ABOUT MARCO
As a child, my lone motivation toward getting older was anchored by one idea: being able to vote (and move out of my parent's place). My excitement at turning 18 the week before a federal election meant for the first time I was going to have a say in the government that supports its people. I was already paying attention to different political parties and had my self-informed ideas about who I wanted to cast my first ever vote for. My candidate would ultimately lose by a landslide, but my interest in politics and public administration was only beginning.
When I attended post-secondary and had the opportunity to do a placement in Councillor Vaughan's Office at City Hall, I was ecstatic at being provided the opportunity (despite the fact my preference was for MP Jack Layton's Office). This is where my eyes opened to the role the City (and a municipality) has on the quality of life of its residents and where I decided I want to make a career of it.
Flash forward 17 years (I managed to move out of my parents' place), and my passion for all things City of Toronto has not faded. In my 15 years (the majority with Councillor Layton) at the City of Toronto I gained a comprehensive understanding of the policy making process, the political calculations that are considered every step of the way, and peeled back the layers of communications and spin added to actions by those in authority to understand the true outcomes of City Council's decision making.
Outside of politics, my passions include the outdoors, parks and public spaces, and baseball. With respect to the latter, I am an award winning youth baseball coach, having been named Baseball Ontario's Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2022, receiving Baseball Canada's Grassroots Coach Award in 2023, and most recently the Coaches' Association of Ontario's Excellence Award in 2024.
I have recently been forced into retirement from youth baseball coaching as my wife and I await our first newborn, and have decided to take up basketball in my mid-30s until I can return to the ball diamond.
I rent in Cabbagetown, and you will find me biking around the City if there is somewhere I need to be, and if some random part of my bicycle has not yet been stolen.