19 Facts About Madeline Rogero

Madeline Anne Rogero was born on July 26,1952 and is an American politician who served as the 68th mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, elected in 2011.

Madeline Rogero was the first woman to hold the office.

Madeline Rogero served on the Knox County Commission from 1990 to 1998, and first ran for mayor in 2003, losing to the later Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam.

Madeline Rogero was born in Jacksonville, Florida, one of three children of Gerald Rogero, a plumber, and Anita Ghioto, a former nun.

Madeline Rogero spent her childhood in Eau Gallie, Florida, and later in Kettering, Ohio, where she attended Archbishop Alter High School.

Madeline Rogero attended Temple University and Ohio State University, before graduating with a degree in political science from Furman University in 1979.

Madeline Rogero obtained a master's degree from the University of Tennessee's Graduate School of Planning, having been inspired to enter the urban planning field while helping fight an attempt by a developer to install temporary trailers in her neighborhood in anticipation of the 1982 World's Fair.

In 1990, Madeline Rogero successfully ran for the 2nd District Knox County Commission seat, defeating 24-year incumbent Jesse Cawood.

In 2003, Madeline Rogero ran for mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, competing with businessman Bill Haslam for the position being vacated by long-time Knoxville mayor Victor Ashe.

Madeline Rogero announced her candidacy for mayor in August 2010, joining a field that eventually included councilwoman Marilyn Roddy, former councilman Ivan Harmon, businessman Mark Padgett, former councilman Joe Hultquist, and local 911 operator Bo Bennett.

Madeline Rogero's candidacy was endorsed by the Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville's daily newspaper; the alternative weekly Metro Pulse; the Public Trust PAC, a nonpartisan political action committee in Knox County that was established after a series of 2007 scandals involving county government; former State Senator Ben Atchley; former Knox County Executive Tommy Schumpert; several key members of the city staff under former mayor Haslam; and the Knoxville Firefighters Association.

Madeline Rogero faced fellow Democrat Padgett, the second-place finisher, in a runoff election that was held on November 8,2011.

Madeline Rogero was sworn in as mayor on December 17,2011, in a ceremony at Chilhowee Park.

Madeline Rogero's administration saw the development of the Office of Business Support, which was designed to help local businesses in their dealings with the City of Knoxville government, and the development of new enforcement tools to deal with chronically neglected and blighted properties.

Madeline Rogero included both initiatives in a Year-End Review that looked at her first year in office.

On November 1,2013, Madeline Rogero was selected as one of 26 governmental leaders to serve on a task force that advised former President Barack Obama on climate preparedness and resilience-building efforts.

In late January 2014, Madeline Rogero visited Turkey at the invitation of the US State Department to talk about the importance of women participating in politics and public life.

Madeline Rogero's administration has a four-level platform: Strong, safe neighborhoods; Living Green and Working Green; An energized downtown; and Job creation and retention.

Madeline Rogero expressed her support for the proposed Hillside and Ridgetop Protection Plan, which would place restrictions on development along the slopes of area hills and ridges.