ALEXAKIS FOR CONGRESS CAMPAIGN SHIFTS INTO HIGH GEAR WITH PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND TOWN HALL DEBATE
KENT
ISLAND, MD –
Following a flurry of public appearances in Maryland’s Eastern Shore
region during the week of September 20th, Greek American Kostas
Alexakis – the Democratic Candidate for Congress in Maryland’s First
District – has shifted his campaign into high gear. The week’s
activities started with a fundraiser in Baltimore’s Greektown at the
Acropolis Restaurant. The event was attended by Christine Sarbanes, who
was standing in for one of the most well-known of Greek American voices,
her husband Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD). A number of other public
officials also attended the event.
Mrs.
Sarbanes was there to lend her and her husband’s support to the effort.
Among other things, she stated, “Paul and I are very pleased that Kostas
is making this run. Having reviewed his positions, we believe that he will
be a great addition to Congress and provide the people of the First
Congressional District the king of representation that can improve their
lives, the lives of the citizens of Maryland, and make this world a better
place.”
The event
was also attended by the Mayor of Baltimore, the Honorable Martin
O’Malley, who expressed his support for a good friend that “I have
supported in the Primary and now I am pleased to be supporting in the
General Election. Kostas has a great chance against the incumbent
primarily because the incumbent has lost the support of his party and is
only relying on the Democrats to stay in power. I will work very hard to
make sure that the Democrats in the First Congressional District vote for
Kostas Alexakis.” The Mayor also mentioned that Maryland has learned
that Greek Americans are good politicians and great Democrats.
Alexakis’
campaign has taken him all over the First Congressional District and has
the incumbent, Republican candidate Wayne Gilchrest, avoiding any joint
appearances. Alexakis’ efforts last week turned to a 12 county Town Hall
meeting and debate against his opponent. The meeting, which took place on
Tuesday, September 28th at the Denton Fire Hall, was open to
the public and provided an opportunity for attendees to explore the
candidates’ positions on a number of issues, with specific emphasis on
farming-related regulation and health care. Congressman Gilchrest did not
attend the debate, raising more questions about his avoiding discussing
the issues in a public forum with Alexakis.
In recent
years, there has been a decreasing number of Greek American Members of
Congress. From a combined high of six members in the House of
Representatives and Senate in each of the 101st and 102nd
Congresses, the current 108th Congress has only one
Representative and two Senators who are of Greek descent. Thus despite the
fact that Greek Americans as a whole continue to be active in the U.S.
political scene through various channels, this most effective and direct
way of representing Greek American positions – through first-hand
representation in the U.S. Legislative Branch – is in jeopardy.
Kostas
Alexakis’ run for Congress presents an opportunity for Greek Americans
nationwide to support and elect a candidate who will stand as a leader on
issues critical to the Greek American community. Through venues such as
the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, Alexakis will promote U.S.
relations with Greece and Cyprus, and will work to fulfill the best
interests of Greek Americans throughout the country.
Alexakis is
very active in the Greek American community and a long-standing member of
the Board of Directors for the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), in
Washington, D.C., which works to strengthen U.S. relations with Greece and
Cyprus and within the Greek American community. With this proven track
record, Alexakis understands and has been a long-time proponent of these
issues. His election is critical step in maintaining Greek American
concerns in the political discussion on Capitol Hill.
The
candidate has also gained endorsements and the support of a number of
prominent officials and organizations. Senator Barbara Milkuski (D-MD)
supports Kostas Alexakis’ bid and will be making phone calls on his
behalf. Additionally, all Democratic Congressmen that border on
Maryland’s First Congressional District are supportive of his campaign
and will also be making phone calls on his behalf. Alexakis has been
endorsed by labor unions, including the International Union, United
Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
and the Teamsters Union. Alexakis’ campaign Treasurer and Finance
Director is Tom Koch, the ex-Treasurer of the Democratic Party of Maryland
during the Clinton years.
Kostas
Alexakis is a businessman whose career and life attest to the validity of
the American Dream. He was born on June 16, 1954 in Vasilakion, a little
village just south of Sparta, Greece. In August 1967 at the age of 13, he
and his family immigrated to the U.S. where he attended junior high and
high school in Arlington, Virginia. Alexakis went on to obtain a
bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from George Washington
University in Washington, D.C. He moved to Baltimore in 1998 and has been
active in both the social and political life of the city, having
established several businesses there beginning in 1993. Alexakis currently
lives in Arnold, Maryland, with his wife Laura, and their six-year old
daughter, Eleni.
In the
upcoming weeks, the Alexakis for Congress campaign will be hosting several
public appearances and fundraising events to propel Mr. Alexakis to
victory on the November 2nd Election Day. The Greek American
community has much to gain by supporting this campaign. “I had to come
to America to find true Greek Democracy and we Greeks need to be proud in
that our ancestors were the architects of this greatest governing system
known to man. I am proud to have the opportunity to enter the foremost
body of political thought -- the U.S. Congress,” said Mr. Alexakis at
his most recent fundraiser.
For
additional information on how you can support the Alexakis for Congress
campaign, contact Mary Margaret Goodwin at (410) 643-8716,
via email at kostas@alexakisforcongress.com,
or by accessing the Alexakis for Congress web site at www.AlexakisForCongress.com.
Interview and other media requests should be directed to Chrysoula
Economopoulos at (202) 285-7726 or ChrysoulaE@hotmail.com.
