Ron Turano. Baker? Italian Senator?

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Jan 4, 2006 4:14PM

Renato "Ron" Turano, president of the Berwyn-based Turano Baking Company, wants to be a Senator. But not an IL Senator, and not even a US Senator. Turano is going to run for a seat in the Italian Senate. Way to be different, dude!

A restructure of Italy's legislature now allows Turano, who has dual US and Italian citizenship, to represent Italian citizens living in North America. And a new Italian law now allows millions of Italian expatriates to vote in Italy's April elections. Italian citizens now living abroad will be able to elect 12 deputies and 6 senators to the Italian Parliament.

Turano said, "I never thought it would actually become law. I would like to give back to the (Italian) community some of what has been given to me." If elected, Turano will have to spend half the year in Rome, where he'll get paid about $100,000 to represent the 350,000 Italian citizens living in North America.

Turano image via ABC7