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Alphonse D'amato
Long Island native and former U.S. Senator Al D’Amato led a prestigious career as a politician. Most people are aware of the almost twenty years he spent in the Senate, representing New York. Few people are aware of D’Amato’s years that preceded his Senate run.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island, Al Damato was admitted to Syracuse University where he received his B.S. and then earned his J.D. at Syracuse’s renowned law school. Willfully bound to New York, politics seemed like a natural option for the outspoken young lawyer. Beginning in 1965, at the age of 28, D’Amato was elected as the Nassau County Public Administrator. Serving in this office was the commencement of a relationship that would last the next 35 years. Al Damato stayed in this office for three years until he ran for Town of Hempstead Tax Receiver in 1968. A tradition that would tail behind D’Amato like his shadow was his success. He won this election as well, and held the office for two years at which time he climbed a little higher and found his constituents couldn’t get enough. This time he was elected as the Hempstead Town Supervisor. The higher the office held by D’Amato, the more responsibility he accumulated. Using each office as a learning experience the Syracuse alum began to master his trade as a politician. From 1977 to 1981 he was appointed Presiding Supervisor in Hempstead. Reaching the peak of Hempstead politics he now needed a new mountain to climb. Enter the United States Senate. He wasn’t a favorite, but who cares about the odds? Certainly not Al D’Amato. In a surprise upset he was elected and took office in 1981. The rest of his political career is well documented. Feel free to check out our other pages on this esteemed former Senator.
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