Josh Amato is a small business owner, nonprofit board member, and former Sammamish Planning Commissioner who’s running for City Council to bring focus and transparency to get results for you.

Josh and his wife Jessica chose to build their lives in Sammamish because they love this city. They walk their dogs at Soaring Eagle, fish at Beaver Lake, and volunteer with the Sammamish Rotary. They’ve seen how neighbors support each other, especially during tough moments like the Bomb Cyclone. That shared sense of community is what makes Sammamish so special.

Josh’s path hasn’t been easy. After losing his mom at a young age and having an unstable childhood, he learned early on the value of resilience, accountability, and showing up for others. Those lessons now guide his approach to leadership.

For more than a decade, Josh has owned and operated a local business. This experience taught him how to set priorities, manage limited budgets, and follow through. On the Sammamish Planning Commission, he focused on preserving our tree canopy and advocating for new development to align with community values.

He also serves on the board of PAWS, a leading animal welfare organization for wildlife and companion animals. He helps lead the Sammamish Rotary’s annual Christmas Tree Lot, which raises tens of thousands of dollars for food banks and educational grants that directly support local families.

Josh is running because he believes city government should work for you by delivering results. That means managing the budget responsibly, investing in infrastructure and emergency preparedness, and making sure every dollar serves the people who live here.

Josh and Jessica live near Beaver Lake with their two dogs and one very mischievous cat.