Candidate for
Council Member; City of Tracy

In 1923 Pete's great uncle, Chris Farakos came to Tracy. He worked as a Southern Pacific railroad boilermaker on the steam locomotives of that era and then built and operated a number of restaurants in Tracy. After World War II Chris brought his niece, Pete's mother, Dimitra, to America from Greece arranging her marriage to Nick Mitracos.

Pete was born in Stockton, California on November 3, 1948 (Tracy Community Hospital was completed one month later).

During the 1950's Nick operated the Horseshoe Cafe on Eleventh Street. There was no I-5 or 580 or 205. There was only Eleventh Street. Eleventh Street was Highway 50 and carried all the traffic from the Bay Area to points east, north and south. Things have changed dramatically since then and in many ways they have not changed at all. Tracy is still the crossroads it was then.

Pete, along with his brother John, and his sister Angie, attended local schools and worked in his father's restaurant from a young age. After graduating from Tracy High in 1966, Pete left Tracy to attend UC Santa Barbara.

In the early seventies Pete spent nearly two years traveling in Europe, the Mideast, and Asia. In the early eighties he traveled extensively in the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, Indonesia and Asia through to Europe. In 1987 Pete spent three months traveling in China and Tibet.

In the mid seventies Pete worked as a carpenter with Union Local 701 in Fresno. After three years in Fresno, Pete moved to the Bay Area and began working as a remodeling contractor. In 1991, he returned to Tracy and his old neighborhood. He continues to live in the family house where he was raised.

For the last ten years, Pete has been working to improve Tracy. His first City involvement came with Tracy Tomorrow in 1999. Pete served as co-chair of the Land Use, Open Space, and Agriculture Task Force. Tracy Tomorrow generated nearly 300 recommendations that informed and shaped the City of Tracy General Plan adopted in 2006.

Pete was appointed to the City of Tracy Planning Commission in 2005. He is currently serving as Chair.

Pete was also a member of the Tracy High School Facilities Volunteer Study Committee. The committee recommended to the Tracy Unified School District Board of Education that the West Building be replaced with a "replica". Pete was involved in the bond campaign to fund that building and renovate other school facilities. For Pete, this committee's work is a model that shows how wide community input coupled with a patient process can lead to great success.

Pete served on the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury for the 2007/2008 year. The Grand Jury investigated and reviewed various governmental agencies. The San Joaquin Delta College 2007/08 Grand Jury report regarding management of bond funds is notable. That report was a catalyst for major changes at Delta College.

As a long time resident, Pete is interested in the history of Tracy. He has been involved with the West Side Pioneers' Landmark Committee for a number of years. Currently, Pete is working to place a marker on Schulte Road at the Ellis town location. Ellis was the first rail settlement in our area and is Tracy's predecessor.

Since 2004, Pete has served on the McHenry House Tracy Family Shelter Board of Directors. He is currently Vice-President of the Board. Their purpose is to provide shelter and support services for homeless families and to provide information, referral and support services for all who are homeless. McHenry House has been providing these services for twenty years.

Pete is self-employed designing and drafting homes, additions, remodeling projects, and maintaining a few rental properties that he owns with a couple of banks.

He is married to Mary. Mary was raised in Tracy, graduating from Tracy High in 1971. They recently celebrated 16 years together.