Three well-known members of Philadelphia’s Greek-American community, Rainey Papademetriou, Esq. Harry J. Karapalides, Esq., and Stavroula Kotrotsios, Esq., claimed victories on Tuesday in key political races from the City of Philadelphia to the suburbs of Delaware County.
In Philadelphia, long time member of the St. George Greek Orthodox community, Ourania “Rainy” Papademitriou, Esq., clinched her first victory in the Democratic Primary for the position of judge in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. A 25 year veteran lawyer and Temple Law graduate, she was endorsed by former Mayor Ed Rendell and many others. Papademitriou has won numerous awards and is recognized for her public service. Her family is well known in the Philadelphia Greek community where she has lived for some 30 years, and her father served as a priest for over 60 years. She will be on the Democratic ballot for the General Election in November, with 14 other Democrat contenders, and is expected to win.
In Marple-Newtown, Delaware County, Stavroula Kotrotsios, Esq., sealed a position on Tuesday evening for the General Election in November for the office of Marple-Newtown School Board Director of the 7th Ward. Pennsylvania law permits school board candidates (and judicial candidates) to cross-file, and Kotrotsios, an endorsed Republican candidate, also crossed filed, winning on both tickets, and is assured a win in November. In January, 2015, Kotrotsios was sworn in as an Assistant District Attorney for the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. She was born and raised in Delaware County and is a graduate of Marple Newtown Senior High School. She received her B.A. in Political Science at Villanova University where she graduated Cum Laude and received her Juris Doctor from James E. Beasley School of Law. Kotrotsios is a member of the Greek Orthodox community at St. Luke in Broomall.
In Upper Darby, in a tough battle, well known, respected, and a friend of the community, Harry J. Karapalides, Esq., was successful in beating out his opponent in the Democrat Primary for the office of Magisterial District Judge, 32-1-33, Upper Darby Township and Millbourne Borough. As an endorsed Republican, Karapalides had also crossed-filed and was victorious on both the Republican (which he was unopposed) and Democrat ballots and is assured re-election to his third term in the November General Election. Born in Camden, NJ and raised in Maple Shade, NJ, Karapalides came in to the heart of the then Greek community, Upper Darby in 1985. He received a B.A. in Political Science from Widener University and his J.D. from the Delaware Law School of Widener University. He is a practicing attorney for 30 years with a private practice, and has been serving as a magisterial district judge for the past 12 years. Karapalides is also a member of the famed band Atlantis of Philadelphia, and a long-time member of the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox community in Upper Darby.
The three winners yesterday share similar backgrounds – all are first generation Greek-Americans. Their families each immigrated here to the United States less than a century ago. They hail from three different areas of Greece. The Karapalides family has roots from Florina, Macedonia, the Kotrotsios family comes from Epirus, and the Papademetriou family is from a small remote village near the town of Karpenisi, in Central Greece.
Upon their success in the General Elections to be held in November, their terms are scheduled to start in January of 2016.