Frank D'Amico
Encyclopedia
Frank D'Amico is a politician in Hamilton
, Ontario
, Canada
. He represented Ward 8 on city council between 1991 and 2003, and campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
in the 1999 provincial election
.
degree in Languages from McMaster University
. He took additional courses at the University of Brussels in Belgium
and the University of Grenoble
in France
, and completed a Master of Arts
degree in Italian at the University of Toronto
. In private life, he has been a credit analyst and personal banker for the Royal Bank
in Toronto
.
. He was elected, defeating incumbent Tom Murray
for the second position in Ward 8. Immediately after the election, he was chosen as vice-chair of the city's finance committee (Spectator, 18 December 1991). He later helped organize the "Yes" side in the national 1992 referendum on the Charlottetown Accord
.
D'Amico was re-elected in the 1994 municipal campaign, again finishing second in the two-member ward. He supported the amalgamation of Hamilton with neighbouring municipalities in the late 1990s, and also favoured a reduction in the number of councillors (Spectator, 13 September 1997). He was re-elected atop the polls in 1997, and later served as planning committee chairman.
The city of Hamilton was amalgamated in 2000, and new municipal elections were held for the united region. D'Amico campaigned for re-election in a new single-member ward against fellow councillor Duke O'Sullivan, and was easily returned. During the campaign, he supported calls to hire fifty new police constables for the city. He retired from council in 2003. He attempted a comeback in 2006, but was unsuccessful.
in Hamilton West in the 1999 provincial election
, and finished third against New Democrat David Christopherson
. He continued to serve on council after the loss.
D'Amico was an active supporter of Paul Martin
's bid to succeed Jean Chrétien
as party leader in 2003. He reportedly considered running against Beth Phinney
for the party nomination in Hamilton Mountain
before the 2004 federal election
, but an early cut-off date for nominations prevented him from organizing.
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He represented Ward 8 on city council between 1991 and 2003, and campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
.
Early life and career
D'Amico was born in Hamilton, and received a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Languages from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
. He took additional courses at the University of Brussels in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble or Grenoble University was a university in Grenoble, France until 1970, when it was split into several different institutions:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and completed a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Italian at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. In private life, he has been a credit analyst and personal banker for the Royal Bank
Royal Bank
The terms Royal Bank, Banque Royale, Banco Real can connote several different things,* Royal Bank * Royal Bank of Canada** Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, a subsidiary of RBC* Royal Bank of Scotland...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Municipal politician
D'Amico was 28 years old when he first ran for municipal office in 1991. He called for expanded business development in the city, supporting completion of the Red Hill Creek Expressway and endorsing public spending on a baseball stadium and park. The city media noted that his campaign was supported by members of the Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. He was elected, defeating incumbent Tom Murray
Tom Murray
Tom Murray may refer to:*Tom Murray , Scottish winner of the Olympic Gold medal in curling at the inaugural Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France*Tom Murray , local politician in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada...
for the second position in Ward 8. Immediately after the election, he was chosen as vice-chair of the city's finance committee (Spectator, 18 December 1991). He later helped organize the "Yes" side in the national 1992 referendum on the Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
.
D'Amico was re-elected in the 1994 municipal campaign, again finishing second in the two-member ward. He supported the amalgamation of Hamilton with neighbouring municipalities in the late 1990s, and also favoured a reduction in the number of councillors (Spectator, 13 September 1997). He was re-elected atop the polls in 1997, and later served as planning committee chairman.
The city of Hamilton was amalgamated in 2000, and new municipal elections were held for the united region. D'Amico campaigned for re-election in a new single-member ward against fellow councillor Duke O'Sullivan, and was easily returned. During the campaign, he supported calls to hire fifty new police constables for the city. He retired from council in 2003. He attempted a comeback in 2006, but was unsuccessful.
Provincial and federal politics
D'Amico campaigned for the Ontario Liberal PartyOntario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
in Hamilton West in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and finished third against New Democrat David Christopherson
David Christopherson
David Christopherson is a Canadian politician. Since 2004, he has represented the riding of Hamilton Centre in the Canadian House of Commons. He previously served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the provincial government of Bob Rae...
. He continued to serve on council after the loss.
D'Amico was an active supporter of Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
's bid to succeed Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
as party leader in 2003. He reportedly considered running against Beth Phinney
Beth Phinney
Elizabeth Phinney is a former Canadian politician. She was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 until her retirement in 2005, representing the riding of Hamilton Mountain in Ontario for the Liberal Party.Phinney grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, and was educated at McMaster University...
for the party nomination in Hamilton Mountain
Hamilton Mountain
Hamilton Mountain is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968. The riding is located in the Hamilton, Ontario region....
before the 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, but an early cut-off date for nominations prevented him from organizing.