NEWS

JANUARY 7, 2008 - Scontras to Run for House Seat in 2008

By Theodore Kalmoukos
Special to The National Herald

BOSTON – Second generation Greek American businessman Dean Scontras has filed his Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission, making his decision to formally run for Maine’s 1st Congressional District.

Mr. Scontras, a native of Kittery and graduate of the University of Maine at Orono, is running under the slogan “a next generation Republican.” He has been at the center of several successful high–tech business ventures over the past 15 years. In an interview with the National Herald he said that he decided to run for the for the seat “for several reasons.”

“I am concerned about the economic future and the national security of this country,” he said. “If you look at Maine we are 48th in the country according to Forbes magazine. In other words if you going to start a business there are 47 other states in the country that you are going to start it in. We are the most taxed state in the country. I really do not think that career politicians have done a really good job in the state. I believe that it is time for an outsider to run for this office and bring some new ideas to the state of Maine and to Washington D.C.”

Asked if it is only the local politicians to be blamed or also Washington, he said, “I think both. Republicans have spent more, they have spent irresponsibly, and both parties are equally responsible. If we want to have a government run by the people, then you have to have more people than just myself get involved. I am running against the party, against Washington, against the state capital in Maine. I want to bring change.”

Mr. Scontras believes that politics is in his blood as a person of Greek descent. He said that “it is part of our great legacy as Greeks; we have a passion for politics, for sports, for philosophy. We were the original light and beacon of democracy. As one of many second generation Greek Americans, we have an obligation to bring some new ideas.” Mr. Scontras’ grandparents came from Peloponnesus and specifically from Valanidia.

Mr. Scontras has not been to Greece ever, because as he said, “I was the youngest of seven so vacation for us was New Hampshire. We couldn’t afford to go somewhere as far as Greece.”

His parents, as well as his aunts and uncles are fluent in the Greek language, but while his own knowledge is limited, he is determined that “by the time this election is over I am going to be fluent too.”

“I do regret not learning Greek the time I should have done,” he said, adding jokingly. “My parents use to speak it all the time and with seven kids and now with kids of my own sometimes you need to say things that you can’t say in front of your own kids so you use the other language. I truly love the language and I am very proud of our Greek heritage.” Mr. Scontras also added that “I understand where we come from as a people and I want to contribute to the modern American political environment.” He spoke very emotionally about his ancestors.

“One of my grandfathers was a street vendor in upstate New York where he was selling nuts, popcorn and eventually he opened two shoe stores,” he said. “My grandmother worked at the mills. They really saw the opportunity, and as a result their children went to college. My father became a nuclear engineer in the Navy and they realized the American dream.”