User:Alexpomer/Michael Allegretti

Michael A. Allegretti (born May 13, 1979) is an American public policy expert and Republican politician from Staten Island, New York, currently running for the U.S. House of Representatives for the New York's 13th congressional district. The district includes all of Staten Island, plus all or part of the Gravesend, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights neighborhoods in Brooklyn. The seat is currently held by Freshman Democratic Rep. Mike McMahon.

Allegretti holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a BA in History from Boston College and a Diploma in International Relations from Sciences-Po in France.

Biography
Allegretti has worked for 10 years in the public policy field for businesses, government and non-profit organizations, with particular focus on energy and the environment. Born and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, his family has owned and operated Bayside Fuel Oil company for more than 75 years. Allegretti now resides in Staten Island.

After graduating from Boston College, he began his career as a public policy analyst for UBS. In 2002, he served as an advisor to the World Economic Forum.

Today he serves as Senior Advisor on US Policy for The Climate Group, the only international organization dedicated to accelerating leadership towards common sense environmental solutions that grow the economy. At the Climate Group, Allegretti has counseled Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, governors, members of Congress and Fortune 500 companies.

He served as Deputy Field Director for the re-election campaign of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Associate Director for Delegate & Caucus Operations for the 2004 Republican National Convention and Special Assistant and Director of Operations to New York State Senator Marty Golden. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Kings County Republican Party.

In 2007, he served as a consultant to the Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy and Director of Climate Initiatives at the Partnership for New York City. While with the Partnership for New York City, he brought together mayors from the world’s 40 most important cities (from Bangkok to Cairo to Tokyo) and the CEOs of 15 of the world’s most influential companies for three days to create a global public-private collaboration to tackle the world’s energy challenges.

In 2009 he was accepted as a member of the British-American Project, a group of leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors who are committed to addressing transatlantic public policy issues.

2010 Congressional campaign
In July, 2009, Allegretti filed his intention to run for US Congress with the Federal Elections Commission. He is expected to make a formal announcement in September. Allegretti will challenge Freshman Democrat Michael McMahon. McMahon won the seat following the retirement of Congressman Vito Fossella. Despite the district’s location in New York City and the highest union membership of any Congressional district in the country, the seat has been reliably in Republican hands for three decades. The 13th district is by far the most conservative district in the city with solid majorities identifying themselves as fiscally conservative.

Allegretti is in the process of securing the Republican nomination and is expected to compete for both the Conservative and Independence Party nominations over the coming months. New York State Election law provides that candidates can run on more than one party line. Many candidates in major parties also run as candidates representing smaller third parties as well.

Allegretti is running because, according to his website, “During difficult economic times, our government must be focused on real results that help get our economy moving and our people back to work. What Congress just doesn't understand is that borrowing against our future at an unprecedented rate and growing government on the backs of the taxpayer will not create the private sector jobs that sustain our families.”