Dukakis Center hosts election day reception

The Michael and Kitty Dukakis Center for Public and Humanitarian Service at ACT celebrated the American general election on November 8 with a public reception at the Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki.

Nearly 200 friends and well-wishers attended, snacked on wine and cheese, and watched a special election day program throughout the evening. Among those present were US Consul General Rebecca Fong, representatives of the municipalities of Thessaloniki and of Pylea-Hortiatis, representatives of the American College of Thessaloniki and the American Farm School, and scores of students from ACT and the Universities of Macedonia and Thessaloniki, including a contingent of American study abroad students from ACT.

Joining co-hosts Lambrini Nassis, Esq., Adjunct Professor on International Relations at ACT, and David Wisner, Executive Director of the Dukakis Center, on the program were, via Skype, Michael Ertel (R), Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County (Florida), John Koenig (D), former US Ambassador to Cyprus, Democratic delegate (Washington State), and Alec Mally (D), former US Consul General of Thessaloniki, Democrats Abroad Greece.

Guests also took a poll, designed by ACT alumnus Pantelis Rafail, with questions on the candidates and campaigns, and the state of democratic governance in the United States. Hillary Clinton won a straw poll by a margin of 70%-30%, while most of those who took the poll agreed that the campaigns were among the most negative in recent memory.

A majority of those polled expressed faith in the integrity of the American political process and the relative health of democratic governance in the United States.

The gathering broke up too early in the evening to review exit polls and election results.