Get to know the Greek Americans in public office.

Gus M. Bilirakis

A Republican from Palm Harbor, was first elected to Congress on November 7, 2006, to represent Florida’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes portions of Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties. He is currently serving his second term in the United States House of Representatives.

Born on February 8, 1963, Gus learned about the importance of public service early in his life from his father, Michael Bilirakis, who represented the Ninth District in Congress from 1983 to 2006. The elder Bilirakis also instilled in his son pride in his family heritage and civic-mindedness, both of which Gus proudly exhibits today.

Currently, Gus serves as a Member of the House Committees on Homeland Security, Veterans’ Affairs and Foreign Affairs. Additionally, Gus is amember of the Republican Party's Whip Team and is Chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Task Force for the Republican Policy Committee.

Read more at the official website:
http://bilirakis.house.gov/

John  Sarbanes

Born and raised in Baltimore, John Sarbanes has nearly two decades of experience working in the private, public and non-profit sectors. In 2006, he was elected to the House of Representatives to represent Maryland's 3rd Congressional District, which spans portions of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County. Congressman Sarbanes has been appointed to the Energy and Commerce Committee and was granted a special waiver to continue his service on the Natural Resources Committee.

John graduated from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton in 1984 and the following year studied law and politics in Greece on a Fulbright Scholarship. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1988, he returned to Baltimore, where he clerked for Judge J. Frederick Motz on the federal district court and the following year began his law practice at Venable. He spent 18 years at Venable, six as Chairman of the firm’s Health Care practice. John currently lives in the Towson with his wife of nineteen years, Dina, and their three children, who attend Baltimore County public schools.

Since childhood, Congressman Sarbanes has attended the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Baltimore. In 1989, he participated in a church-sponsored dialogue with members of the newly-formed Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies. Over the last fifteen years, John served as a board member of the Institute. Active with his wife and children in the Bolton Street Synagogue, John brings a special perspective to the Institute's mission of promoting understanding and dialogue among people of different religious faiths. 

Read more at the official website:
http://sarbanes.house.gov/

Zach Space

With the exception of his time in law school at Ohio State University, Zack Space has been a lifelong resident Ohio's 18th Congressional District. His upbringing, involvement in the community, and friends and family give him a unique perspective on the needs and challenges faced by working families in the 16 counties he represents in Southern and Eastern Ohio.

Congressman Space’s dedication to family and commitment to public service were instilled in him at a very young age. One of his heroes, his paternal grandfather, emigrated from Greece, and earned his American citizenship through his service fighting for his adopted country in World War I. His father, Socrates, continued the family's patriotic tradition by serving in the Marines during the Korean War. After the war, his father attended Ohio State's law school thanks to the GI Bill.

In just his second term, Congressman Space has been named to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, an exclusive committee with broad jurisdiction over a wide range of issues. He is a member of the following subcommittees: Health; Communications, Technology, and the Internet; and Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection. Space is the first member from Ohio named to this committee since Ted Strickland left Congress to serve as Governor. This prestigious assignment was given to him in recognition of his exhaustive work on broadband, healthcare, and energy issues. 

Read more at the official website:
http://space.house.gov/

Alexi Giannoulias

Alexi Giannoulias was elected to his first term as Illinois State Treasurer on Nov. 7, 2006. At the age of 30, he became the youngest State Treasurer in the nation.

Giannoulias launched the nation’s largest state-backed hybrid rebate program, put the state’s unclaimed property on eBay and started an innovative securities lending effort that’s earning more revenue for the state.

Under his leadership the Treasurer’s Bright Start College Savings Program improved from one of the worst in the nation to the best thanks to its low fees and wide investment options, according to Morningstar Inc.

Giannoulias is a leader in how to run a political office ethically. He doesn't accept contributions from his employees, banks or contractors who do business with the treasurer's office.

Now he is reforming how states can help the private sector in difficult economic times. In October 2008, Giannoulias committed $1 billion of state funds in healthy banks and credit unions to give the financial institutions more money to lend to their clients and to help shore up customer confidence. The taxpayers' money will not be at risk, and the state will earn a higher rate of return than it could in many other short-term investments.

Prior to joining public service, Giannoulias was a community banker in his hometown of Chicago. Giannoulias graduated cum laude from Boston University, earned a law degree from Tulane University’s School of Law in New Orleans and also played professional basketball in Greece.

Giannoulias, President Barack Obama's first elected protege, launched an exploratory committee for the President's former U.S. Senate seat in March of 2009.

Read more at official and campaign websites:
www.treasurer.il.gov
www.alexiforillinois.com