BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PETER TRAKAS

            James Peter Trakas is a candidate for Congress in Ohio’s 10th U.S. House of Representatives District.  He is 42 years old, and lives with his wife Anne Kennedy Trakas in Independence, Ohio with their pets Nero the dog, and Otto the cat. Jim is a member of Saint Paul Greek Orthodox Church in North Royalton, Ohio.

            Trakas was born May 5, 1965 in St. Luke’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio to Peter William and Kathy Louise Trakas.  He graduated from Independence High School in 1983 in the top 15% of his class, and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1987 with a B.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences.  Trakas has a sister, Rhonee Iula of Independence, Ohio and a brother, Bruce, of Cleveland.
He took continuing education classes at The University of Akron in 1990-91 in Polymer Chemistry and Materials Management.

            Jim worked his way through school delivering newspapers for the "Cleveland Press" and "The Plain Dealer" at the age of 9.  He started his own business cleaning driveways, mowing lawns, and painting houses as a youth.  Trakas has been a page in The Ohio Senate, sold hot dogs at Cleveland Stadium, and was a production worker at Allied Color Industries, Inc., now PolyOne Corp.

            Upon graduation from college, Trakas ran for a seat on the Independence Board of Education, but lost that race while working third shift at Allied Color.  Trakas advanced to customer service, purchasing, and eventually corporate materials manager from 1987 to 1996.  Trakas was in charge of material control at seven manufacturing plants across the country and was responsible for $45 million in inventory and materials for the plastics colorants manufacturer.

            In 1991, Jim won his first of two terms on the Independence City Council.  He left the private sector to run for Chairman of the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County in 1996.  He was elected and subsequently re-elected to that post until 2005.  In that time the county party increased its elected representation in mayors, council members, school board members, and state legislators.  He helped work to pay off party debts from the 1970’s that had hampered the party for many years.  A strong believer in grass roots politics, Trakas helped expand the Central and Executive Committees of the party and served as party spokesman.

            In 1998, Trakas was elected to the 15th, and later renamed the 17th District of the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served four terms; two of which as House Majority Whip. Trakas served as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Elections and Ethics. As a member of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, Trakas worked to change Ohio’s tax code to encourage investment, create better quality and less expensive education, fought for suburban agenda items, and served as an effective voice for his constituents.