Meet Alexi Giannoulias!
Author: Mosaiko EditorPosted on: Feb 20th 2009
Greek text 
Illinois State Treasurer Does More than Invest Taxpayer Dollars. He Invests in Communities and People’s Lives.
Alexi Giannoulias was elected to his first term as Illinois State Treasurer on November 7, 2006. At the age of 30, he became the youngest State Treasurer in the nation.
Prior to taking up public service, Giannoulias was a community banker in his hometown of Chicago. He graduated cum laude from Boston University, earned a law degree from Tulane University in New Orleans and also played professional basketball in Greece and with President Barack Obama.
Lately, he launched the nation’s largest state-backed hybrid rebate program and put the state’s unclaimed property on eBay. 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.
Mosaiko.gr had the honor and privilege to meet with this distinguished U.S. official during his recent visit to Greece with Senator Dick Durbin, and discuss his years as a professional basketball player, growing up as a Greek-American, and his role models in life and politics.
You used to play for a major Greek basketball league (Panionios). How did that happen and why did you leave Greece after only one year “in the game?”
Well, I played basketball in college. I went to Boston University. And then I had a chance to play in my home country, in Greece, and it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. To get paid money to do what you love is a tremendous opportunity, so I was very fortunate. Panionios offered me a contract, I came and played, and I had the best year of my life. It was so much fun to be here and speak the language. I felt like I was back home.
I left because I had knee surgery. I tore my knee up, I had knee surgery, I didn’t get better and then at some point I realized I had to get back to the U.S. and to either go back to school or get a job. Because I can’t just sit around on the beach, or play tavli or drink kafe all day.
What does the third and fourth generation of Greeks in the U.S. embrace? What do they know of Greece, and do they dream of returning to their homeland?
Well, I want to make sure, which is why it’s so great to hear what you guys at mosaiko.gr are doing, that the younger generations really embrace our culture. And I am fortunate. I have two parents who were born and raised here. They taught me how to speak the language. They brought me back every summer, I got to see my yiayia every summer. I went to church a lot. And that goes a long way. Not the silliness, like you have to marry “ellinida,” you have to do this or that…but the reality of what this country means, what it has done, the history of this country, the religion, teaching their kids the language. I’m going to teach my kids Greek. I know that. It’s important to me to maintain that culture. So my fear is, third and fourth generation Americans don’t know enough. I hope I’m wrong. I think the lucky ones are those that have got parents who’ve kept them involved. Who have brought them to Greece, with a chance to be here and be engaged in the culture, remember, appreciate, love Greece, the way I love Greece with all my heart. That to me is exciting. We want to make sure, especially with new technology, with Internet, websites, if there are parents who don’t know this: We can help them out.
The other thing is, we want to make sure the next generation of leaders — whether you’re a politician and you run for office, or you’re in the business world – that we provide role models. And that’s why I’m proud, although I haven’t accomplished anything yet, that maybe a Greek-American can see me and say “You know what,…I have a long last name too, but this guy was able to win political office.” With a last name like Giannoulias, no one thought I’d ever win office, because people in Illinois politics usually have small names. I think we need to make sure the next generation of leaders has role models, and people they can look up to and learn from, or sit down with and talk to.
You have been publicly endorsed by President Obama. How did you meet him and what is your relationship with him now?
Well, the President is a close friend of mine. He is my mentor. He is the guy who taught me everything I know about politics. He’s someone who, in my political career I try to emulate. My role models in life are my mom and dad who passed away a couple of years ago, but my political role model, but my political mentor is the President. And he’s just one of the most outstanding, one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met. And I think the fact that he has devoted his life to public service – he’s a guy who could make a ton of money and have a much easier life with a lot less scrutiny, – has made a lot of personal sacrifices to help the common good and be a part of something larger than himself says a lot about who he is. He’ll go down in history as one of the greatest Presidents we’ve ever seen.
Links:
http://www.alexiforillinois.com/
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