John Sarbanes, an 18-year veteran member of the U.S. House of Representatives and active political affairs member of the Greek-American community, announced that he will not seek re-election to what would have been his 10th term in Congress .
“Voluntarily retiring from Congress – whether after eighteen years as in my case or at any time – is not an easy thing,” Sarbanes said in a statement. “Because the stakes of what we do are so high and because we are confident in our value to the team, it is still possible to make the case for the next election. Our country faces many challenges ahead. present time, but the Democratic caucus that will continue into the next Congress and beyond possesses a strength and unity of purpose that bodes well for the future.
The son of the late U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, Sarbanes represents Maryland’s 3rd District, which includes much of suburban Baltimore.
In announcing his retirement plans, Sarbanes said he “wants to explore the many opportunities to serve that exist outside of elected office,” including in the areas of volunteerism and nonprofit organizations. Many believe he could have been a potential Senate candidate, but Sarbanes has previously said he chose not to enter that field.
Sarbanes has a long history of advocating on various issues important to the Greek-American community.
His connection to Greece and Greek ideals goes far beyond his family heritage. While attending Princeton University, he was one of the first students to take classes at the new Princeton Center for Hellenic Studies, where he took courses in modern Greek taught by the center’s iconic professor, Dimitri Gondicas, who started the program in 1979.
Sarbanes also spent a year in Greece as a Fulbright scholar before attending Harvard Law School and winning his first election to Congress in 2007.
When his father died, young Sarbanes delivered an eloquent speech to Congress about how his family’s Greek ideals helped shape him.
