Vito
Bonsignore
 Vito Bonsignore was born in Bronte in 1944, He studied in the Capizzi
College and after getting a surveyor diploma he moved to Turin. After
university he made a speedy career in the same city by becoming first
technical manager and then general manager in the company managing the
Torino- Piacenza highway.
He has been also a managing director of the Turin-Milan highway. But
then his love for politics prevailed over anything else. He was twice
elected to Parliament with the Christian Democratic Party ( Andreotti’s
current), and he also has been undersecretary in several governments.
In the first Amato Government (XI Legislature, 28th June
1982-1993) he was undersecretary to Budget with economic planning with
the Ministers Franco Reviglio (until 22nd -02-1993) and Beniamino
Andreatta (from 21st -02-1993). During the 1st Ciampi Government (XI
Legislature, 28th April 1993 - 16th April 1994) was (until the 14th
-April 1993) undersecretary to Budget and economic planning with the
Minister Luigi Spaventa.
In 1993, when the Tangentopoli storm almost destroyed the entire
Christian Democratic Party map, Bonsignore after being under
investigation for the third time, the 13th of April resigned office of
Undersecretary to Budget and went back to Turin as a full-time
entrepreneur. But his passion for public administration was still
there. Notwithstanding the bad memory of a conviction (without
constitution of crime) continued to dedicated himself to politics.
 He has been a component of the executive committee of the CDU (Organizational
and Electoral Coordinator) and amongst the founding members ( together
with Rocco Buttiglione, Sergio D’Antoni, Marco Follini and others) of
European Democracy.
In 2002 takes part to the congress and is one of the founders of the
new political subject UDC ( from the unification of three parties;
CCD, CDU and DE). Today, a brilliant entrepreneur, has become a
protagonist of national economic life and is becoming the third
highway manager in Italy.
“Vito Bonsignore munifico donò’” So is written on the large rose
window of the Sacred Heart church. During the recent church’s remaking
(1992), the windows were in fact donated by Vito Bonsignore to the
College where he started his studies. |
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Giuseppe Firrarello
 Pino
Firrarello was born on August 9th, 1939 in San Cono (Catania),
but it is an adopted brontese to all effects: from a very young
age has lived and worked in Bronte, began here the first steps in
politics (militating in the Christian Democracy) here he lives and
got married.
Councilor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of the Bronte Council,
provincial secretary assistant of the DC of Catania
and then deputy to the Sicilian Regional Assembly where was
elected in the list of the DC, college of Catania, in the
10th legislature, with 42.903 preferential votes and
subsequently, in the same college, with 59.633 preferential votes
over 241.659 of list (percentage 24,67).
As an alderman In the Regional Assembly he has covered many
important tasks; he was also a member of 1st standing
legislative Committee and some CEE Committee, vice-chairman
of 3rd standing legislative Committee; president of 6th permanent
legislative Committee.
Was elected a Senator in the Acireale College.14 on
April 21st, 1996 (XIII Senate legislature)
Initially member of the group Christian Democratic Federation --
CDU (from May 12th, 1996 to January 16th, 2000); from January
17th, 2000 he belongs to the Forza Italia group.
Has been a member of the fourth standing Committee (defense) from
January 21st, 2000, of the eighth standing committee (public work,
communications ) from May 30th, 1996 to January 20th, 2000, of the
inquiry committee on the Mafia phenomenon from November 21st, 1996
to April 13th, 1999, of the inquiry committee on the waste
disposal cycle from May 26th, 1997.
Has always been intensely involved in legislative and
productive activity presenting, as first signatory, or
cooperating to numerous DDL (over 100) and intervening on
more than 50 bills.
Has presented personally, or with others, documents for the
institution of parliamentary committees inquiring on the safety of
the Italian railway system, on the crisis of the Ambrosian
Bank, of the Naples Bank and the creditor banks of the "Ferruzzi
Montedison" group, on the death of Don Giorgio Govoni,
Bergamini and Ederoclide and, as first signatory, the
DDL S.24 for the institution of a gaming house in the Town
Council of
Taormina. |
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"Un paese del Sud, realtà e
fantasia"
 Journalist and publicist, Pino Firrarello has also
published a book “A country town of the South - Reality and
Fantasy”. The book, recently reprinted by the Greco
Editions (Catania 2004), was written during the
years ’60, when the political life of Pino Firrarelllo
was only on the horizon. It is a “search of origins”, an
essay on his native country town, San Cono, made through the memory and the stories of the old people of the town, a
memory “between reality and fantasy”, as indicated in the
title. This is how it is presented by the same Firrarello:
«I did not want to write a novel, nor a history of a
town, however the present work cannot be defined only a
fruit of the fantasy, in that case, besides, surpassed by
reality. They are personal experiences, discussions listened
and held with the elderly.
They are testimony of values of
the difficult life of the people of San Cono identifiable
with that of many people, born and grown up in little towns
of the South of Italy, that, in the first part, have the
taste of local news, simple but authentic, nearly recorded
from the truth, from the time of the large landed estates,
to the hard years of Fascism, while in the second part
“Emigrants talks”, on the leading character, be it real or
imaginary, surface common feelings to many yesterday’s
people of San Cono, youngsters wanting to tackle the world
and experiment on their own, pain and joy, to overcome the
misery.» |
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In the last
national elections of May 13th, 2001 was reelected senator
In the College 14 of Acireale in The House of Freedoms with a very
large majority of votes (75.509 votes or 52,9
percent ).
Proclaimed, on May 24th, 2001, senator in the current legislature
[XIV] is member of the Forza Italia group and was elected,
on June 6, Secretary to The Senate Chairmanship.
From June 22nd, 2001 is also member of the IV standing committee (Defense)
Has also published a book: "A Country Town of the South".
In 2005 Pino Firrarello has again been elected Bronte’s
lord Mayor during the
administrative elections held in May,
with the 58, 95% of votes.
In the last
national elections of
the 9-10th. of April 2006 (voting with the proportional system
without preferences) he was re-elected senator to Madame
Palace for the third time in the Sicilian circumscription with
the coalition of The House of Liberties. |
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Salvatore Leanza
 Salvatore
Leanza, doctor in jurisprudence, entrepreneur, was
born on September 20th, 1947, in Bronte, where was municipal adviser.
Was elected in the XIth legislature to the Sicilian Regional Assembly,
in the college of Catania, (list socialist unity -- PSI), with 40.197 preferential votes on
77.548 of list (percent 51,83). Already deputized of the 9nt and 10nt legislature, again elected in the PSI,
respectively with 11.765 and 30.412 preferential votes.
Vice-President of the Qantus (National Consortium for the
promotion of good quality handicrafts) and component the Cer (Residential
building committee) was member of the national meeting and the regional
committee of the PSI,
national president of the Cantus (National case for the social and cultural tourism) representing the
Sicilian area.
In the 9nt legislature, secretary of the socialist parliamentary Group, composing of 6 standing legislative Committee, and secretary of the
legislative special Committee CEE.
In the 10nt legislature, was regional Assessor for the cooperation ( 44th govern ), component of 6 standing
legislative Committee, some CEE Committee and vice-president of 7 standing legislative Committee.
In 11nt legislature was regional assessor for the public works
(45th govern) and from June 2002 is Mayor of the Bronte Council.
The Municipal elections of June 2002 saw his
return to active politics and his unforeseen election to Bronte’s Lord
Mayor with a coalition of leftist electoral rolls. Leanza’s
mayoralty however, didn’t last very long: the Council, (where the
opposition had 14 councillors out of 20), on the 23rd of October
2004, voted a motion of no confidence, (with 15 votes in favour),
sending everybody home (Lord Mayor and Council) and Bronte’s
inhabitants back to the polls. |
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Nunzio
Calanna
Nunzio
Calanna, born in Bronte on July
6th, 1943, was deputized to the Sicilian Regional Assembly. Doctor in
jurisprudence, in act he exercises the profession of criminal lawyer.
Was elected in the list of the Socialist Party, college of
Catania,
with 2.246 preferential votes on 12.682 of list (percent 17,71).
Was adviser to the regional
province of Catania, member of the National Leadership Of The Socialist
Party and President Of The Committee for the access to administrative
documents (L.R. 10/91).
To the area it was member of the Legislative Committee of the business of
the CEE and vice-chairman of the Anti-mafia
special Committee.
To the last elections of the Sicilian Regional Assembly
of June
24th, 2001 (XIII legislature) he presented himself in the lists of
European Democracy and was not reelected. |
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Franco Catania
Franco Catania, deputized to the Sicilian Regional Assembly, is an entrepreneur, born in Bronte (Catania) the
1st of May, 1955.
Young entrepreneur in the textile industry succeeded, in few years. to establish himself in
the production of designer clothes for known national and international
brands, assuring a job for hundreds of Bronte's young people.
He was the
founder of the local branch of Forza Italia
Elected in the XIIth legislature in the list of Forza Italia, College Of Catania, with 8.403
preferential votes on 109.835 of list (7,65 percent).
Vice-chairman of 3 standing legislative Committee; member of 5
standing legislative Committee.
In the last elections of the Sicilian Regional Assembly has been
reelected to the ARS in the list of Forza Italia, College Of Catania, with
12.889
preferential votes June 24th, 2001
(XIIIth
legislature).
He was the
most voted in Bronte
with 2.153 votes.
In this last legislature (XIIIth) it is enrolled on the Forza Italia
group,
is President Of The College Of The
Deputed Heads (from 02/08/2001) and Legislative
Member Of The V Committee for Culture, Formation and Work (from
07/08/2001).
During April 2004 Franco Catania has left Forza Italia to join the
coalition of Centre Left.
In the successive elections of the 28th. of May 2006 he was not re-elected,
getting only 6585 votes while in Bronte he was the most voted with 2269
votes. |
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Giuseppe Castiglione
Deputized
to the Sicilian Regional Meeting, Giuseppe Castiglione,
born in Bronte on October 5th, 1963. Official manager of
company, reviser of the accounts, journalist and publicist.
He has had various experiences in the context of the community
interventions,
addressed to the small and middle-size companies and in
the world of Associations and Catholic voluntary service.
Was municipal adviser to Bronte, member of the management Committee and President Of The Committee Of The Guarantors Of The USL no. 39 of
Bronte. National adviser of the A.I.C.C.R.E (Italian association councils
and areas of Europe).
Elected to the Regional Meeting in the list of the CDU, college of Catania, with
8.487 preferential votes
on 52.611 of list ( 16,13 %).
He was regional assessor of the 50th, the 51st and the 52nd Government,
put in charge by the Industry Assessor-ship. |
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Photo of Giuseppe Castiglione in 1985, a
very young member of the USL N° 39 Committee. |
In the last elections of the Sicilian Regional Meeting of June
24th, 2001h (XIII legislature) was reelected to the ARS in the list of
Forza Italia, College Of Catania, with 18.023 preferential votes (record
for only preference). He carried off 1.412 votes in Bronte.
In the current legislature (XIII) it is registered on the Forza Italia
group and was elected Regional Assessor for Agriculture and
Forests.
The last exceptional performance was his
election to the European Parliament: in the last elections, (June
2004), the Sicilians sent him to Strasburg among the 78 Italian
deputies to the European Parliament. Elected in the constituency of
Sardinia and Sicily, Giuseppe Castiglione, one of the 16
European parliamentarians of “Forza Italia”, took 94.051 votes.
In the European Parliament he belongs to the group of
the European Popular Party (Christian Democrats) and of the European
Democrats: He is a Commission member for agriculture, public sanity
and alimentary safety and is part of delegations for relations with
Iran and the Popular Chinese Republic.
Since January 2006 Giuseppe Castiglione had been nominated
vice coordinator of Forza
Italia in Sicily and Commissary of the party at Messina; In
February he was also elected national vice-president of AICCRE (Italian
Association of Council, Communes and Regions of Europe). |
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Vincenzo Saitta, lawyer and Member of
Parliament was born in Bronte from Giuseppe and Luca Nunzia
the 10th of Febbruary 1876.
Luigi Castiglione,
lawyer, born in Bronte in June 1881 and dead in Catania in June 1956. Was, as a very young man, municipal adviser in Bronte (the socialist party)
and Deputy in Parliament.
It was the third brontese deputy to Montecitorio; elected in 1948 to the parliament, he resigned in 1949 for health
reasons.
Biagio Pecorino (Bronte 1909 – Catania 1983) was a famous surgeon, chief
physician to the 
He had two sons, Vincent, hill since berth, and Augustine. A
political leader of the MSI - continues Ciraldo -
he was a rousing orator for being a very helpful person,
very attentive towards the less fortunate. Privately he
practised his profession in a clinic of Macalle
street and then in San Vito street, at Catania.
His was indeed a strange activity, as – specifies Ciraldo
- either for friendship or for need, very few were the
ones who paid for his services. And then, towards the end of
the years ’60, his life changed radically.
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