 He was an advisor in the Ministries of Industry, Energy and Finance between 1977 and 1981.From 1986 Kouris served as Municipal Advisor of Athens under Mayors Miltiadis Evert and Antonis Tritsis, as Vice-Mayor of Athens from 1987 to 1992, overseeing the city's technical, administrative and economic services, and was elected mayor in April 1992, after the death of Antonis Tritsis.During his term, he put forward a wide program of work, the construction of Athens tram being a key project.