for the Department of Transportation. Life and circumstances would ultimately move them to Carson City.
The Amodei's worked hard to support their family. Donald Amodei was a volunteer fireman who found his calling with the Forestry Division, while his wife Joy worked for a local physician. They raised Mark and his sister Denise with thrifty traditional American values.
Following graduation from Carson High School in 1976, where he was student class president, Mark attended the University of Nevada Reno before enrolling at McGeorge Law School. He received his J.D. in 1983. Scholarships and R.O.T.C. paid for UNR. He completed his McGeorge education with student loans that were rapidly paid off.
I believe:
- You deserve a U.S. Senator whose first loyalty is to you and not to his political party and friends.
- We must remove government roadblocks that keep small businesses from creating jobs and putting people back to work.
- We need policies that reward initiative and hard work rather than penalize it.
- Government needs to be fiscally responsible -- Americans can spend their hard-earned money more wisely than the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. can.
- We need tort reform and other real health care reforms, not a government takeover with more taxes and spending.
- I believe our country has been the greatest force for freedom and democracy in history.
- We have kept our freedoms through the daily sacrifice, strength, and commitment of our men and women in uniform, and with your support as citizens.
I am proud of our country. We should promote American values rather than apologize for them.
When Mark Amodei entered the U.S. Army, he had not yet passed the bar exam. So, he was assigned to an artillery division. Upon passing the bar, he became an Army J.A.G.C. officer prosecuting criminal matters.
During his four years of active duty, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant Post Judge Advocate in Maryland, Texas and Utah. He was awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Award.
Upon receiving an honorable discharge, Mark returned home to begin his law practice and raise his family.
His original decision to run for office was driven by his desire to help the people of his district. The voters awarded his hard work, conservative values and honesty by repeatedly and overwhelmingly returning him to office.
Elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1996, Mark was named the Outstanding Freshman Legislator for the 69th session. Mark successfully ran for the state senate in 1998, defeating an incumbent state senator. In 2002 and 2006, he was reelected, receiving over 80% of the popular vote. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mark was selected by his fellow senators as the best Senate Committee Chairman.
Special Legislative assignments have included presiding over the Senate's Committee of the Whole for the only impeachment trial in Nevada's history. Additionally, he selected to serve as the President Pro Tem of the Nevada State Senate.
He has served on the Legislative Commission, Vice Chair of the Governor's Task Force on Access to Public Health Care, Education Commission of the States, Public Lands committee, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Legislative Oversight committee, Chairman of the Education Technology committee, and was a member of the Nevada Supreme Court's committee on Court Funding, as well as numerous committees covering myriad statewide issues.
When Mark Amodei first ran for office, he committed to following the provisions of term limits. When some powerful people approached him about challenging the term limits law in the courts, Amodei refused, saying he gave his word and he keeps his word.
Mark enjoys working on his old trucks, hunting, golf, do-it-yourself projects, and exploring Nevada history.
He is close to his family and has two adult daughters -- Erin, a nursing student at TMCC and Ryanne, an engineer presently on active duty with the U.S. Navy.
"Supporting our troops isn't just a campaign promise for me; it's a way of life." Mark Amodei said.
(*"Even some of my teachers had trouble pronouncing my last name-Just Call Me Mark!")