Theodore Kanavas

Infobox State Senator


honorific-prefix =
name =Theodore Kanavas
honorific-suffix =
state =Wisconsin
state_senate =Wisconsin
district =33rd
term_start =2001
term_end =present
preceded =
succeeded =Incumbent
party =Republican
date of birth =birth date and age|1961|04|29
place of birth =
residence =Brookfield, Wisconsin
profession =businessman
religion =Greek Orthodox
spouse =
website =

Theodore "Ted" Kanavas (born April 29, 1961) is an American politician currently serving as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the state's thirty-third district. He is a member of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Kanavas was raised in Brookfield, Wisconsin and graduated from Brookfield East High School. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983. While attending the school, Kanavas worked as an aide to Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner. Kanavas subsequently attended Pepperdine University's school of law.

For the past fifteen years Kanavas has worked in the software industry.

Kanavas was elected to the school board for Elmbrook School District in 1999, and served until 2002. In July 2001, he was elected to the State Senate in a special election, defeating Democrat Dawn Marie Sass, and he was re-elected in 2002. He also won re-election in 2006 defeating Democratic candidate Andrew Stiffler by nearly 25,000 votes.

Kanavas is known for his efforts to promote job creation and economic development. His legislative successes include passage of the Angel Investment tax credits (known as [http://commerce.wi.gov/Act255/BD-Act255-angelinvestors.html Act 255] ) and passage of his [http://www.filmwisconsin.net/Incentives/Synopsis.asp Film Wisconsin] tax credit bill allowing movie and television production companies to claim a tax credit for work done in Wisconsin. In January 2008, the Michael Mann film Public Enemies staring Johnny Depp became the first production to take advantage of Wisconsin's film tax credits.

Kanavas attends the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and coaches his son's youth baseball team. He and his wife, Mary, have three children; Nick, Kelly and Kate.

External links

* [http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen33/ Wisconsin State Legislature - Senator Theodore Kanavas] official WI Senate website
* [http://www.tedkanavas.com/ Ted Kanavas for Wisconsin State Senate] campaign website
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=56421 Project Vote Smart - Senator Theodore Kanavas (WI)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Theodore J Kanavas
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200648&c=427572 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200448&c=411277 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200248&c=32108 2002] campaign contributions