Michael A. Lazzara is a North Carolina politician.[1]

Michael Lazzara
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 6th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2021
Preceded byHarry Brown
Personal details
BornPalermo, Sicily, Italy
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceJacksonville, North Carolina

Early life and education

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Lazzara was born in Palermo, Sicily and raised in Chicago.[2]

Military career

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Lazzara served in the United States Marine Corps from 1982 to 1986 and was stationed at Camp Lejeune.[3] He was promoted to corporal.

Career

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Lazzara is the owner of Lazzara Pizza Inc.[3] By 2021, Lazzara has been in the pizza industry for 30 years.[4] In 2005, Lazzara first started serving as Mayor Pro Tem of Jacksonville, North Carolina. On the Jacksonville city council, he represented the 3rd ward.[5] Lazzara is chairman of the Jacksonville Tourism Development Authority.[2] In 2020, Mayor Pro Tem Lazzara, along with Chief Michael Yaniero, accepted a Law Enforcement Agency of the Year awarded to the Jacksonville Police Department by the North Carolina Police Executives Association.[6] On November 3, 2020, Lazzara was elected to the North Carolina Senate seat representing the 6th district. He resigned from the city council as result.[5] Lazarra assumed office on January 1, 2021.[7] Lazarra and was sworn in with a virtual ceremony on January 2 alongside George G. Cleveland and Jimmy Dixon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8][9][10] Lazzara was appointed to three committees in the state senate: Appropriations on General Government, State and Local Government, Education and Judiciary. In January 2021, Lazzara advocated for a state senate bill sponsored by Deanna Ballard that sought to reopen North Carolina schools, with a virtual option, amid the pandemic.[11]

Personal life

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Lazzara is Catholic.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "SENATOR MICHAEL A. LAZZARA (REP)". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Michael Lazzara to replace Harry Brown in N.C. Senate". Jacksonville Daily News. 3 November 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "New and familiar faces at N.C. General Assembly. Here's the Senate". Carolina Coast Online. 12 February 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "ENC restaurant owner shares hopes for 2021". WCTI-TV. January 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Businessman appointed to fill vacant Jacksonville council seat". WITN-TV. 17 March 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Jacksonville PD awarded agency of the year". Jacksonville Daily News. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Michael Lazzara". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  8. ^ "Virtual oath-taking ceremony for elected members of the North Carolina Legislature". KTRK-TV. 3 January 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "Senator Michael Lazzara takes oath as District 6 Senator". WITN-TV. 3 January 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "Sen. Michael Lazzara begins first term the N.C. Senate as session opens this week". Jacksonville Daily News. 12 January 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "NC Senate GOP wants in-person class option to be required in proposed bill". WITN-TV. 30 January 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
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North Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 6th district

2021-present
Incumbent