Today in Wheeling History: June 7—Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer of Illinois, was born in Wheeling (1949).
Maria Pappas, a prominent Greek American attorney and politician, was born on June 7, 1949, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She grew up in the Warwood neighborhood of Wheeling. Pappas was raised in a deeply religious environment and attended church daily. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from West Liberty State College and a master's degree in counseling from West Virginia University. Pappas later moved to Chicago, where she worked at the Adler Institute and earned her Ph.D. from Loyola University in 1976. Her early career involved working with mothers at Altgeld Garden Homes and teaching at Governors State University before transitioning to law, graduating from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1982.
Pappas's political career began in 1990 when she was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners. She served two terms, first as one of ten members elected from Chicago and then as the member from the 10th district after the board moved to single-member constituencies. During her tenure, she was known for her fiscal responsibility and efforts to make government entities more efficient. In 1998, she was elected Cook County Treasurer, a position she has held since, being re-elected multiple times. As Treasurer, she uncovered a scam run by her predecessor and implemented significant technological updates to the office.
Pappas's contributions to public service include the Cook County Debt Disclosure Ordinance, passed in 2009, which requires taxing districts to publicly report their finances, including pension debt. She also ran for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in 2004 but lost to Barack Obama. Pappas has considered running for Mayor of Chicago on multiple occasions but ultimately chose not to pursue the position. Her career is marked by her dedication to transparency, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility in government.
Maria Pappas's journey from Wheeling’s Warwood neighborhood to a significant political figure in Chicago highlights her commitment to public service and her ability to navigate and reform complex governmental systems. Her work has had a lasting impact on Cook County's financial transparency and efficiency, making her a notable figure in both Wheeling and Chicago's histories.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/ycf6v8wh), Loyola University Chicago (https://tinyurl.com/4tcfr956), Chicago Magazine (https://tinyurl.com/3kzm8nnj)
Photo credits: Maria Pappas (Cook County Government)
Maria Pappas, a prominent Greek American attorney and politician, was born on June 7, 1949, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She grew up in the Warwood neighborhood of Wheeling. Pappas was raised in a deeply religious environment and attended church daily. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from West Liberty State College and a master's degree in counseling from West Virginia University. Pappas later moved to Chicago, where she worked at the Adler Institute and earned her Ph.D. from Loyola University in 1976. Her early career involved working with mothers at Altgeld Garden Homes and teaching at Governors State University before transitioning to law, graduating from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1982.
Pappas's political career began in 1990 when she was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners. She served two terms, first as one of ten members elected from Chicago and then as the member from the 10th district after the board moved to single-member constituencies. During her tenure, she was known for her fiscal responsibility and efforts to make government entities more efficient. In 1998, she was elected Cook County Treasurer, a position she has held since, being re-elected multiple times. As Treasurer, she uncovered a scam run by her predecessor and implemented significant technological updates to the office.
Pappas's contributions to public service include the Cook County Debt Disclosure Ordinance, passed in 2009, which requires taxing districts to publicly report their finances, including pension debt. She also ran for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in 2004 but lost to Barack Obama. Pappas has considered running for Mayor of Chicago on multiple occasions but ultimately chose not to pursue the position. Her career is marked by her dedication to transparency, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility in government.
Maria Pappas's journey from Wheeling’s Warwood neighborhood to a significant political figure in Chicago highlights her commitment to public service and her ability to navigate and reform complex governmental systems. Her work has had a lasting impact on Cook County's financial transparency and efficiency, making her a notable figure in both Wheeling and Chicago's histories.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/ycf6v8wh), Loyola University Chicago (https://tinyurl.com/4tcfr956), Chicago Magazine (https://tinyurl.com/3kzm8nnj)
Photo credits: Maria Pappas (Cook County Government)
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