Steve Xiarhos Announces Campaign for Re-election

January 18, 2024

BARNSTABLE, Mass. — Steve Xiarhos has officially announced that he is running for re-election as State Representative for the 5th Barnstable District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

According to the Xiarhos Committee, the campaign will host a re-election kickoff event at the Sandwich American Legion on Tuesday, February 20 from 5-7 p.m.

In a statement announcing his re-election bid and outlining certain priorities he is working on, Xiarhos said that serving as State Representative has been “the thrill and honor of a lifetime,” and that he wants to continue using the power of his office to assist people in need. “To me, this job is and always has been about helping people,” Xiarhos said. “That’s what I enjoy doing every day, it’s part of who I am and what I believe in, and it’s what I want to continue doing on behalf of the people I represent.”

Xiarhos said that he also wants to keep pursuing his mission to make Cape Cod a more affordable and safer place to live and work, and to make government more accountable to the people it serves.

This session, Xiarhos has been outspoken in his opposition to state policies for housing migrant families and, in particular, the enormous expenses being imposed on taxpayers that have resulted from those poor policy decisions. He is the co-sponsor of legislation to reform the state’s Right to Shelter Law to limit its applicability to U.S. citizens, as he claims it was originally intended. He also has been a vocal opponent of measures to rewrite state firearms laws, calling instead for improved enforcement of existing laws to help keep the public safe from violent crime. And, as a Gold Star Father and former Deputy Chief of Police, he has maintained his strong and steady advocacy for men and women in uniform, our nation’s veterans, and the state’s first responder community.

Xiarhos said his service on the House Ways and Means Committee this session has provided him with valuable insight concerning the budget process and the financial workings of state government. “I take my duty to be a responsible steward of taxpayer funds very seriously,” Xiarhos said. “I want a state government people can be proud of. Especially during these tough economic times, I see it as my role to make sure that every dollar we spend is spent wisely and frugally, invested with an eye not just to fulfilling our current needs but also toward satisfying our future well-being. That means keeping taxes low, looking for ways to streamline the way the state operates, and always being completely transparent with the taxpayers we represent. It also means supporting affordable housing, small businesses and job creation to help working families thrive.”

“I also want Massachusetts to be a safe place for everyone,” Xiarhos said. “That’s why I have introduced a number of measures to increase the penalties for certain crimes, especially crimes against vulnerable people, and to enhance the penalties for those who sell illegal drugs on our streets. As a former school resource officer, I am also focused on making our schools safe for students and teachers. And, of course, as someone who worked in law enforcement for four decades before running for office, I am passionate about supporting our Commonwealth’s first responders and their mission. Last session we were honored to pass Nero’s Bill — with bipartisan support — as a lasting tribute to my friend and colleague, fallen Yarmouth Police K9 Sgt. Sean Gannon. This session we’re working on Dakota’s Law as a follow-on measure to help provide ongoing care and support for retired police dogs in their later years. We’re going to get the job done.”

In addition to these priorities, Xiarhos says he wants to continue working to see the Cape Cod Canal bridges rebuilt quickly and affordably, and that he looks forward to furthering his support for public education and protecting the environment on Cape Cod. “As Cape Codders, we are blessed to live in one of the greatest places on Earth. We share a responsibility and commitment to keep it that way, and I’m passionate about doing my part to pass along these blessings and more to our future generations,” Xiarhos said.

About Steve Xiarhos

Steve Xiarhos (R – 5th Barnstable) was elected to serve as State Representative on November 3, 2020 and was sworn into office on January 6, 2021. He is currently serving his second term of office.

This session, Steve is proud to continue serving as the Assistant Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, working hard to make Cape Cod a safer place to live and work. He is additionally gratified to continue service as the Ranking Minority Member on the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, working to promote the interests of citizens who served in uniform. New this session, Steve serves as a member of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, helping to set state fiscal policy, including in particular the annual state budget. And, he serves as a member of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, fighting hard to win the war against opioids and to provide appropriate services to those who need them.

Currently, Steve lives in Barnstable with his fiancee, Denise L. Kalbach, who is a Family Nurse Practitioner. Steve is also a proud parent of four children. He is a Gold Star Father, in honor of his oldest son, Nicholas. Nick Xiarhos died at age 21 on the battlefield during Operation Enduring Freedom. He perished while going to the rescue of fellow Marines in combat as part of ‘Operation Strike of the Sword’ in the Garmsir district of Helmand Province Afghanistan on July 23, 2009. Steve’s other son, Alexander, serves as a School Resource Officer for the Yarmouth Police Department. Steve’s identical twin daughters, Elizabeth and Ashlynne, serve in the hospitality industry.

Steve is the grandson of Greek immigrants and he’s a devoted, lifelong American Patriot. He is the son and grandson of United States Army, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Veterans. As a Gold Star Father and given his patriotic background, he has a strong desire to serve our country and assist and support the men and women of America’s armed forces, first responders, veterans and military families. He is perhaps best known for founding Big Nick’s Ride for the Fallen, the largest annual charitable motorcycle ride on Cape Cod, in memory of Nicholas and all of those with ties to the Cape and Islands who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Steve also hosts the largest blood drive on the Cape and Islands for Cape Cod Healthcare in honor of Nicholas every February on his birthday. He also has successfully initiated and coordinated many other community fundraising and awareness events including the YPD BLUE 5K Run for a Reason and the First Responder Appreciation Freedom Ride.

Steve was born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In the summer of 1979, he found work as a seasonal Summer Reserve Police Officer, patrolling the town’s beaches during tourist season. One day, he received a call from the town, saying that he was being hired to be a full-time Patrol Officer. He accepted, beginning a 40-year career with the Yarmouth Police Department. During those four decades of service, Steve was promoted to the ranks of Detective, School Resource Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Lieutenant, Patrol Force Commander, Detective Division Commander, and eventually Deputy Chief of Police. He retired from the police department on December 8, 2019.

Steve is a graduate of Anna Maria College, Northeastern University, and Cape Cod Community College (where he majored in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement). Throughout his career, Steve attended numerous specialized training courses and is a graduate of the Babson College Command Training Course and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. He is the recipient of 22 various police department awards and decorations including Officer of the Year, Yarmouth Area Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year, Rotary Club of Yarmouth Vocational Service Award, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Officer of the Year, and the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission Rosenthal Award.

Alongside his other work within the community, Steve is proud to be a member of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, a volunteer organization which helps to build affordable housing for Cape Cod families. Steve also serves as an Ambassador for Independence House, Inc., which is Hyannis-based counseling and advocacy center to address and prevent domestic and sexual violence. He has been the recipient of several honorary recognitions in recent years, including being named Cape Cod Times’ Person of the Year, Sandwich Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year, Massachusetts Military Support Foundation Citizen of the Year, the New England Police Benevolent Association Legislator of the Year, and the American Kennel Club Legislator of the Year.

Steve also participated in and completed numerous road races including the Marine Corps and Boston Marathons as well as the Marine Corps Honor Run, the Falmouth Road Race, Boston Firefighters 10K, the Boston Run to Remember, the Marine Corps Marathon 10K, the Sandwich Annual Thanksgiving 5K, Sandwich Annual First Day 5K, and the Cape Cod Athletic Club Annual Grand Prix.

About the 5th Barnstable District

The 5th Barnstable District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives spans portions of several Cape Cod communities, as follows:

• Barnstable (Precincts 10, 11, and 12 only)
• Bourne (Precincts 1, 2, 3, 5A, and 7 only)
• Sandwich