Augusto Amador
Augusto Amador is an American Democratic Party politician, council member of the East Ward of Newark, New Jersey, though all nine council members of Newark are elected on a nonpartisan basis at the regular municipal election or at the general election for terms of four years. The Famous Ironbound or Little Portugal is part of the East Ward. He has an estimable reputation in civic service to the city and an excellent record pertaining to his commitment to his constituents. He is the first Portuguese-American elected official in the City of Newark.
Amador was born in 1949, in a small town called Murtosa, Portugal. He began his primary education in that small town and went on to graduate from high school Colégio de São João de Brito. In 1966, he immigrated to the United States. Upon becoming a resident of Newark, he continued his higher education at Rutgers University.
Augusto Amador’s first professional career was with the Public Service Electric & Gas Company of New Jersey in 1969. He currently holds the position of Performance Administrator at this major public utility company. In 1981, Amador gained first hand experience working with the City of Newark when he was appointed to serve on the Newark Parking Commission. In 1993 Amador ran for the Newark Board of Education and was the first from the Portuguese-American Community of Newark to win this elected position. Soon, his service to the people of Newark was recognized by the mayor, earning him the appointment of Deputy Mayor in 1997.
In 1998 Amador was elected to the City of Newark Municipal Council as councilman for the East Ward. On July 1, 1998 he was sworn in. He would go on to be re-elected four years later. As of July 1, 2006, Amador is serving the East Ward for a third term.
Amador is very active in his community. He has received a number of tributes and honors. He is the recipient of both the PSE&G Spirit of Leading Award and Challenge of Caring Award. He is on the Advisory Board of the Ironbound’s Boys’ and Girl’s Club, a member of Ironbound Citizens United, Congress of Portuguese-American Educators, and member of the Portuguese-American Congress. Among several many other social and religious organizations, he is president of LISA, a local soccer league which provides recreation for over 450 young people.