Augusto Sorriso

Augusto Sorriso (born January 25, 1948) is an Italian and American politician and entrepreneur. He has served as the mayor of Licata, Sicily, and has been a candidate for the Italian Senate on two occasions as a supporter of Silvio Berlusconi's political coalition.

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Early life, education, and political career in Italy

Sorriso was born in Licata. He took a political science degree at the University of Florence and later returned to the city of his birth, where he worked in his family's construction business. He was a successful municipal politician with the Christian Democratic party, holding the city's mayoralty and other positions.[1]

He ran for a seat in the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 1994 general election as a candidate of the Solidarieta' Occupazione Sviluppo party and finished fourth in Licata's single-member division.[2]

Later career in America

Sorriso moved to New Jersey with his family in 1994 and started a successful franchise of salad restaurants.[3] He has been active in the Italian community, serving with the Confederation of Sicilians in North America and as an executive member of the General Council of Italians Abroad.[4]

He ran for the Italian Senate as a Forza Italia candidate in the 2006 general election, the first in which Italian citizens outside the country were allowed to vote in international divisions. His party list was defeated by Romano Prodi's coalition, The Union.

Sorriso later ran for Berlusconi's People of Freedom coalition in the 2008 election. The list won a narrow victory, but Sorriso was outpolled by his running-mate Basilio Giordano for the seat.

Electoral record (partial)

References

  1. ^ Liliana Rosano, "La Csna conta oltre 30 mila soci e centinaia di associazioni", Quotidiano di Sicilia, 26 March 2011, accessed 1 August 2011.
  2. ^ ARCHIVIO STORICO DELLE ELEZIONI - Consultazione dati: Camera 27/03/1994, Collegio Licata, Ministero del Interno, accessed 1 August 2011.
  3. ^ William Conroy, "Central New Jersey Salad Works franchiser had foresight," Asbury Park Press, 2 September 2004.
  4. ^ Liliana Rosano, "La Csna conta oltre 30 mila soci e centinaia di associazioni", Quotidiano di Sicilia, 26 March 2011, accessed 1 August 2011.