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The
Daily Gyro September 18, 2006 Another Sarbanes Victory John Sarbanes, son of the legendary Senator Paul Sarbanes, won last week’s Democratic Primary for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District seat over seven other challengers with 32% of the vote. John Sarbanes, son of the legendary Senator Paul Sarbanes, won last week’s Democratic Primary for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District seat over seven other challengers with 32% of the vote. One of the lowest vote getters was ironically Osman "Oz" Bengür, a Turkish-American, who only managed 4% of the votes, a disappointment for a candidate who almost won the Democratic Primary in the same district four years ago. As Greek-Americans lament the loss of two Greek-American icons in the House and Senate to retirement, continue to support the other members of the Greek-American contingent in both branches, and hopes for the rise of newcomers like the younger Sarbanes, the Turkish-American community has never even had any representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. This lack of representation by Turkish-Americans in Congress makes their political success in this country even more surprising. Through their network of high priced lobbyists the Turkish Government, probably more so than Turkish-Americans themselves, has managed to make sure its policy objectives are realized even without their own representatives actually making policy. But Sarbanes’ win in an eight way race may be indicative of the how Greek-American candidates can succeed in political races. With the advent of the internet, and its affect on grassroots fundraising, local races have indeed become national races, with a qualified Greek-American candidate having access to the money and resources of the entire Greek-American community, particularly from those Greek-Americans who don’t have their own local candidate to support. Early money can help a Greek-American candidate make it to November with a shot at getting elected, which is all any candidate or community can ask for. Other Servings of The Daily Gyro
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