Derio L. Gambaro (born December 6, 1955) is an

American politician In the United States, politics functions within a framework of a constitutional federal democratic republic with a presidential system. The three distinct branches share powers: Congress, which forms the legislative branch, a bicameral legis ...

. He previously served in the

Missouri House of Representatives The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 37,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections ...

where he represented a portion of South St. Louis including The Hill and Dogtown neighborhoods. He is a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

. Gambaro grew up in St. Louis and graduated from

St. Louis University High School St. Louis University High School (SLUH) is an all-male Jesuit high school in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest secondary educational institution in the United States west of the Mississippi River, and one of the largest pri ...

. He attended the

United States Air Force Academy The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academies, United States service academy in Air Force Academy, Colorado, Air Force Academy Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Colorado Springs. I ...

for two years and graduated from St. Louis University in 1979. Gambaro and his wife, Linda, live on the St. Louis Hill with their four children: Anna, Derio J., Catherine, and Margaret, and also his son-in-law Pat McIver. In 1998, Gambaro was elected State Representative, defeating incumbent

Tom Bauer Tom Bauer (born March 16, 1946) is an American lawyer and politician from St. Louis, Missouri, who served in the Missouri House of Representatives and on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. In 2005 he was Recall election, recalled from his position as ...

in the Democratic Partisan primary, primary election. Gambaro was re-elected in 2000 and did not seek re-election in 2002. He later served on the St. Louis board of election commissioners. In 2006, after several years out of elective office, Gambaro was an unsuccessful candidate for the 4th District

Missouri State Senate The Missouri Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 181,000. Its members serve four-year terms, with half the seats being up for election every two yea ...

seat being vacated by

Pat Dougherty Patrick Dougherty (born June 30, 1948) is an American Democratic politician. Due to term limits, he retired from political life in 2007 after nearly 30 years of service in the Missouri General Assembly. Education and background Patrick Dougherty ...

. The Democratic Partisan primary, primary election was heavily contested, and no Republicans or third party candidates sought the seat. Gambaro finished third in the race, behind

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...

instructor Jeff Smith and State Representative Yaphett El-Amin, but ahead of State Representative

Amber Boykins Amber "Holly" Boykins (born April 4, 1969) is an American politician. She represented a portion of North St. Louis in the Missouri House of Representatives. She is a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat Boykins is a St. Louis native. She gra ...

, and former St. Louis Alderman Kenny Jonesbr>
Governor Blunt appointed Gambaro to the Missouri State Board of Education in June 2007.

References

External links

KWMU 2006 election guide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gambaro Democratic Party members of the Missouri House of Representatives 1955 births Living people Politicians from St. Louis American people of Italian descent