Mark Amodei

Mark Amodei
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office September 15, 2011
Preceded by	Dean Heller
Member of the Nevada Senate from the Capital district
In office 1999–2010
Preceded by	Ernie Adler
Succeeded by	James Settelmeyer
Member of the Nevada Assembly from the Capital district
In office 1997–1999
Personal details
Born	Mark Eugene Amodei June 12, 1958 (1958-06-12) Carson City, Nevada, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	divorced; 2 children
Residence	Carson City, Nevada
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Christian
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1983–1987
Rank	Captain
Awards	Army Achievement Medal Army Commendation Medal Meritorious Service Medal

Mark Eugene Amodei (pronounced ah-muh-day; born June 12, 1958) is the Congressman for Nevada's second congressional district. Prior to that, Amodei was a Republican member of the Nevada Senate, representing the Capital District from 1998 to 2010. Previously he served in the Nevada Assembly from 1997 through 1998. After public office as state Senator, he served as chairman of the Nevada Republican Party until May 2011, when he stepped down in order to pursue the republican nomination for Congress. Amodei was the Republican candidate for the special election held on September 13, 2011, to replace former Congressman and now Senator Dean Heller in Nevada's second congressional district.

Early life, education, and military service

Amodei was born in Carson City, Nevada, the son of Joy LaRhe (née Longero) and Donald Mark Amodei. His father was of half Italian and half Irish descent, and one of his maternal great-grandfathers had also been Italian. Amodei graduated from Carson High School in 1976, where he was student class president. He attended the University of Nevada before enrolling at McGeorge Law School, where he received his J.D. in 1983.

When 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 JAG Corps officer prosecuting criminal matters, an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Assistant Post Judge Advocate. He was awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Award. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, he returned home to become an attorney with the law firms Allison MacKenzie in Carson City and Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw and Ferrario (now Kaempfer Crowell) in Reno, Nevada.

Nevada legislature

Elections

In 1996, he was elected to the Nevada Assembly, representing Carson City, the state capital. In 1998, he ran for the Nevada Senate in the Capital District. He defeated incumbent Democrat State Senator Ernie Adler 52%-48%. In 2002, he won re-election to a second term with 84% of the vote. In 2006, he won re-election to a third term with 78% of the vote.

Tenure

He was named the Outstanding Freshman Legislator in 1997.

He was selected to serve as the President pro tempore of the Nevada State Senate.

2003 tax increase

Amodei was the co-author, with Democratic Senator Terry Care, of a plan in 2003 to increase taxes in Nevada by $1 billion. The plan was offered as an alternative to governor Kenny Guinn's tax plan, which called for over $1 billion in revenue increases. The final plan raised taxes by $873 million.

Collective bargaining

In 2009, Amodei supported a proposal to expand collect bargaining rights for state workers, whom he believed were unfairly treated during the budget process.

Gas tax

In 2009, Amodei sponsored a bill that would have allowed for a gas tax increase in Washoe County; the plan gained public approval in an advisory vote.

Medical liability reform

In 2003, Amodei voted against a tort reform bill that would have changed Nevada's medical liability law. He was the only Republican Senator to vote against the bill.

Committee assignments

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.

2010 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Nevada, 2010

Amodei ran for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate against Democrat Harry Reid, the Majority Leader. He dropped out before election day, as State Assemblywoman Sharron Angle won the primary and lost the general election to Reid.

U.S House of Representatives

Amodei being sworn-in by Speaker of the House John Boehner.

2011 election

On September 13, 2011, Nevada's second Congressional district elected Amodei to replace Congressman Dean Heller. Heller had been appointed to fill John Ensign's seat the U.S. Senate, following Ensign's resignation from the position. Amodei announced his bid for the congressional seat in May 2011. The next month, he won the Republican nomination by taking 221 out of 323 ballots. In the primary, he defeated State Senator Greg Brower, who received 56 votes, and prominent U.S. Navy Veteran Kirk Lippold, who received 46 votes.

Amodei won defeated Democrat Kate Marshall 58%-36%.

Tenure

Mark Amodei was sworn in on September 15th, 2011.

On November 3rd 2011, Mark E. Amodei Co-sponsored the Bill H.R.3261 otherwise known as the Stop Online Piracy Act.

Committee assignments

• Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
• Committee on Veterans Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

Electoral history

1998 Nevada Senate election in the Capital District
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mark E. Amodei	12,348	53%
	Democratic	Ernie Alder (Incumbent)	10,896	47%
Majority			1,452	6%
Turnout			23,244
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

2002 Nevada Senate election in the Capital District
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mark E. Amodei	25,368	82%
	Democratic	David Schumann	4,962	16%
	Republican hold		Swing

2006 Nevada Senate election in the Capital District
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mark E. Amodei	27,039	78%
	Democratic	Ike Yochum	7,761	22%
	Republican hold		Swing

2011 Nevada Second Congressional District (Special Election)
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Mark E. Amodei	74,976	58%
	Democratic	Kate Marshall	46,669	36%
	Independent	Helmuth Lehmann	5,354	4%
	Independent American	Timothy Fasano	2,415	2%
Totals			129,414	%
	Republican hold

Personal life

Amodei has two daughters: Erin, a nursing student at Truckee Meadows Community College, and Ryanne, a physician trainer on the DaVinci Robotic Surgical Instrument and former engineer in the U.S. Navy.

External links

• Congressman Mark Amodei official U.S. House site
• Amodei 4 Nevada official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at the National Institute for Money in State Politics
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Dean Heller	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 2nd congressional district 2011–present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Nevada Senate
Preceded by Ernie E. Adler	Member of the Nevada Senate from the Capital district 1999–2010	Succeeded by James Settelmeyer
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Janice Hahn D-California	United States Representatives by seniority 432nd	Succeeded by Bob Turner R-New York