Chairman Greek Caucas for the Michigan Dems Attends Jefferson Jackson Day Event, with Keynote Speaker, John Edwards and Now Barrack Obama!

Greek Caucas Chair, Basil Simon, Meets Presidential Hopeful, John Edwards
by Contributing Writer Elena Kerasiotis

As the Chairman of the Greek Caucus for the Michigan Democratic Party, Basil T. Simon, attended Michigan's Annual Jefferson-Jackson fundraising and award event at Cobo Hall on April 21, 2007. Jefferson-Jackson Day is the a common name given to the annual fundraising celebrations held by local chapters of the Democratic Party in the United States. It is named for Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. The keynote speaker at this year's Michigan event was Sen. John Edwards. Simon had the opportunity to meet the Democratic Presidential hopeful. He shares that the Edwards speech was well executed and impressive.

Simon advises, "The Senator gave a very eloquent speech. He discussed his position on issues involving the environment, health care, trade agreements, organized labor, the economy, and the Iraq war. On the war he again acknowledged that his vote to authorize the war was wrong. He stated that Sen. Carl Levin and Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted against the war authorization, as did every Michigan Democratic member of the US House. As Greek-Americans we need to understand how critical the stability in the Middle East is to Greece."

Ex-U.S. Rep. David Bonior, the former No. 2 House Democrat, is Edwards' campaign manager. Bonior, who represented Detroit's eastern suburbs and part of the Thumb region, has been teaching labor studies at Wayne State University since leaving Congress in 2002. "Congressman Bonior was a strong supporter of Greek issues while serving in the US Congress. There is no doubt that Bonior's presence in an Edward's administration would be positive for Greek-Americans," says Simon, "and another plus for the Edward's camp."

Edwards was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998, where he championed critical issues to American families: quality health care, better schools, protecting civil liberties, preserving the environment, saving Social Security and Medicare, and reforming the ways campaigns are financed. In 2004, Edwards ran for President and received national prominence because of his highly regarded "Two Americas" speech. After the Democratic primaries, Senator John Kerry picked Edwards to serve as his running mate in the 2004 general election. Edwards served as the Director of the Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after the 2004 general election. Last month, Edwards announced his candidacy for the Democratic Presidential nomination on December 28, 2006 in New Orleans, LA.

As part of the "Jeff-Jack" Day Event, the Democratic Party Awarded the Neil Stabler Award, to Patrick McCarty, The"Young Democrat" Award to David Woodward, Distinguished Service Aware to Stacie Perkins and the Marin Luther King Award (posthumously) Nati Jenks for efforts to promote equality and inclusion of all people in the Democratic Party.

Simon also had the opportunity to meet Presidential Candidate, Barrack Obama on Monday May 7, 2007, during his trip to the motor city.

Basil T. Simon of Grosse Pointe Park, is a prominent Bankruptcy attorney and president of Simon, Korachis, Stella & Zingas, P.C. law firm 422 Congress, Suite 350, Detroit, MI. Mr. Simon is a recognized authority in Bankruptcy related issues and a frequent lecturer on the topic for the Michigan Bar Association. He serves as an officer at large for the Michigan Democratic Committee, and is a member of the Hellenic Bar Association. He also serves on the State Officers' Compensation Commission, appointed by the Governor to represent the general public for a term expiring June 30, 2010. The State Officers' Compensation Commission establishes pay and expenses for the offices of the Governor, Lt. Governor, Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court, and members of the Legislature.

It is important that Greek American's retain their voice in politics and the country's future, whether Democrat or Republican, commitment to our democratic process is relevant now more than ever.

Malista!