About Senator Fontana

    On January 2, 2007, Wayne D. Fontana was elected to his first full term as State Senator in the 42nd District -- after first being elected to the Senate in a May 17, 2005 special election to fill an unexpired term. 

     As State Senator, he serves as the Minority Chair of the Game and Fisheries Committee.  He is also an active member of the State Government Committee, Local Government Committee, Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, Judiciary Committee, and the Democratic Policy Committee and has recently become more actively involved in the Senate's Biotech and Life Sciences Caucus.  He is an appointed member of the Sports & Exhibition Authority and the PA Public Television Network Commission as well as an elected member of the Three Rivers Regatta board.

     During the 2005-2006 Legislative Session, he was appointed to serve as a Commissioner to the Governor’s Commission on College and Career Success and as a member of the Governor’s Health Care Advisory Board - Small Business Panel and the PA Small Business Policy Advisory Board.  Since his election to the Senate, he has also served as a member of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and the Aging and Youth Committee.  As the former Minority Chair of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, he played an active role in the adoption of legislation that benefits Pennsylvania’s National Guard members as well as the Commonwealth’s many veterans.

     Prior to his election to the State Senate, Wayne served as a member of Allegheny County Council, representing the 12th District beginning with the inaugural Council in January of 2000. He served as Vice President of Council from January of 2004 through March 2005 when he resigned to run for the State Senate. During his tenure at Council, he also served as Chairman of the Property Assessment Committee, the Economic Development Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Budget and Finance Committee. As a member of Council, he was appointed to serve on the Property Assessment Oversight Board and the Allegheny County Vacant Property Committee and as Chair of the Redistricting Committee responsible for the drawing of districts. Legislatively, Wayne was responsible for authoring the County’s Homestead Exemption Program and secured passage of legislation that reduced the County’s millage tax rate.  He also fought for western Pennsylvania residents by signing a pledge sponsoring a Living Wage Ordinance to support city and county working people by providing a fair hourly wage.

     Wayne has deep roots in the community.  He previously served as a 19th Ward Committee Person for the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. He also takes an active role in the community as a member of the South Pittsburgh Community Development Committee, a member of the Government Affairs Committee of the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, and a member of the Italian Sons & Daughters of America and the Lion’s Club. In the past, he has performed volunteer work for the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund and is also a former member of Boilermakers Local 154 and Teamsters Locals 249 and 211.

     Wayne is, by profession, a real estate sales associate and broker. He most recently worked for Howard Hanna Real Estate Services as a Sales Manager and Associate Broker. In 2004, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (RAMP).  He holds an Associate’s Degree in Business from Community College of Allegheny County and also participates in continuing education for real estate licensing and bi-yearly education requirements to retain his broker’s license.

     Wayne was born and raised in Beechview by his parents, Joe and Mary, along with his two older brothers. He and his wife, Francine Buono Fontana, have three grown children (Frank, Melissa, and Matthew), one granddaughter (Josephine) and reside in the Brookline section of the City of Pittsburgh where they are members of Resurrection Catholic Church.

     "I credit my parents with instilling several lessons in me from an early age.  I was taught to work hard, to be sincere, to have pride in the work you do and who you are, and to respect others. These lessons have carried into my current work in the Senate.  I am committed to making western Pennsylvania and the state as a whole a better place to live and work.  I am honored to have this opportunity to serve Pennsylvania citizens as a state Senator.  I believe hard work pays off and will do all in my power to make a difference and have the citizens’ voices be heard."

Brookline District Office ♦ 930 Brookline Boulevard ♦ Pittsburgh, PA  15226-2106 ♦ Phone:  412-344-2551 ♦ Fax:  412-344-3400

Harrisburg Office ♦ 185 Main Capitol ♦ Senate Box 203042 ♦ Harrisburg, PA  17120-3042 ♦ Phone:  717-787-5300 ♦ Fax:  717-772-5484

Kennedy Twp Office ♦ Kenmawr Plaza-524 Pine Hollow Rd ♦ Kennedy Twp, PA  15136-1661 ♦ Phone:  412-331-1208 ♦ Fax:  412-331-2079

Beechview Satellite Office ♦ 1660 Broadway Avenue ♦ Pittsburgh, PA  15216-3247 ♦ Phone:  412-343-2080 ♦ Fax:  412-343-2418