| Education-
Central Regional High School
Ocean County College
Public/Party Service-
Berkeley Township Board of Education 1993 to 2000
Central Regional Board of Education 2000 to 2005
Berkeley Township Council (Ward 2) 2006 to 2011
Berkeley Township Mayor 2012 to 2023
Legislative Service- Senate 2024 to present
Prior to being elected to the State Senate, Senator Carmen F. Amato, Jr.'s career as an elected official began in 1993 when he was elected to a seat on the Berkeley Township Board of Education. Seven years later, in 2000, he was elected to the Central Regional Board of Education. After being elected to the Berkeley Township Council in 2005 to represent Ward 2, Senator Amato was elected Mayor of Berkeley Township in 2011 and won reelection in 2015 and 2019.
During his tenure as Mayor, Senator Amato prioritized keeping Berkeley Township's property taxes stable, making it the second lowest overall in Ocean County. Following the catastrophic devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy, he worked to rebuild the Township's maritime area while also improving parks, playgrounds, and recreation areas. Working with federal, state, and county partners, the Mayor led efforts to preserve thousands of acres of open space in the Township. He prioritized updating and modernizing the Township's infrastructure while also continuing to invest in public safety by implementing policies that support police, fire, and first aid squad personnel serving as first responders. In being responsive and transparent to constituents, the Mayor also prioritized improving the quality of life for veterans as well as senior community residents who have unique needs and, respectively, comprise large segments of the Township's population.
As an active member of his community, Senator Amato belongs to a multitude of civic organizations both past and present that include- Board Member - NJ Conference of Mayors, National School Boards Association; New Jersey School Boards Association; New Jersey Association of Election Officials; New Jersey League of Municipalities; Ocean County School Boards Association; Ocean County Exploited and Missing Children's Advisory Commission; Central Ocean County Regional Italian American Club; Berkeley Township Zoning Board of Adjustment; Berkeley Township Recreation Advisory Committee; Berkeley Township Voters and Taxpayers Inc.; Italian's of American Heritage; Berkeley Township Historical Society; St. Barnabas Knights of Columbus - 3rd Degree; St. Barnabas Holy Name Society; Berkeley Township Little League Baseball Inc.; Berkeley Township Pop Warner Football Association; Berkeley Township Basketball; Bayville School Parent Teacher's Association; Central Regional Parent Teacher's Association; Central Regional Alumni Association; Holiday City / Silver Ridge Park Italian American Social Club; Ocean County Board of Health & Ocean County Utilities Authority and INSPIRE D/B/A the Peoples Pantry.
In further service to his community, Senator Amato's political activities, both past and present include- 3rd District Alternate Delegate 2012 Republican National Convention; Republican National Committee Sustaining Member; New Jersey Republican State Committee Sustaining Member; Ocean County Republican County Committeeman District 11 - 1994 to present; Berkeley Township Republican Municipal Committee, Vice Chairperson 1995, Secretary 1998 and Municipal Chairperson 2002 to 2021; Regular Republican Organization of Berkeley Township, President 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2022; Ocean County Young Republicans, Interim President, 2nd Vice President 1998, Treasurer 1999 and Fundraising Chairman 2005-2006; Ocean County Federation of Republican Women, Associate Member.
Resident of the Bayville Section of Berkeley Twp. For 53 years. Graduate of Central Regional High School and attended Ocean County College. |