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Politics
Irish, French and Yankee dominated Lowell's elections until 1943. Although Louis Kolofolias and his
Demosthenes Democratic Club helped unify a small and often split Greek vote, it wasn't until the Plan E charter that minorities had a chance to win. Dr. Paul Panagiotakos was the first Greek elected to the School Committee in 1943 and Councilor George Eliades became Mayor in 1951. Appealing to a broad electorate was important and thus propelled Paul E. Tsongas from City Council in 1969 to
the US Senate in 1978 and to his campaign for the presidency in 1992.

Ellen A. Sampson, wife of Samuel A. Sampson, was elected as Councilor in 1960.

Nicholas C. Contakos , Election Commission member, supervises voter verification during election day.

George C. Eliades was the first Greek to be elected to the Lowell City Council (1949). In 1951, he became the first mayor of Greek descent in Lowell, and anywhere else in the United States.

Nicholas C. Contakos , the second Greek to be elected to Lowell City Council, reviews his political cartoon ad by local artist Leo Panas, 1951.

Paul E. Tsongas was elected to Lowell City Council in I969 then he served, in succession, as Middlesex County Commissioner, as U.S. Representative of the Fifth Congressional District and as United States Senator prior to running for president in 1991.
photo 1979 (courtesy Boston American Herald).