Dimitrios Votsis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dimitrios Votsis
Δημήτριος Βότσης 16th Mayor of Patras |
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| Born | c. 1841 |
| Died | 28 October 1917 (aged 75–76) |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Occupation | Politician, Mayor of Patras |
Dimitrios Votsis (born around 1841, died October 28, 1917) was an important Greek politician. He is best known for serving as the mayor of Patras, a big city in Greece. His family came from a region called Epirus. They moved to Patras after a fight for independence in Epirus didn't succeed. Dimitrios Votsis studied law and later became a judge in Patras.
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Dimitrios Votsis's Political Journey
Starting in Local Government
In 1891, Dimitrios Votsis started his political career. He was elected to the city council of Patras. This council helps run the city. He also became the president of this council. Four years later, he teamed up with another politician, Achilleas Gerokostopoulos. Together, they were re-elected to the council.
Becoming Mayor of Patras
Dimitrios Votsis became the mayor of Patras in 1899. A mayor is the leader of a city. He was very popular and was re-elected two more times. He won elections in 1903 and again in 1907. His last time serving as mayor was in 1914. This was during a time when Greece was involved in the Balkan Wars. After this term, he decided not to run for mayor again.
What Dimitrios Votsis Achieved
During his time as mayor, Dimitrios Votsis started many important projects. These projects helped Patras grow and become a better city.
Building Important Structures
One big project was building the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. This is a very large church in Patras. As a Member of Parliament, Votsis suggested this project to the government. In 1908, the church's foundation was officially laid. King George I was even there for the ceremony.
Votsis also helped set up public butcher shops. He bought the building that is now the city council's office. He also managed a place that helped poor people. He played a big part in creating new neighborhoods in Patras. He oversaw the building of a new water tank in Kastro. This tank is still used today. He also built a new water tower and a 12 km long water pipe system.
Improving City Life
Under Votsis's leadership, many city improvements happened. He got some army buildings in Synora that are still there. He made sure the city's tree-lined squares looked nice. He also supervised the paving of roads that were just dirt paths before. This included roads leading to Olga Square.
A very important change was bringing electricity to Patras in 1902. He also built a gaslight factory in Krya Ition. This factory helped put up the city's first streetlights. These lights were placed in Georgiou I Square and on Maizonos Street. Votsis also brought trams to Patras. Trams are like small trains that run on city streets. They connected to the railroad. However, the tram system stopped working after World War II.
Helping the Community
Dimitrios Votsis cared about the people of Patras. He made a rule that poor people could get water at a lower price. This helped many families. At one point, the government tried to control who could enter Patras. But Votsis strongly disagreed with this idea. He always fought for what was best for his city. He continued to do so even after World War I.
Dimitrios Votsis's Legacy
Dimitrios Votsis passed away on October 28, 1917. He left behind a lasting impact on Patras. Many of his projects helped the city develop. To remember his contributions, a street in Patras was named after him. This street is called Votsi Street. It goes from Karaiskakis Street to Othonos-Amalias Avenue. In the year 2000, a statue of Dimitrios Votsis was put up. It stands at the end of Votsi Street. The statue reminds everyone of his great achievements. It shows how much he helped the city of Patras.
