Meet Mark Amodei *(AM-UH-DAY)
Thanks for taking time to visit my website. As you read through it you’ll learn more about where I stand on the issues that are most important to us. But first, let me tell you a little about myself.
My love of Nevada and our country are as deep as my Nevada roots. When my 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.
My mother Lillian Galligan left the Virginia City area when she married my father Mark A. Amodei, an Italian immigrant. They moved to Elko, where Dad worked for the Department of Transportation. Life and circumstances would ultimately move them to Carson City.
My parents believed in the American dream, and worked hard to support our family. Dad was a volunteer fireman who found his calling with the Forestry Division, while Mom worked for a local physician. They raised my sister Denise and me with prudent, traditional American values.
I went to Carson High School and graduated in 1976. I was fortunate enough to earn scholarships in order to enroll at the University of Nevada Reno, and while there I and joined R.O.T.C. I later earned a J.D. in 1983 from McGeorge Law School. It was important to me that I pay off my student loans from law school right away because it just seemed like the right thing to do.
Since I was in R.O.T.C. I was required to join the military service. I entered the United States Army while studying for the bar exam, and was assigned to an artillery division. After passing the bar, I became an Army J.A.G.C. officer prosecuting criminal matters.
Upon receiving an honorable discharge, I returned home to begin my law practice and raise my family.
I decided to run for office because I wanted to help the people in my community. The voters must have felt I was doing something right and I’ve been fortunate to represent Northern Nevada constituents for twelve years.
If you want to learn more about my experience as an elected official, you’ll find that information below. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by. Oh and by the way, even some of my teachers had trouble pronouncing my last name -- Just Call Me Mark!
Mark’s Bio
A native Nevadan, Mark Amodei has served his country, his state and his communities for more than twenty-five years.
While serving in the United States Army he became an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JACG.) 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.
After opening a successful law practice in Carson City, Mark was first elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1996. He was named the Outstanding Freshman Legislator for the 69th session
His constituents recognized and rewarded his hard work, conservative values and honesty by repeatedly and overwhelmingly returning him to office over the next twelve years.
Mark successfully ran for the Nevada State Senate in 1998, defeating an incumbent state senator. In 2002 and 2006, he was reelected with over 80% of the popular vote. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, his Senate colleagues recognized him 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 was 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.
Mark Amodei was term limited out of the Nevada Legislature in 2010, after twelve years in the State Senate. When he first ran for office, he committed to following the provisions of term limits. When approached about challenging the term limits law in the courts he refused because doing otherwise would have meant going back on his word, something he refused to do.
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 Ryann, an engineer with a medical robotics company.