Baltakis announces candidacy for Ward 1 alderman

Dr. Tony Baltakis has announced he will run for alderman in Ward 1 in the Nov. 6 election.
His announcement follows.
Baltakis has lived in Eunice, with his wife Donna, for 21 years. He is a professor of history at LSU Eunice. Baltakis served two terms as Faculty Senate chair. He is director of the LSUE Performing Arts Series which brings artists and performers to the campus and the community. In 2007, he established the LSUE Recycling Program which helps to fund the Performing Arts Series.
Baltakis has served on numerous campus committees, chairing many of them. During the first three years of the women’s basketball program, he served as mascot, “Ben the Bengal.” Baltakis is a recipient of the University’s Outstanding Teacher award, and Favorite Teacher of the Year award. He was named a Fulbright Scholar, representing the university and the country, in the Czech Republic at the University of West Bohemia. The Fulbright Program is a flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Baltakis has published historical articles and attended professional conferences. He also serves as a consultant to the Educational Testing Services with regards to the scoring of advanced placement history tests throughout the country.
Baltakis was appointed to the initial Eunice Economic Development Committee and was elected chair. The committee conducted an extensive study of the Eunice area that later led to the State of Louisiana declaring Eunice “a city ready for development.” Baltakis served two terms on the St. Landry Economic Board (formerly SLEDD); one term as vice chairman. Currently he is a member of the Opelousas/Eunice Library Board.
Baltakis earned his B.A. at John Carroll University, a Jesuit University in Ohio; his M.A. at the University of South Florida; and his doctorate at the University of Akron. Baltakis had his own business for many years while living in Florida, before returning to education. Baltakis lives in Eunice with his wife, Donna, as well as having his two sons moving here from Florida and his mother-in-law from Ohio.