George Demos

George Demos is a former United States Securities and Exchange Commission prosecutor, and was a candidate for the Republican nomination for New York's 1st congressional district on New York State's Long Island.[1]

George Demos
Personal details
Born1976
Political partyRepublican, Conservative
RelationsAngelo Tsakopoulos (father-in-law)
Eleni Kounalakis (sister-in-law)
Alma materColumbia University (BA)
Fordham University School of Law (JD)
ProfessionAttorney
WebsiteGeorge Demos for Congress

Early life

Demos is the grandson of immigrants.[2] His mother was a public school teacher, and his father was an attorney in private practice.[2] Demos grew up in New York City where he attended high school,[3] and now lives in Holbrook, New York.[4]

Demos received his B.A. from Columbia University, majoring in political science, and his J.D. from Fordham Law School.[2]

Career

Securities and Exchange Commission

Demos prosecuted white collar fraud as a prosecutor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) between 2002 and 2009.[1][5][6][7]

Politics
New York's 1st congressional district

Demos vied in 2010 for the Republican nomination to compete for the congressional seat of Democrat Tim Bishop on Long Island in New York State in the November 2010 election, coming in second in the primary.[8][9] His three-way primary included Christopher Nixon Cox, a grandson of Richard Nixon and son of the state GOP chairman, and businessman Randy Altschuler.[9][10][11]

Cox's father-in-law to-be, John Catsimatidis, the Gristedes supermarket and oil magnate,[12] raised ethical issues about Demos' time at the SEC, saying he was accused of improprieties, and the subject of a related disciplinary complaint.[12] Demos provided a letter reflecting that he was cleared of the complaint.[12]

John Jay LaValle, Suffolk County Republican chairman, opined in February 2010 that Demos was a qualified and "extraordinary" candidate for the Republican Party's nomination to be a congressman in the 1st District from eastern Long Island.[4][5][6][13] It was Demos's first run for office.[14]

He used the strategy firm Shawmut Group, which was formed in 2008 by Mitt Romney's advisors.[1][8][15] In January 2010, Demos appointed to his political team Rob Cole, a former advisor to former New York Governor George Pataki, and a member of Romney's 2008 campaign team.[16] That month, Demos also announced that he had raised more than $300,000 for his campaign.[14] At the end of 2009, his campaign had $275,000.[14] He also issued his first TV ad, a 30-second commercial that attacked Bishop for supporting "reckless" fiscal policy.[17]

In April 2010, Demos said that the Suffolk Conservatives were "inexplicably" preparing to endorse Altschuler.[18] Demos called Altschuler a "pro-choice, outsourcing proponent" and former member of the Green Party, which embraces "radical Marxist ideologies."[18] In July 2010 he issued a new radio ad, in which he identified himself as the "only Conservative" in the contest.[19][20] That month he also said that Tea Party members had been supporting his candidacy.[21]

In August 2010, he accused Altschuler of stealing another candidate's press releases, pointing to identical releases from Altschuler and Doug Hoffman, a candidate in for another New York congressional seat who uses the same consultant on some issues.[22] That month he also accused rival Chris Cox of using his father-in-law to-be, Catsimatidis, for "dirty tricks".[12][23]

That month he also objected to the proposed construction of the Park51 community center near Ground Zero. He said that the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the only religious structure destroyed in the 9/11 attacks, should be rebuilt before moving forward on building an Islamic community center in the area, and called for an investigation into the center's financing.[24][25][26] In the days leading up to the primary, Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh did a "six-minute radio riff in support of George Demos in NY-1, calling the former SEC attorney the only conservative in the race."[27]

In the September 2010 primary, Altschuler finished first with 45 percent of the vote, Demos had 30 percent, and Cox was third with 24 percent.[28]

2012 Congressional campaign

Demos announced another run for Congress Monday, August 8, 2011. Shortly after his announcement, Demos called Randy Altschuler, the other announced Republican candidate, "unelectable" for losing in a district with a 30,000 Republican voter edge in 2010.[29] Demos also chided Altschuler for taking the same position as incumbent Congressman Tim Bishop on the 2011 debt ceiling compromise.[30]

Citing his impending wedding, Demos withdrew from the race May 25, 2012.[31]

2014 Congressional campaign
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 2014 § District 1

On October 6, 2013, he announced he would seek the Republican nomination to run against Congressman Tim Bishop.[32] On June 24, 2014 he lost the primary election to New York State Senator Lee Zeldin.[33]

Whistleblower controversy and dismissal

In June 2011, it was reported by the Project On Government Oversight that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York reopened an investigation into Demos for allegedly disclosing the identity of a JPMorgan Chase whistleblower while Demos served as an attorney at the SEC. Initially the 10th Judicial District Grievance Committee disposed of the allegations. However, the court committee transferred the investigation to "avoid the appearance of impropriety."[34] In a letter dated September 23, 2011, the Third Judicial Department dismissed the matter again, stating "the Committee has determined that there is an insufficient basis for a finding of professional misconduct."[35][36]

Personal life

Demos is married to Chrysa Tsakopoulos, daughter of the real estate developer Angelo Tsakopoulos.[37] His sister-in-law, Eleni Kounalakis, is the current Lieutenant Governor of California. She served as the United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2010 to 2013 and was the first Greek American woman to serve as ambassador.[38]

References
  1. Toeplitz, Shira (February 25, 2010). "Consulting Teams and Continental Divides". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on February 28, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  2. "Meet George: A Biography: Meet George". George Demos For Congress. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  3. Leibovich, Mark (April 8, 2014). "How Not to Seem Rich While Running for Office". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  4. Ethan (February 13, 2010). "GOP Targets Local Dem-Held Seats". The Sag Harbor Express. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  5. "Nixon Grandson in GOP Bid for Bishop's Seat". Long Island Press. September 11, 2001. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  6. Cadei, Emily. "For New York's GOP, a Candidate Surplus". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  7. "GOP Family Feuds". Antonnews.com. July 9, 2010. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  8. Ross, Casey (January 23, 2010). "With win behind them, Brown strategists are in demand". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  9. Katz, Celeste (July 21, 2010). "Jeb Bush Endorses Chris Cox For Congress In NY-1". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  10. Katz, Celeste (July 19, 2010). "Incumbent Rep. Tim Bishop Snags Indy Line In NY-1". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on July 22, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  11. "Schneiderman Opts Out of Congressional Race". The Sag Harbor Express. July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  12. Haberman, Maggie (August 1, 2010). "Catsimatidis gets rough defending son-in-law in NY-1". Politico. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  13. "New York May Be 'Microcosm' for Republican House Wins". Business Week. April 15, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  14. Cadei, Emily (January 5, 2010). "Bishop Challenger Raises More Than $300,000 – The Eye (CQ Politics)". cqpolitics.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  15. Gillmor, Dan (March 9, 2010). "Brown team takes campaign template on the road – Associated Press News". Salon. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  16. Dan Janison (January 27, 2010). "1st CD: Cox making a move, Demos naming a team". Newsday. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  17. Cadei, Emily (January 6, 2010). "Altschuler Banks $750,000-plus in N.Y. 1 – The Eye (CQ Politics)". cqpolitics.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  18. "Suffolk GOP to screen 1st Congressional District contenders". Newsday. April 18, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  19. Katz, Celeste (July 15, 2010). "Congressional Hopeful George Demos Mocks Rivals In NY-1 Radio Spot". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  20. Katz, Celeste (July 23, 2010). "Chris Cox Petitions Way Onto Conservative Line In NY-1". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  21. "Tea Partiers Take on NY Conservative Party". fox news. July 23, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  22. Katz, Celeste (August 4, 2010). "NY-1 Hopeful George Demos Calls Rival Randy Altschuler A Plagiarist". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  23. Haberman, Maggie (August 1, 2010). "Demos sidesteps Cats, slams Cox in reply". Politico. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  24. CBN News (August 3, 2010). "Church Destroyed on 9/11 Still in Shambles". CBN News. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  25. "George Demos Tells Fox News We Must Rebuild St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at Ground Zero". USA.GreekReporter.com. August 3, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  26. Katz, Celeste (July 21, 2010). "GOP Hopeful George Demos: Rebuild Church At Ground Zero, Not Mosque". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  27. Maggie Haberman (September 8, 2010). "Rush pro-Demos in NY-1, unloads on Cox and Altschuler". Politico. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  28. Miller, Sean J. (September 14, 2010). "Rep. Bishop up against big-spending Republican – The Hill's Ballot Box". Thehill.com. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  29. Rick Brand (August 8, 2011). "Demos enters GOP primary for Bishop seat". Newsday. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  30. Elana Glowatz (August 8, 2010). "Demos throws hat in ring". Times Beacon Record. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  31. "Demos quits GOP primary for congressional seat". Archived from the original on June 4, 2012.
  32. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. http://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/2014/06/55552/zeldin-holds-early-lead-in-gop-primary/
  34. Smallberg, Michael. "Long Island Congressional Candidate Cited for Giving Up JPMorgan Whistleblower". PoliticsDaily.com. AOL. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  35. "Dismissal Letter 1".
  36. "Dismissal Letter 2".
  37. "Demos' bid boosted by wife's family fortune". Newsday. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  38. "Madam Ambassador: Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis recounts her groundbreaking role as the first Greek American woman to serve as U.S. Ambassador – NEO Magazine". Retrieved August 13, 2020.
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