A Successful Event for Matthew Mirones

NEW YORK.- Prominent Greek Americans, amongst others, Alex Spanos, N.Y. State Senator Dean Skelos, Peter J. Pappas etc, joined New York State Governor George Pataki, in organizing a fundraising event, for Greek American NY State Assemblyman of Staten Island, Matthew Mirones. More than 200 hundred people showed up, at the Battery Gardens – a restaurant bought recently by George Makkos – raising over 100.000 dollars for the re-election of Matthew Mirones, one of the rising stars of the Republican Party in New York.

Although Governor Pataki was not able to attend, he spoke to the gathering by phone, sending his wishes to the Greek American politician.

Guardian Angels leader, Curtis Sliwa, the Master of Ceremonies praised Mirones for his strong conservative values.

A son of shoemaker immigrated to the US from the island of Chios, Matthew Mirones, joined to the podium by his mother, paid tribute to his immigrant parents, who fought hard in this great country to fulfill the American dream.

“They made sacrifices to succeed, not only for them, but especially their children”.
Speaking after the event to GreekNews, Mirones thanked all his friends who made with their presence the event successful and his stuff director Georgea Kotzamanis.

“It was a very heartwarming experience tonight. I have had so much love and support expressed here in our community. We are certainly looking forward to a very great success come at November elections for our third victory in two and half years. It was extremely heartwarming to have such a great turnout.Governor Pataki called in and gave his warm wishes and support and his endorsement. It means a lot to me. His great leadership in New York State during these difficult times has been inspirational for me not only as a citizen but as an elected official”.

Mirones gave special thanks to his GreekAmerican supporters.

“I would like to say to the Greek American Community. We have much to be proud of; we are a strong, powerful community. If we unite we can have many-many Greek Americans in elected office. And we will serve valiantly as public servants not only to represent proudly as Greek Americans our communities but our constituencies as a whole. We as a Greek American community must unite, support our young individuals for going out for political office so that we can have a voice in local, state and national politics. It is our time. We have been successful in New York in the science and medicine, in the business and retail, you name it, in law, in the judiciary. It is time that we have a voice in local New York State politics here, local city state level”.

We asked the Assemblyman how in a community that the Greeks are a minority, a Greek American can unite the community behind his leadership.

“I Think first of all, most be a proud American and to wanting to be a public servant. In my particular case, as I mentioned in my comments this evening, coming from the private sector. Being a small business owner and an individual who is in the medical field for 23 years, I think that gives an individual a very unique and helpful perspective on how politics should work. And I again I refer back to my comments of being a proud public servant. We are elected to serve the people and I don’t think we should take anything for granted once we do attain office and we are elected we are there to serve. And I said coming from the private sector and reaching out to people on daily basis for their needs and certainly their concerns I think gives me clear perspective on how I should approach public service.”

Also Present at the event were, Marathon Bank’s president Paul Stathoulopoulos, with branch manager Zoe Koutsoupaki, HANA’s Angie Douris, John Katsimatidis, Cyprus Federation President Peter Papanicolaou, Charles Marangoudakis, HAPAC’s Executive Director Archie Mavromatis, Charles Kapetanakis, George Makkos etc.