Massachusett State Senate Senator Steven C.  Panagiotakos

Greater Lowell Area Democrats (GLAD) announced yesterday that Massachusetts State Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos will be honored as the 2010 Distinguished Democrat at the Annual Fall Brunch on Sunday October 24, 2010.

From Greater Lowell Area Democrats Chair Marie Sweeney:

A few years ago in recognizing Senator Panagiotakos as a “Local Hero” – CTI’s Board of Directors noted that the Senator “devoted his entire career to using the legislative process to bring about social and economic change” through public policy. His efforts have included the areas of education, affordable housing, protection and safety for woman, children and families,  healthcare access, research on senior issues, transitional living assistance and countless projects and programs for community enhancement, preservation and improvement of the quality of life of all citizens and much more. Senator Panagiotakos stands for children and families, for veterans and public safety personnel,  for seniors and those in need – for the average citizen.  He is a truly distinguished man – a truly distinguished legislator and, of course,  for us – a truly Distinguished Democrat.

A brief biograhy:

Steven C. Panagiotakos lives in Lowell, two blocks from the home in which he was raised. He is currently serving his sixth term as State Senator of the 1st Middlesex District, which includes the City of Lowell and the towns of Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, Tyngsborough and Westford.

Appointed as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means in March 2007, Chairman Panagiotakos is charged with the oversight and development of the Commonwealth’s $26.8 billion budget.

Senator Panagiotakos has a long history of civic, community and political involvement with a particluar interest in the area of education. For the past decade he has served as an active board member of  Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lowell and has supported the issues and good works of many non-profit organizations and agencies in the area.

Before being elected to the State Senate in 1997, he served two terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1993-1996) and two terms as a member of the Lowell School Committee (1990-1993).

The Senator attended Phillips Academy, received his Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and obtained a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School. He maintains a law practice not far from his home in Lowell.

Senator Panagiotakos and his wife, Christine, are the proud parents of two daughters, Giana and Alexandria.