Amanda Renzetti
From Usgovsimulation
| ||||
| U.S. Representative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Office: 2010-Present | ||||
| Electoral District | 53rd | |||
| Preceded by | Susan Davis | |||
| Succeeded by | Incumbent | |||
| Born | January 11th, 1978 New Orleans, Louisiana | |||
| Political Party | Democratic | |||
| Spouse | None | |||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | |||
Amanda Renzetti is an American politician, and has represented California's 53rd Congressional District since January 2011. She was elected House Minority Whip shortly after her election to the House, and was promoted to House Minority Leader when J. Martin Pennypot had to step down. However, she is probably most famous nationwide for her involvement in the 2012 Democratic Presidential Primary, tying Senate Majority Leader Cullen in Iowa and winning the New Hampshire Primary.
Early Life
Amanda Renzetti was born January 11th, 1978, to Viola Renzetti and Emilio Formigoni, Italian-Americans living in Louisiana. Amanda was the eldest of three children. Her mother died due to complications from childbirth after having her youngest biological sister, Mia, and their father became very abusive.
When Amanda was 10, her older cousin Julian Williams (born Dante Renzetti), found her. Julian was appalled at the behavior of Emilio, and through a lawyer he knew managed to get the state to take Amanda and her siblings into foster care. Amanda and her siblings were then promptly adopted by Julian's own adoptive father, William Richards.
Military Service
Inspired by the military service of Julian, Amanda joined the United States navy at the age of 18 (in 1996). She gravitated to aircraft, having obtained a pilots license the year before, and managed to get admitted to the Naval Aviation program. After completing flight training, she was assigned to the historic VFA-14 fighter squadron in 1998.
In 2002, Amanda's squadron, now operating off the USS Enterprise, was an active participant in Operation Enduring Freedom, running numerous attacks against Iraqi targets. In 2003, her squadron was deployed to the Persian Gulf, in support of the invasion of Iraq. Serving on the USS Nimitz by then, Amanda personally attacked several targets around Baghdad. VFA-14 returned to combat in the Persian Gulf in 2005, supporting additional operations in Iraq. They would be deployed to Iraq again in 2008.
In November, 2010, Amanda received an honorable discharge from the navy, after 14 years of service.
2010 House Special Election
Upon leaving the military, Renzetti ran for and won California's 53rd Congressional Seat, in a special election brought on by the retirement of her predecessor.
