Amadeo Trinchitella (died February 4, 2005) was an American political organizer for the Democratic Party. He was best known for his power in retirement communities in Broward County, Florida. [1]
Trinchitella served as a marine in World War II. Afterwards, he worked as a piano mover, [2] and eventually ran a bar and restaurant in New York City. [3] In 1976, he retired to a condominium in Century Village in Broward County, Florida. Broward County in the 1970s–1990s was a stronghold of voters for the Democratic Party, and one of the nation's most politically active counties. [2] [4]
Upon arriving, Trinchitella quickly became involved in organizing other condominium owners, eventually becoming head of the Recreation Committee of the Condominium Owners of Century Village East. He soon developed a reputation for being able to get thousands of retirees to the polls during elections. [2] [5] [6] In recognition of this, Democratic candidates for statewide office frequently visited Century Village, [7] and votes from the area were cited as particularly important in the 1996 [4] [8] and 2000 presidential elections. [9] Trinchitella used his sway to advocate for construction of a health clinic in Century Village and an elementary school in Deerfield Beach, [2] and against construction of the SW 10th street connector between Interstate 95 and Florida State Road 869. [10]
In 1999, Trinchitella resigned from the Deerfield city commission. [11] That year, The New York Times reported that "[n]o one gets elected in this part of Florida, everyone here says, unless first they talk to 'Trinchi.'" [3] US President Bill Clinton deemed the politician Robert Wexler "Trinchi’s congressman" in recognition of the role that Trinchitella played in Wexler's election to the US House of Representatives. [2] [12]
Trinchitella was married to Maria for fifty years before she died in 1991. [2] He died on February 4, 2005. [13] In an obituary the Orlando Sentinel described him as a "democratic kingpin". [2] His death was cited by several newspapers as marking the end of the era where Democrats in Broward County held substantial power. [12] [13]