Mariyana Spyropoulos is an American lawyer and politician currently serving as the clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. She was previously a member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners.
Mariyana Spyropoulos | |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County | |
| Assumed office December 4, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Iris Martinez |
| President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners | |
| In office January 2015 – January 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Kathleen Therese Meany Barbara J. McGowan (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Kari K. Steele |
| Member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners | |
| In office August 5, 2009 – December 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Education | Loyola University Chicago (MBA) University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (JD) |
Family and early life
editSpyropoulos is the daughter of Erika and Ted Spyropoulos. Her father was a notable businessman,[1] and a prominent member of the Greek American community.[2] Her mother has served on the Illinois Arts Council.[3]
Spyropoulos received her Masters in Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago and her Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) in 1996.[4][5] She also did graduate work in American government at Georgetown University.[4]
Legal career
editSpyropoulos first practiced law as a prosecutor,[6] working as san assistant Cook County state's attorney.[4] She subsequently left this career and in 2005 opened the Chicago law firm of Miriyana Spyropoulos & Associates.[2][6] Her legal work has involved environmental advocacy.[4]
Spyropoulos has been a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Hellenic Bar Association, and Women's Bar Association.[2]
MWRD Board of Commissioners
editIn 2008, Spyropoulos unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Board of Commissioners. Her candidacy had been endorsed by then-lieutenant governor Pat Quinn.[7] On August 5, 2009, Quinn (now the governor) appointed Spyropoulos to a vacant seat on the board.[6] She was elected to a full term in 2010, and re-elected in 2016 and 2022.
Spyropoulos served as the MWRD chairperson of finance from January 2013 through January 2015.[8][4] She served as president of the board from January 2015 through 2019.[4][9] She has served as a trustee of the MWRD Retirement Fund.[8] She has served chairperson of the judiciary committee; chairperson of the Pension, Human Resources, and Civil Service Committee; chairperson of the finance committee; chairperson of the real estate development committee; vice chairperson of the ethics committee; vice chairperson of the public health and welfare committee.[4][8] She was also the MWRD representative to the Public Building Commission,[4] to which she was appointed by the board in January 2011. She was elected to the finance chairmanship in January 2013, and was elected board president January 2015.[10]
Spyropoulos advocated for decreasing administrative costs and implementing resource recovery involving the conversion of waste into fertilizer.[11]
In 2018, it was alleged that Spyropoulos had received $60,000 in campaign donations from contractors who did business with the MWRD.[12]
In 2018, Spyropoulos gave her support to the creation of an inspector general position at the MWRD, instructing the agency's law department to draft a proposal.[13] This position was ultimately created.[8]
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
editAbandonded 2020 candidacy
editSpyropoulos launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 Cook County Clerk of Courts election. Incumbent clerk Dorothy Brown was not seeking re-election, creating an open race. Spyropoulos withdrew from the race in September 2019, citing family reasons.[14]
2024 election
editSpyropoulos successfully challenged incumbent Cook County Clerk of Courts Iris Martinez in the Democratic primary for the 2024 Cook County Clerk of Courts election.
Ahead of the primary, Spyropoulos was endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party.[15] She also received the endorsement of the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune.[16] Spyropolous' campaign finances benefited from her family's wealth. Ahead of the primary, she personally loaned $1.2 million to her campaign committee. Her mother made an independent expenditure totally $78,000 to purchase billboard advertisements in support of the campaign.[17]
Spyropolous won the general election in November 2024.[18]
Tenure
editSpyropolous was sworn-in on December 4, 2024.[19]
Awards and recognition
edit- 2017 Illinois Water Environment Association "Public Service Award"[20]
Electoral history
editMWRD
edit- 2008
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Avila (incumbent) | 367,867 | 17.01 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Therese Meany (incumbent) | 336,047 | 15.54 | |
| Democratic | Cynthia M. Santos (incumbent) | 334,427 | 15.47 | |
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropolous | 307,067 | 14.20 | |
| Democratic | Daine Jones | 284,623 | 13.16 | |
| Democratic | Dean T. Maragos | 212,967 | 9.85 | |
| Democratic | Derrick David Stinson | 188,506 | 8.72 | |
| Democratic | Matthew Podgorski | 130,748 | 6.05 | |
- 2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (incumbent) | 180,730 | 14.78 | |
| Democratic | Barbara McGowan (incumbent) | 179,955 | 14.72 | |
| Democratic | Michael A. Alvarez | 158,172 | 12.94 | |
| Democratic | Kari K. Steele | 141,649 | 11.59 | |
| Democratic | Todd Connor | 130,383 | 10.66 | |
| Democratic | Maureen Kelly | 123,590 | 10.11 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Mary O'Reilley | 110,810 | 9.06 | |
| Democratic | Wallace Davis, III | 98,694 | 8.07 | |
| Democratic | Stella B. Black | 98,588 | 8.06 | |
| Total votes | 1,222,571 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael A. Alvarez | 679,058 | 23.10 | |
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (incumbent) | 669,036 | 22.76 | |
| Democratic | Barbara McGowan (incumbent) | 659,353 | 22.43 | |
| Republican | Paul Chialdikas | 380,787 | 12.95 | |
| Republican | Jimmy Lee Tillman II | 227,549 | 7.74 | |
| Green | Diana Horton | 141,943 | 4.83 | |
| Green | John "Jack" Ailey | 93,301 | 3.17 | |
| Green | Nadine Bopp | 88,834 | 3.02 | |
| Total votes | 2,939,861 | 100 | ||
- 2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barbara McGowan (incumbent) | 517,239 | 24.42 | |
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (incumbent) | 423,313 | 19.99 | |
| Democratic | Josina Morita | 388,766 | 18.36 | |
| Democratic | Kevin McDevit | 303,170 | 14.32 | |
| Democratic | Joseph Daniel Cook | 321,814 | 15.20 | |
| Democratic | R. Cary Capparelli | 163,482 | 7.72 | |
| Total votes | 2,117,784 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barara McGowan (incumbent) | 1,150,063 | 28.79 | |
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (incumbent) | 951,773 | 23.83 | |
| Democratic | Josina Morita | 919,714 | 23.03 | |
| Green | Karen Roothaan | 343,930 | 8.61 | |
| Green | George Milkowski | 308,576 | 7.73 | |
| Green | Michael Smith | 320,162 | 8.02 | |
| Total votes | 3,994,218 | 100 | ||
- 2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (incumbent) | 257,580 | 22.24 | |
| Democratic | Patricia Theresa Flynn | 201,003 | 17.35 | |
| Democratic | Yumeka Brown | 185,222 | 15.99 | |
| Democratic | Sharon Waller | 149,165 | 12.88 | |
| Democratic | Precious W. Brady-Davis | 126,672 | 10.94 | |
| Democratic | Frank Avila | 99,815 | 8.62 | |
| Democratic | Rick Garcia | 76,019 | 6.56 | |
| Democratic | Cristina P. Nonato | 62,738 | 5.42 | |
| Total votes | 1,158,214 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (incumbent) | 865,103 | 29.56 | |
| Democratic | Patricia Theresa Flynn | 766,291 | 26.18 | |
| Democratic | Yumeka Brown | 710,037 | 24.26 | |
| Republican | R. Cary Capparelli | 365,671 | 12.49 | |
| Green | Mark E. Buettner | 219,771 | 7.51 | |
| Total votes | 2,926,813 | 100 | ||
Clerk of Courts
edit- 2024
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mariyana Spyropoulos | |||
| Democratic | Iris Y. Martinez (incumbent) | |||
| Total votes | 100 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mariyana Spyropoulos | |||
| Republican | Lupe Aguirre | |||
| Libertarian | Michael Murphy | |||
| Total votes | 100 | |||
References
edit- ^ Quig, A.D. (20 March 2024). "Mariyana Spyropoulos defeats incumbent Iris Martinez for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Bjorkgren, David (18 September 2019). "Like Father, like Daughter: Mariyana Spyropoulos Helps Communities by Protecting Chicago's Precious Water Resources". Hellenic News of America. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Erika Spyropoulos Appointed Commissioner of the Illinois Arts Council". Neo Magazine. April 16, 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Sypropoulos Elected as New President of MWRD" (PDF). The Beverly Review. January 14, 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2024 – via legacy.mwrd.org.
- ^ "Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos ('96) Elected Finance Committee Chair for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago". news.law.uic.edu. University of Illinois Chicago School of Law News. January 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Governor Quinn Appoints Environmentalist to Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; Activist Will Focus on Safe and Clean Water Supplies". Illinois.gov. August 5, 2009. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Some of Gov. Pat Quinn's appointees have ties to campaign donors". Chicago Tribune. 29 September 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Mariyana T. Spyropoulos". MWRD.org. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Harrington, Adam (19 March 2024). "Mariyana Spyropoulos Tops Incumbent Iris Martinez in Primary for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk". CBSNews.com. CBS News Chicago. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Commissioners Sworn in to Protect Water Environment" (PDF). Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. December 6, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2024.
- ^ Riley, Chloe (March 15, 2016). "Primary Coverage: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Race". WTTW News. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Shaw, Andy (March 9, 2018). "Here's how the water district can mop up its mess". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Posner, Emeline (30 October 2018). "Election Explainer: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District". South Side Weekly. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Sfondeles, Tina (13 September 2019). "Mariyana Spyropoulos drops bid for circuit court clerk". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Quig, A.D. (15 August 2023). "Amid party loyalty questions, Cook County Democrats endorse for state's attorney and go against incumbent for court clerk". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Editorial: We endorse Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk". Chicago Tribune. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Quig, A.D. (20 March 2024). "Mariyana Spyropoulos defeats incumbent Iris Martinez for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Horrall, Femi (6 November 2024). "Mariyana T. Spyropoulos elected Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana T. Spyropoulos elected Cook County Circuit Court Clerk". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Mariyana Spyropoulos sworn in as Cook County's Circuit Court clerk". FOX 32 Chicago. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Public Official Award - Illinois Water Environment Association". iweasite.org. Illinois Water Environment Association. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Cook County and Chicago February 5th 2008 Primary Election Combined Summary Report" (PDF). Cook County Clerk's Office. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Combined Summary Report - Primary Election Cook County Primary February 2, 2010" (PDF). Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Cook County General Election November 2, 2010 Combined Summary Report" (PDF). Cook County Clerk's Office. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Primary Election Cook County and The City of Chicago Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Combined Summary" (PDF). Cook County Clerk's Office. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "General Election Cook County and The City of Chicago Tuesday, November 8, 2016 Combined Summary" (PDF). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "Cook County & City of Chicago Primary Election June 28, 2022 Combined Summary" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2022.
- ^ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the November 8, 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in Cook County, Illinois Including the City of Chicago" (PDF). www.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Cook County Clerk. 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.