SACRAMENTO – Kyriakos Tsakopoulos, Executive Vice President of AKT Development Corporation and long active in national Democratic politics, has joined the Obama Finance Council to support Senator Barack Obama’s bid for the Democratic nomination for President.

“Barack Obama is the right leader to unite our country and to restore the United States to its rightful place as the enlightened leader of the world,” Mr. Tsakopoulos said. “He has inspired and moved people across our country with a campaign that focuses on how all Americans can work together to enhance our future.”

Mr. Tsakopoulos said he has been consistently impressed by Senator Obama and his ability to inspire Americans to action. He reached his decision following a recent candidate debate in Los Angeles and was inspired by California First Lady Maria Shriver’s recent decision to publicly support Senator Obama.

Mr. Tsakopoulos said he will play an active role in fundraising for the Obama campaign as one of the 200 major national fundraisers for Senator Obama. He participated in meetings last week of the Council, chaired by Penny Pritzker.

Mr. Tsakopoulos is active in regional, national and international civic affairs and educational policy. He is a Member of the Board of Trustees of Columbia University, and also sits on the Board of Visitors of Columbia College. He is a Trustee of the California State University System, the largest university system in the world, and sits on the Board of the University of California, Davis M.I.N.D. Research Institute, the American Hellenic Institute Advisory Committee, the Crocker Museum of Art, and various other public service Boards and Commissions. He was/is a California Elector in the Electoral College of the United States in 2004 and 2008.

Also endorsing Senator Obama and joining his National Finance Committee is Demetrios A. Boutris, Mr. Tsakopoulos’ business partner and President of the Boutris Group, Inc. Mr. Boutris is the former California Corporations Commissioner and Counsel to the Governor of California.

AKT, led by its Founder and Chairman, Angelo K. Tsakopoulos, is a diversified, family-owned, land development company headquartered in Sacramento, California, operating real estate, farming, ranching, water and minerals, building, and land development projects throughout North/Central California.