George Nikolakakos
{{Short description|American state representative for Montana}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| state_house = Montana
| district = 26th
| termstart = January 2, 2023
| predecessor = Jeremy Trebas
| residence = Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
| children = 4
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|11|24}}
| birth_place = Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Air Force
| serviceyears = 2002–2022
|
| rank = Senior Master Sergeant
| battles = War in Afghanistan
}}
George Peter Nikolakakos (born November 24, 1979) is an American politician who is currently serving as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from District 26. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Nikolakakos first ran for the Montana legislature in 2022. He ran for House District 22 which covers eastern Great Falls and Malmstrom Air Force Base.{{cite web |title=Rep. George Nikolakakos |url=https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/lawmakers/George-Nikolakakos/ |publisher=Montana Free Press |access-date=4 March 2025}} He defeated Marci Marceau in the primaries with 58% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2022 Primary Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST&eid=21 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} He then faced Kari Rosenleaf in the general election, winning with 57% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2022 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST&eid=22 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} In 2024 James Whitaker challenged him in the primaries. Nikolakakos took 72% of the vote. For the general election he defeated Democrat Ronald Paulick with 61% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2024 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} He was appointed Chair of the Legislative Administration committee in the 2025 session.
Biography
Nikolakakos was born on November 24, 1979, in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, to Peter and Debra Jean Nikolakakos, the oldest of two children. He married Melissa Lynn Durden on November 22, 2003, in Reno, Nevada. They live with their four children in Great Falls, Montana.{{Cite web |title=George Nikolakakos Republican Candidate for Legislature Montana House District 26 Great Falls Montana |url=https://www.georgeforus.com/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=georgeforus}}{{cite web |last1=Hudson |first1=Matt |title=Around Cascade County, married couples seek two districts for one household |url=https://montanafreepress.org/2024/05/31/around-cascade-county-married-couples-seek-two-districts-for-one-household/ |publisher=Montana Free Press |access-date=4 March 2025 |date=May 31, 2024}} His wife became the Representative for Montana House District 20 in 2025.{{cite web |title=2024 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}}
Military service
Shortly after the September 11 attacks, Nikolakakos enlisted into the United States Air Force, serving 20 years from 2001 to 2021 before leaving with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.{{Cite web |title=IAAFA NCOA |url=https://www.jbsa.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000308140/mediaid/583556/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=www.jbsa.mil |publisher=Joint Base San Antonio}} During his time in the Air Force, Nikolakakos served in the War in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, and the Syrian Civil War. He also spent some of his time in the military with the Montana Air National Guard, where he was Superintendent of Intelligence for the 120th Air Wing and a Nuclear Accountability Officer at Malmstrom Air Force Base. Nikolakakos claims to have maintained fluency in five different languages due to his time in the Air Force.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{CongLinks |votesmart=203602}}
- [https://ballotpedia.org/George_Nikolakakos Nikolakakos on Ballotpedia]
- [https://archive.legmt.gov/legislator-information/roster/individual/7639 2023 details from legmt.gov]
- [https://www.krtv.com/news/montana-politics/hd-22-candidate-profiles-george-nikolakakos-and-ronald-paulick#google_vignette 2024 interview with KRTV]
{{Montana House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikoloskakos, George}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives
Category:United States Air Force non-commissioned officers
Category:Montana National Guard personnel