A Geologist by profession, he has been married to Lorella Ostinelli since 1984, with whom he has three children.[5]
In 2002, he was elected to the Como City Council for La Margherita, becoming its leader. He was re-elected to the council in 2007, elected on the Ulivo list, and in 2010 became leader of the Democratic Party (Italy).
In 2011, he ran in the Centre-left politics primary elections for the selection of the mayoral candidate and, winning on November 27 with 49.4% of the vote, secured the nomination.[6]
He therefore stood in the 2012 local elections as leader of a coalition formed by the Democratic Party (Italy), Paco-Sel, Italia dei Valori, Como Civica and Amo la mia città, two civic lists, finishing in the lead in the first round on May 6 and 7 with 35.5% of the votes.[7] In the runoff two weeks later, against The People of Freedom candidate Laura Bordoli, he was elected mayor with 74.9% of the vote.
His victory marked the first election of a center-left representative as mayor of Como since direct elections for mayor were introduced.[8]
In the investigation by the Como Public Prosecutor's Office into public contracts and flood barriers along the lakefront, he is under investigation for interference with the freedom to choose a contractor and for ideological falsehood.[9]
As previously stated,[10] he has decided not to run for a second term in the 2017 local elections.
