About Tony
State Representative Anthony J. D’Amelio is a conscientious legislator who takes pride in his record of service to his Waterbury and Middlebury constituents.
Recognizing Representative D’Amelio’s record of leadership as an Assistant House Republican Leader during the 2007-2008 legislative session, House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr, R-Norwalk, re-appointed him as an Assistant Republican Leader for the 2009-2010 legislative session.
Representative D’Amelio also was appointed as the House Ranking Member (Republican leader) on the General Assembly’s Insurance & Real Estate Committee. He also is a member of the legislature’s Public Safety and General Law committees.
Representative D’Amelio is committed to rebuilding Connecticut’s urban areas. He has been successful in gaining state funding for improvement projects that especially benefit children and families, such as school playground and other recreational improvements.
In 2007, grants for Waterbury included $750,000 for the Mattatuck Museum to help fund the construction of new exhibits, parking improvements and security upgrades; and $12,888 for the Child Guidance Clinic of Greater Waterbury to fund the acquisition and installation of a fence around the pool at the facility.
In 2008, grants for Middlebury and Waterbury projects included $895,000 to pay for the replacement of a bridge on Route 64 over Goat Brook in Middlebury; $750,000 for improvements at East Mountain Park in Waterbury; $250,000 for renovations and improvements to the greenhouse complex at Fulton Park in Waterbury; and $220,000 for Regional District 15 to help finance construction of a new concession stand and restroom facilities at Pomperaug High School’s Edward Arum Athletic Field.
Representative D’Amelio also has played a leading role in the effort to keep the Heart Center of Greater Waterbury open. In addition to lobbying with officials from the state Office of Health Care Access (OHCA), Representative D’Amelio testified at an OHCA public hearing in August, 2008 in favor of a six-month extension of the center’s operating permit.
He also offered detailed testimony at another OHCA public hearing in October, 2008 in support of the center’s request for a permanent operating license.
Representative D’Amelio was first elected to represent the 71st Assembly District in the state House of Representatives in a special election held on January 23, 1996. He was reelected in November of 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and again in 2008.
A lifelong resident of the City of Waterbury, Representative D’Amelio served on the Waterbury Board of Education from 1989 to 1993, and two terms on the Waterbury Board of Aldermen.
During his terms on the Board of Aldermen, Representative D’Amelio served on the Tax, Public Safety and Youth Committees, and on the Fire Board. As a former member of the both the school and aldermanic boards, Representative D’Amelio earned a reputation as a defender of taxpayers’ interests.
Representative D’Amelio attended Waterbury public schools and is co-owner of Paisano’s Restaurant and Bar in the East End of Waterbury. In addition, he is a licensed realtor with the Covino Agency, a member of the Greater Waterbury Board of Realtors, the Connecticut Board of Realtors, a member of the Town Plot Neighborhood Association, and a member of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Holy Name Society.
Representative D’Amelio is a past member of the Board of Directors of the East End Community Club and a former member of Concerned Citizens of Waterbury.
He also formerly served on the Ways and Means Committee of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School and the school’s Bylaws Committee. He is a past member of Concerned Taxpayers of Waterbury.
Representative D’Amelio and his wife, Joanne Cavallo D’Amelio, have three children, DeAnna, Krista and Anthony, Jr.
