John Pappageorge
Encyclopedia
John George Pappageorge is a member of the Michigan State Senate
.
.
Pappageorge entered the United States Army
after graduating from high school in Detroit, enrolling in the United States Military Academy
at West Point. From West Point he received a B.S.
in engineering
in 1954. He later obtained a M.A.
in Government and Politics
from the University of Maryland
in 1971 and attended the U.S. Army War College
in 1973.
He served 30 years of active duty in the Infantry including two combat tours in Vietnam
. During the second tour, he served as a battalion commander. There he was highly decorated, including receiving the Distinguished Service Medal
, Superior Service Medal, four Legions of Merit
, the Bronze Star
, nine Air Medal
s, the Combat Infantryman Badge
, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross
. He is also Airborne
, Ranger
, and Pathfinder
qualified.
While in the Army, Pappageorge served as Special Assistant to General Alexander Haig
, who was then the Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (CinCUSEUR) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe
(SACEUR) (and later U.S. Secretary of State). Pappageorge conducted shuttle diplomacy between Greece
and Turkey
that returned Greek forces to NATO's integrated military structure. He spent his last four years in the Army, 1981–1984, as a member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Council.
He retired as a colonel
in 1984, settling in Troy, Michigan
in Oakland County
. After retirement from the Army, Pappageorge became Director of Business and Strategic Planning at General Dynamics
Land Systems Division. From 1989 to 1992, Pappageorge served as an Oakland county commissioner. He was the Republican candidate for Congress in Michigan's 12th congressional district
in 1992, 1994, and 1996. In 1995, he served as First Vice-Chair of the Republican Party of Michigan.
Pappageorge was married for thirty-five years to his first wife, Helen. She died in 1993 to pancreatic cancer. He married Cristina Burnard (now Cristina Pappageorge) in 1997. Pappageorge has a son and two daughters. His son George is an Army reserve Lieutenant Colonel who has served in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
against Sander Levin. This was the first serious Republican opposition against Levin, after his congressional district absorbed a Republican-leaning spur of Oakland County in redistricting. Levin won by 7%.
Contract with America
and the 1994 Republican Revolution.
from 1999 to 2004, when he retired due to term limits. He spent four years on the House Appropriations Committee, and served his final two years as Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and as a member of the Employment Relations, Training and Safety Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Senior Health, Security, and Retirement Committee, and the Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee.
and northern Royal Oak
in Oakland County. He defeated Troy City Council
member Matt Pryor
in the Republican Primary. He went on to defeat Democrat David Richards in the November general election. http://miboecfr.nicusa.com/election/candlist/98gen/98gen_cl.htm.
as saying "If we do not suppress the Detroit vote, we're going to have a tough time in this election cycle." The New York Times cited this comment in an editorial on the "suppression of minority votes." Detroit's population is more than 80 percent African American
, and tends to vote heavily Democratic.
While apologizing for the remark and denying any intent of racial connotation, Pappageorge explained that he made the remark in the context of concern about the effects that a medical marijuana issue on the Detroit ballot might have on partisan voter turn-out.Despite the reaction of the New York Times, the Oakland Press, a local newspaper, contended that Pappageorge’s claims were “entirely credible.”
to run for the 13th District State Senate seat after Sander Levin's son, Andy Levin
announced he was going to enter the race.
After Pappageorge joined the race, Gosselin dropped out in order to run for County Commissioner in Troy.
Pappageorge won the August Republican primary 58.5% to Taub's 41.5%.
Charges of mudslinging and dirty politics continued in the general election between Pappageorge and Levin. The race became hotly contested, with over $2 million spent by the two campaigns, and with negative television ads from each side (a rarity in State Senate races in metro-Detroit).
The Michigan Republican Party, on behalf of Pappageorge's campaign, distributed flyers alleging that Levin had stances on issues, including same-sex marriage, illegal immigration and gun control, that were too liberal for the district. They also accused Levin of being a carpetbagger
, as Levin had recently moved back to Michigan after working for the AFL-CIO
in Washington, D.C.
Levin's campaign fired back, claiming that Pappageorge cut more than $500 million from schools in Michigan and was fired from the Bush Presidential campaign
in 2004.
Pappageorge defeated Levin in November by a slim margin, 776 votes. Pappageorge's margin of victory was less than the number of votes obtained by Green Party candidate Kyle McBee, who received 3,118 votes.
In the general election, Pappageorge was challenged by newcomer Aaron Bailey, a West Point graduate and Afghanistan veteran. Days before the election, Bailey received the endorsement of the Detroit Free Press
.
On election day, Pappageorge defeated Bailey.
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
.
Biography
John Pappageorge was born to a Greek family on the east side of Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
Pappageorge entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
after graduating from high school in Detroit, enrolling in the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point. From West Point he received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
in 1954. He later obtained a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Government and Politics
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1971 and attended the U.S. Army War College
U.S. Army War College
The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks...
in 1973.
He served 30 years of active duty in the Infantry including two combat tours in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. During the second tour, he served as a battalion commander. There he was highly decorated, including receiving the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, Superior Service Medal, four Legions of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, nine Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
s, the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
The Vietnam Gallantry Cross was a military decoration of South Vietnam which wasestablished in August 1950. Also known as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Gallantry Cross was awarded to any military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting an...
. He is also Airborne
United States Army Airborne School
The United States Army Airborne School — widely known as Jump School — conducts the basic paratrooper training for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the 1st Battalion , 507th Infantry, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia...
, Ranger
Ranger School
The United States Army Ranger School is an intense 61-day combat leadership course oriented towards small-unit tactics. It has been called the "toughest combat course in the world" and "is the most physically and mentally demanding leadership school the Army has to offer". The course is conducted...
, and Pathfinder
Pathfinders (military)
A pathfinder is a paratrooper who is inserted or dropped into place in order to set up and operate drop zones, pickup zones, and helicopter landing sites for airborne operations, air resupply operations, or other air operations in support of the ground unit commander...
qualified.
While in the Army, Pappageorge served as Special Assistant to General Alexander Haig
Alexander Haig
Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a United States Army general who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
, who was then the Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (CinCUSEUR) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
(SACEUR) (and later U.S. Secretary of State). Pappageorge conducted shuttle diplomacy between Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
that returned Greek forces to NATO's integrated military structure. He spent his last four years in the Army, 1981–1984, as a member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Council.
He retired as a colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in 1984, settling in Troy, Michigan
Troy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
in Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
. After retirement from the Army, Pappageorge became Director of Business and Strategic Planning at General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Land Systems Division. From 1989 to 1992, Pappageorge served as an Oakland county commissioner. He was the Republican candidate for Congress in Michigan's 12th congressional district
Michigan's 12th congressional district
Michigan's 12th congressional district is a United States Congressional District located in Detroit's inner suburbs to the north, along the Interstate 696 corridor in Macomb and Oakland counties, as well as a portion of Macomb north of the corridor....
in 1992, 1994, and 1996. In 1995, he served as First Vice-Chair of the Republican Party of Michigan.
Pappageorge was married for thirty-five years to his first wife, Helen. She died in 1993 to pancreatic cancer. He married Cristina Burnard (now Cristina Pappageorge) in 1997. Pappageorge has a son and two daughters. His son George is an Army reserve Lieutenant Colonel who has served in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
1992 election
In 1992, he ran for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
against Sander Levin. This was the first serious Republican opposition against Levin, after his congressional district absorbed a Republican-leaning spur of Oakland County in redistricting. Levin won by 7%.
1994 election
Pappageorge ran against Levin for the second time in 1994, this time managing to pull within 5%, despite being outspent more than 3-to-1. Pappageorge benefitted from Newt Gingrich'sNewt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
Contract with America
Contract with America
The Contract with America was a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. Written by Larry Hunter, who was aided by Newt Gingrich, Robert Walker, Richard Armey, Bill Paxon, Tom DeLay, John Boehner and Jim Nussle, and in part using text...
and the 1994 Republican Revolution.
1996 election
In his third consecutive run against Levin, he was not able to shore up as much support, losing 57.4%-40.5%.Michigan House of Representatives
Pappageorge served in the Michigan State House of RepresentativesMichigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
from 1999 to 2004, when he retired due to term limits. He spent four years on the House Appropriations Committee, and served his final two years as Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and as a member of the Employment Relations, Training and Safety Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Senior Health, Security, and Retirement Committee, and the Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee.
1998 election
In 1998, he ran for the Michigan State House 41st District seat, which then encompassed southern Troy, ClawsonClawson, Michigan
Clawson is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population was 11,825.-Geography:...
and northern Royal Oak
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
in Oakland County. He defeated Troy City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
member Matt Pryor
Matt Pryor (Michigan politician)
Matthew "Matt" Pryor was the mayor of the city of Troy in the U.S. state of Michigan from 2001-2004.-Biography:Pryor grew up in Troy, graduating from Troy High School in 1978. In 1982 he received his B.S...
in the Republican Primary. He went on to defeat Democrat David Richards in the November general election. http://miboecfr.nicusa.com/election/candlist/98gen/98gen_cl.htm.
2000 election
In 2000, he was re-elected facing nominal opposition with no primary challengers.2002 election
He was again re-elected again to his final term under term-limits in 2002 in the newly created 41st District (through decennial redistricting), a district which composed roughly the same area. He faced faced nominal opposition and no primary challengers.2004 election remarks
In 2004, Pappageorge was quoted in the Detroit Free PressDetroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
as saying "If we do not suppress the Detroit vote, we're going to have a tough time in this election cycle." The New York Times cited this comment in an editorial on the "suppression of minority votes." Detroit's population is more than 80 percent African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, and tends to vote heavily Democratic.
While apologizing for the remark and denying any intent of racial connotation, Pappageorge explained that he made the remark in the context of concern about the effects that a medical marijuana issue on the Detroit ballot might have on partisan voter turn-out.Despite the reaction of the New York Times, the Oakland Press, a local newspaper, contended that Pappageorge’s claims were “entirely credible.”
2006 State Senate campaign
Pappagoerge was coaxed by the Michigan Republican PartyMichigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
to run for the 13th District State Senate seat after Sander Levin's son, Andy Levin
Andy Levin
Andrew S. "Andy" Levin is the founder and managing partner of Levin Energy Partners, LLC, a firm he established in 2011 to provide innovative financing tools to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in American buildings...
announced he was going to enter the race.
After Pappageorge joined the race, Gosselin dropped out in order to run for County Commissioner in Troy.
Pappageorge won the August Republican primary 58.5% to Taub's 41.5%.
Charges of mudslinging and dirty politics continued in the general election between Pappageorge and Levin. The race became hotly contested, with over $2 million spent by the two campaigns, and with negative television ads from each side (a rarity in State Senate races in metro-Detroit).
The Michigan Republican Party, on behalf of Pappageorge's campaign, distributed flyers alleging that Levin had stances on issues, including same-sex marriage, illegal immigration and gun control, that were too liberal for the district. They also accused Levin of being a carpetbagger
Carpetbagger
Carpetbaggers was a pejorative term Southerners gave to Northerners who moved to the South during the Reconstruction era, between 1865 and 1877....
, as Levin had recently moved back to Michigan after working for the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Levin's campaign fired back, claiming that Pappageorge cut more than $500 million from schools in Michigan and was fired from the Bush Presidential campaign
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
in 2004.
Pappageorge defeated Levin in November by a slim margin, 776 votes. Pappageorge's margin of victory was less than the number of votes obtained by Green Party candidate Kyle McBee, who received 3,118 votes.
2010 State Senate campaign
In the 2010 election, Pappageorge was the only incumbent in Oakland County to seek re-election. He defeated two primary challengers in the Michigan State Primary election on August 3, 2010.In the general election, Pappageorge was challenged by newcomer Aaron Bailey, a West Point graduate and Afghanistan veteran. Days before the election, Bailey received the endorsement of the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
.
On election day, Pappageorge defeated Bailey.