Draft:Mariyana Spyropoulos

Family and early life
Spyropoulos is the daughter of Erika and Ted Spyropoulos. Her father was a notable businessman, and a prominent member of the Greek American community. Her mother has served on the Illinois Arts Council.

Spyropoulos received her Masters in Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago and her Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) in 1996. She also did graduate work in American government at Georgetown University.

Legal career
Spyropoulos first practiced law as a prosecutor, working as san assistant Cook County state's attorney. She subsequently left this career and in 2005 opened the Chicago law firm of Miriyana Spyropoulos & Associates. Her legal work has involved environmental advocacy.

Spyropoulos has been a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Hellenic Bar Association, and Women's Bar Association.

MWRD Board of Commissioners
In 2008, Spyropoulos unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Board of Commissioners. Her candidacy had been endorsed by then-lieutenant governor Pat Quinn. On August 5, 2009, Quinn (now the governor) appointed Spyropoulos to a vacant seat on the board. She was elected to a full term in 2010, and re-elected in 2016 and 2022.

Spyropoulos served as the MWRD chairperson of finance from January 2013 through January 2015. She served as president of the board from January 2015 through 2019. She has served as a trustee of the MWRD Retirement Fund. She has served chairperson of the judiciary committee; chairperson of the Pension, Human Resources, and Civil Service Committee; chairperson of the finance committee; chairperson of the real estate development committee; vice chairperson of the ethics committee; vice chairperson of the public health and welfare committee. She has also been a member of the MWRD Public Building Commission.

Spyropoulos advocated for decreasing administrative costs and implementing resource recovery involving the conversion of waste into fertilizer.

In 2018, it was alleged that Spyropoulos had received $60,000 in campaign donations from contractors who did business with the MWRD.

In 2018, Spyropoulos gave her support to the creation of an inspector general position at the MWRD, instructing the agency's law department to draft a proposal. This position was ultimately created.

https://legacy.mwrd.org/irj/go/km/docs/documents/MWRD/internet/News&Media/Newsroom/Media/Press_Releases/2016/16_1206_New_Commissioners_Installation.pdf

2020 Cook County Clerk of Courts campaign
Spyropoulos launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 Cook County Clerk of Courts election. Incumbent clerk Dorothy Brown was not seeking re-election, creating an open race. Spyropoulos withdrew from the race in September 2019, citing family reasons.

2024 Cook County Clerk of Courts campaign
Spyropoulos succesfully challenged incumbent Cook County Clerk of Courts Iris Martinez in the Democratic primary for the 2024 Cook County Clerk of Courts election.

Ahead of the primary, Spyropoulos was endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party. She also received the endorsement of the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune.

The general election for the office will be in November 2024.

Awards and recognition

 * 2017 Illinois Water Environment Association "Public Service Award"

MWRD

 * 2008


 * 2010


 * 2016


 * 2022

Clerk of Courts

 * 2024