ALABAMA - NANCY WORLEY

[from April 22 , 2013]
Had been serving as First Vice Chair.  Served as Alabama Secretary of State from 2003-07.  SOS bio:

Nancy Worley is a lifelong resident of Alabama, and a veteran educator of 25 years. Worley grew up on a family farm in New Hope (Madison Co.), Alabama and attended public school there. Each summer, from 1963 to 1970, she worked at the YMCA. Worley attended the University of Montevallo, where she received a B.A. degree with highest honors in 1973. She continued her education at Jacksonville State University, where she received her M.A. degree in 1975. She has completed courses at other universities in Alabama and abroad, including technology classes, after she received the TSPAT Scholarship Award. Worley taught school for 25 years in Decatur, Alabama, where she was active in numerous professional and civic organizations. In addition to teaching English and Latin, Worley sponsored cheerleaders, student clubs, and fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and American Heart Association. Worley taught part-time in the evenings for Northeast State Community College and John C. Calhoun Community College.

Worley was twice named Teacher of the Year, and was also a Teacher Hall of Fame nominee. The Alabama Jaycees honored Worley as Alabama's Outstanding Young Educator, and Good Housekeeping named her as one of the "100 Young Women of Promise." Worley was awarded the Alumnus of the Year honor at the University of Montevallo, and was recently given the Education Award by the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. She was named by The Decatur Daily as one of the "Twenty Leaders of Decatur," and has been listed in numerous national and international publications.

Worley was elected statewide and served two terms as President of the Alabama Education Association (1983-1984, 1995-1997), four terms on the Alabama Democratic Executive Committee, twice as State President of the Association of Classroom Teachers, and twice as State President of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She has been President of the Decatur Education Association, the Alabama Foreign Language Teachers Association, Opportunity Toastmistress Club, and the Alabama Classical Association.

ed. note:
Something of a split in April 2013.  Judge Mark Kennedy resigned as chair on April 22 and formed Alabama Democratic Majority.

ALASKA - MIKE WENSTRUP

[elected May 12, 2013]
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. he received a bachelor's degree and then a law degree from the University of Notre Dame.  After graduation he moved to Fairbanks Alaska in 2005.  He belongs to the Fairbanks Kiwanis club and the Fairbanks Elks club. When not working he enjoys spending time hiking, fishing and camping with his wife Annie and their dogs.

ed. note:
Wenstrup is a Fairbanks attorney who served as chairman of the Interior Democrats.

ARIZONA - BILL ROE

[elected March 17, 2012; re-elected Jan. 26, 2013]
For more than 35 years, since his arrival in the state in 1975, Bill Roe has dedicated himself to improving Arizona’s environment and championing land conservation efforts. Bill has served on the boards of directors of the Arizona League of Conservation Voters and AZLCV Education Fund for more than a decade and is the groups’ longest serving board member. He has also served two six-year terms on the Arizona State Parks Board, served on the Arizona Land and Water Trust Board, and dedicated years to long-term service as a leader in developing the Nature Conservancy in Arizona. A Tucson resident, Bill is chairman of the Pima County Conservation Acquisition Commission and is involved in land and watershed protection in southeastern Arizona.

More recently, Bill was elected Arizona's Democratic National Committeeman with 77% of the vote. In this role, Bill was able to take his skills as an advocate and Party Leader to the national level, advocating for Arizona's interests in the national Democratic Party.

As a proud Tucsonan, Bill is the first Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party to come from outside Maricopa County in a generation.

Bill graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio and received his law degree from Columbia University. He and his wife, Alice, have been married for 45 years and have two children and three grandchildren.

ARKANSAS - VINCE INSALACO

[elected Sept. 14, 2013]
Vincent Insalaco of North Little Rock has worked for Democratic candidates and causes for decades, and he served as the president for Young Democrats of Arkansas in the early 80’s. Insalaco worked on campaigns for local, state, and national office throughout the years and received the Ed Fry Democrat of the Year award this year for his many years of service to improve communities, mentor young Democrats, and elect strong leaders to office.

ed. Co-founder of Argenta Community Theater:

Vince continued his love of the arts, but also founded his own business, Family Entertainment, a chain of video stores which also offered video production services. Vince grew Family Entertainment from a single store to a chain with over 50 locations, and employed over 300 people before selling the company to a national corporation in 2002. The sale of Family Entertainment allowed Vince to devote time again to the arts, politics and community service.

He produced his first feature narrative movie, "War Eagle, Arkansas," which won critical acclaim at many film festivals. The movie was filmed entirely in Arkansas. He has also produced the documentary "Warrior Champions," a moving story about injured veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan who performed in the Para-Olympics in Beijing.

Vince also co-founded Butterfly Community Ministries, and has served on the Boards of Directors of many organizations, including the Little Rock Film Festival, CARTI, the THEA Foundation, the Historic Arkansas Museum, St. Vincent's Infirmary, and others. Sally and Vince were married for 32 years before she lost her brave battle with cancer in 2006. Vince and Sally have two children, Elizabeth and Vincent III, along with three beautiful granddaughters.

See also:
Jennifer Pyron.  "Man About Town: Vincent Insalaco Leaves Mark on Argenta."  Little Rock Soiree, Nov. 1, 2012.

CALIFORNIA - JOHN BURTON

[elected April 2009; re-elected at state convention April 12-14, 2013]
John Burton is widely considered one of the most effective and experienced legislative leaders in the State of California – if not the nation. He began his career as a Deputy Attorney General, served as the President of the Young Democrats, and won election to the County Central Committee. He then served as a State Assemblymember, President of the California Democratic Council, Chair of the California Democratic Party, U.S. Congressmember and as President pro Tem of the California State Senate. After being termed-out of the Legislature, he created a foundation which has raised millions of dollars to assist homeless and foster care children across California.

With a consistent 100% voting record throughout his career from environmental, labor, and human rights organizations, the California Journal wrote: "Burton is trying to do right by some of the least among us.... There’s a sense that he’s not wielding or exercising power for the sake of power itself; the things he’s trying to do have a real purpose behind them."

John Burton Wrote the Laws that Make California Better

-Established landmark farm mediation for farm workers and the UFW
-Achieved DNA testing to free the wrongly convicted and help identify guilty parties
-Secured prevailing wage rates for construction and building trades and restored the 8-hour day
-Guaranteed CalGrant college scholarships for every student with financial need
-Led the effort in the State Senate to pass the nation's first state law requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from cars (AB 1493 (Pavley)-2002)
-Increased aid for the elderly, blind and disabled
-Facilitated agreement to save Headwaters Forest Preserve and Farallones Marine Sanctuary; prohibited offshore oil drilling along the Point Reyes seashore
-Enacted historic levels of support for mental health and juvenile crime prevention programs
-Overhauled the state’s flawed child support collection system
-Increased affordable housing and helped fight homelessness with a $2.1 billion bond issue
-Set tough campaign contribution limits and increased public disclosure of contributions

and from Bioguide:
BURTON, John Lowell, (brother of Phillip Burton), a Representative from California; born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 15, 1932; graduated from Lincoln High School, San Francisco, Calif., 1950; A.B., San Francisco State College, San Francisco, Calif., 1954; LL.B., University of San Francisco Law School, San Francisco, Calif., 1960; United States Army, 1954-1956; admitted to the California bar, 1961; lawyer, private practice; member of the California state legislature, 1965-1974; chairman, California state Democratic Party, 1973-1974; delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1980; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-third Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative William S. Mailliard, and reelected to the four succeeding Congresses (June 4, 1974-January 3, 1983); was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-eighth Congress in 1982; resumed the practice of law; member of the California state senate, 1996-2004; is a resident of San Francisco, Calif.

COLORADO - RICK PALACIO

[elected March 5, 2011; re-elected early March 2013]
Rick is a 6th generation Coloradan who was born and raised in Pueblo. The son of a steel worker and homemaker, Rick's family's roots are in the southern part the state where both of his grandfathers were coal miners.

Before serving in his current role, Palacio worked in a variety of roles in Colorado and national politics. He was the Assistant to Colorado House Majority Leader Alice Madden. He served as the Regional Director of the Colorado Democratic Party’s Coordinate Campaign. In 2006 he sought the Democratic nomination for Clerk and Recorder in Pueblo, Colorado where he earned 49.9% of the Democratic vote - only two votes shy of becoming the party's nominee for the general election. Palacio then held multiple roles with U.S. Rep. John Salazar of Colorado's third Congressional District, including Legislative Assistant and later Deputy Communications Director. In 2008 he was hired as Deputy Director of Member Service in the office of the House Majority Leader, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, the second highest-ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rick was elected Chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party on March 5, 2011. He is the first Latino in Colorado to hold the office of chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, and when elected was only the second in the nation.

CONNECTICUT - NANCY DINARDO

[first elected Jan. 19, 2005]; most re-elected to fifth term Jan. 16, 2013]
Nancy DiNardo began her political career in 1971 when she was elected to her local Town Council. Subsequently she was elected to, and served on, several other local boards and commissions. Nancy has served as the Chairperson of her Democratic Town Committee in Trumbull, Connecticut for almost 20 years. She has been an active member of the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee since she was first elected in 1998, and has been its Finance Chair since 2001.

Experience
Throughout her years as a Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman in the 4th Congressional district, Nancy built solid coalitions with other town chairs, town committees and Democratic activists in an effort to create a strong Democratic infrastructure that could defeat Republican Congressman Christopher Shays. She served as Treasurer and Finance Chair for Diane Farrell’s 2004 campaign to take Shays’ House seat. The campaign raised $1.6 million and Farrell came within 4 points of winning the seat.

As An Educator
In addition to her outstanding service to the Democratic Party, Nancy was an educator in the Bridgeport school system for 30 years. She began as a teacher and eventually became the Director of Psychological Services. During her career in the Bridgeport schools she was a member of the School Administration Union and the Office of Professional Employee International Union (OPEIU), of which she is still a member. She retired from the Bridgeport Board of Education in 2002 to devote her energies to politics full time.

As Chairperson
Nancy was the first woman to be elected Chair in the history of the Connecticut Democratic Party. She was unanimously elected to her fifth term in January of 2013. Recently the Democratic National Committee chose her to serve as its Chair of Eastern Regional Caucuses. Of Nancy’s many stellar achievements on behalf of the Connecticut Democratic Party, undoubtedly one of her most significant was turning this once-red or red-leaning state into a solidly blue one!

DELAWARE - JOHN D. DANIELLO

[elected in 2005, and reelected in mid-May 2009] and on May 10, 2013]
John D. Daniello has served and represented the best interests of his community and constituents for more than a quarter of a century.  Through years of arduous service, work experience, and schooling, Daniello has attained the position of party leader and Chair of the Delaware Democratic Party.
 
In 1956, Daniello received his bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Delaware, which has since spring boarded his political career and created a didactic foundation for his future success and communal involvement.
 
Beginning his career at the Delaware Department of Labor, Daniello served as executive secretary of the State Industrial Accident Board, holding responsibility for the enforcement of the state workmen’s compensation laws.  Most prominently, Daniello drafted, prepared, and implemented the state’s first minimum wage laws as chief of research and prevailing wages at the Delaware State Department. 
 
In 1964, Daniello served as a legislative official for New Castle County.  As Levy Court Commissioner, he directed an annual budget of twenty million dollars and established the first formal civil service system, requiring formal job descriptions and uniform pay scales for all government workers in the county.  As county councilman-at-large, Daniello chaired the Finance Committee and held responsibility for the implementation of revised zoning procedures.
 
From 1967 until 1973, Daniello worked at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Delaware, gaining vital experience in marketing, negotiations, and human resources while also developing a sound administrative background.  As the supervisor of the Medicaid program, he devised, established, and utilized the automated billing system to process all claims generated by this program.  As assistant personnel manager, he created a job and wage classification system and conducted all personnel training.
 
In the early 1980’s, Daniello served as the state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture while simultaneously taking professional seminars and courses in advanced management to further his understanding of administrative policy.
 
Over the years, John D. Daniello has served as Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Community Affairs and Economic Development, executive director of the Mechanical Contractors Association, and as a management consultant for a large non-profit community center.

In 2005, members of the Delaware Democratic Party elected him chairman; however, since the beginning of his career, in 1961, Daniello has devoted much of his life to leading and representing the welfare of the people of Delaware.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - ANITA BONDS

[elected Nov. 2006; re-elected 2010]
Councilwoman Anita Bonds has spent her entire life as a grassroots organizer for the causes that matter most to D.C.: civil rights, social justice, worker’s rights and equality for women and the LGBT community. A proven coalition builder, her passion for people and the community is the driving force behind her career and the reason she is running.

Having grown up in the Benning Ridge neighborhood... of Ward 7, Anita is a current resident of Ward 5. She graduated from John Philip Sousa Jr. High School and was one of the few African American women to attend the University of California at Berkeley. Through her studies, she developed the passion for progressive politics and advancing the rights of every American that has been consistent throughout career.

After graduating from UC Berkeley, Anita returned home to Washington, D.C., married, and raised her three children in both the Bellevue community of Ward 8 and in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood. In the city’s struggle for civil rights and equal justice, Anita worked with the Young Democrats of America, acted as Chair of the Women’s Political Caucus, and was a Statehood Compact Commissioner.

Her meticulous organizing and leadership skills led her to become a trusted advisor and cabinet member in the administrations of three former D.C. Mayors.

ed. note:
On Dec. 10, 2012 Bonds was selected by the DCDSC to fill the vacant at-large seat on the DC City Council; she was elected in the April 23, 2013 special election.

FLORIDA - ALLISON TANT

[elected Jan. 26, 2013]
Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant Richard is a fighter for the values of Florida's middle class families and has been a leader in electing Democrats at every level across the state. She currently serves as the Chair of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee and is a member of the National Democratic Rules Committee.

Allison's passion for standing up for those who cannot fight for themselves was driven by her personal experience addressing the needs of one of her children who, at the age of 3, was diagnosed with a disabling condition called "Williams Syndrome," and had to undergo open heart surgery. After taking herself out of the professional world, Allison was thrust into the world of advocacy for disabled children in Florida's schools, requiring better and appropriate education for students with all manner of exceptionalities after her disabled twin was denied an appropriate education in his school. Allison has succeeded in making many changes to the state's assessment of students with disabilities, the provision of speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapeutic services, and has worked to develop post-secondary learning options for students with disabilities. Most recently, Allison spoke out to stop extremely harmful State Board of Education rulemaking, which would have discriminated against Florida students who do not speak English as a first language, as well as students with disabilities and those who are medicallyfragile and in special schools.

In addition to her advocacy, Allison has led statewide efforts to win Florida for President Obama and Democrats at every level of the ballot and has the qualifications to lead Florida Democrats in the fight against Rick Scott's extremism. Allison has served on President Obama's Victory Trustee Committee and was the chair of the North West FL Finance Council for the Obama re-election campaign for the 2012 election, where she raised over $330,000 from large and small contributions. In 2008, she organized and led the Tallahassee Women for Obama effort coordinating outreach and grassroots efforts building a strong base of support in the area for the President's election effort. Allison was on the host committee for President Obama's second national fundraiser upon his candidacy announcement and for all fundraisers thereafter in the Tallahassee area in 2008. In 2012, in addition to her tireless effort on the Obama campaign, Allison served on the state finance committee of volunteer fundraisers and organized and hosted fundraisers for Democratic nominees for congressional, legislative and local office.

Her commitment to bringing real reforms to Florida Democrats is best seen through her work as an investing founder in Project New Florida, the Florida valuesproject. Project New Florida provides valuable data, research and messagingguidance to Democratic candidates at every level of office so they have the key tools to succeed in their campaigns.

Allison also founded a scholarship program called KEYS (Keys to Exceptional Youth Success), raising $160,000 over the last six years, awarding 54 scholarships to students with disabilities, providing instructional supplies to 35 students, minimally endowed a scholarship at Tallahassee Community College for a student with disabilities, and launched with Tallahassee Community College an entirely new curricula and learning for students with cognitive disabilities. Allison is a member of the Foundation Board of Directors for Tallahassee Community College, is on the State Foundation Board for the Children's Home Society of Florida, is a previous chair of the North Central Division of the Children's Home Society, is a previous chair of the Exceptional Student Education Advisory Council for Leon County Schools, is on the District Advisory Council for Leon County Schools and is a member of Capital Women's Network.

A native Floridian, Allison was born in Jacksonville, graduated from FSU, and was an intern for Sen. Bob Graham. She has worked in the Florida Legislature and has been active in local Democratic politics across the state. Allison lives in Tallahassee with her husband, mother and family, and is also a proud new grandmother.

ed.note:
Elected in a tight 587-507 vote.

GEORGIA - DuBOSE PORTER

[elected Aug. 31, 2013]
DuBose Porter is the current Chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia and served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1982 to 2011. He served as Speaker Pro Tem in the House from 1998 through 2004 and Minority Leader from 2005 to 2011.

DuBose Porter, born in Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, is the son of Dr. Lester and Katherine D. Porter. From a young age, Porter was active in his community. He earned his Eagle Scout Badge in 1970. He was a co-President of his Senior high school class at Dublin High School, where he graduated in 1971. He attended Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, where he received a B.A. in English in 1975.

After college, Porter interned in Washington, D. C., for Georgia Senator Sam Nunn where he decided to go to law school so that he could one day become a public servant and help others just as he saw Sen. Nunn was able to do. He attended and graduated from Cumberland Law School at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. After law school, Porter returned to his hometown and formed the law firm of Nelson & Porter. In 1982 he decided to run for the legislature and won.

DuBose has four sons, also Eagle Scouts, Stephen DuBose Porter, Jr., Guyton McCall Porter, and twins, Asa Shearouse Porter and Inman Lee Porter.

In 1987, Porter and Griffin Lovett purchased The Courier Herald, the daily newspaper in Dublin. Porter is Chairman of the Board of the publishing company and runs the business side of the company daily. In 1998, Porter and Lovett purchased The Soperton News, The Montgomery Monitor, and The Wheeler County Eagle. In 2002, they purchased The Johnson Journal, The Twiggs Times New Era and The Cochran Journal. In 2004, they purchased The Wilkinson County Post and in 2006 they purchased The Baldwin Bulletin. Porter is the business manager of these nine publications. Since 1987, Porter also has been a stockholder and member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Dudley.

In 1991 and 1992, he served as Administration Floor Leader in the House of Representatives to Governor Zell Miller. In January 2003, Porter was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives. Porter served on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Appropriations, Ethics, and Rules Committees. In January 2005, he was elected Leader of the Democratic Caucus of the House of Representatives.

Porter is a former Trustee for the Nature Conservancy of Georgia, former member of Board of Trustees and The Board of Advisors of The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. He is the former President of the Georgia Press Association and of the Georgia Library Trustees Association and served as a member of Governor Miller’s Preservation 2000 Committee. He has served as Chairman of Education as well as Chairman of Higher Education.

He was a member of the 1985 class of Leadership Georgia. He is a member of the Dublin Rotary Club. He is also a member of the University of Georgia Secret Society, Gridiron.

HAWAI'I - STEPHANIE OHIGASHI

[elected May 25, 2014]
Stephanie Ohigashi is from the island of Maui and grew up in the household of former Maui Mayor Eddie Tam. Her first political experiences included dancing hula at rallies around the county in the 1950s and dancing for both the Statehood celebrations in 1959 and for John Kennedy when he campaigned for President on Maui in 1960. Ohigashi attended the University of Hawaii and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Studies with an emphasis in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii: West Oahu College.

Ohigashi has been a member of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i since 1983 and was elected to serve as Chairperson of the Maui County Democrats for two terms and was also elected to serve as State Vice –Chair for one term and served a total of four terms on the State Central Committee. She was elected as a National Delegate in 2004 and 2008.

Ohigashi is the manager of her husband’s family law practice, Lee Ohigashi, Attorney At Law. They have three adult sons and a daughter in law. Stephanie is active in the community serving as Chairperson for the Maui County Sister Cities Foundation, Director of the Maui Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the founder of the Historic Sandhills Neighborhood Association.

Her employment history includes her positions as Executive Director of Maui Family Reunion, Outreach Specialist with the Maui Family Support Services, Information Referral Specialist for the Maui County Office on Aging, Editor of Na Leo O Kupuna and currently is a part time Executive Assistant to Councilmember Mike Victorino.

IDAHO - LARRY KENCK

[elected Feb. 23, 2013]
I am a fourth generation Post Falls, Idaho native and live in Post Falls. Twice I ran for the State Senate and have held the position of Kootenai County Chair. I founded the North Idaho Democracy Dinner, which is in its 12th consecutive year. I was a Business Agent with the Teamste...rs Union representing North Idaho and Eastern Washington as well as doing political work and trainings for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters around the United States. I was spokesman for the Repeal Right to Work effort and worked as a member of the Idaho State AFL-CIO. I currently sit on the Idaho State Industrial Commission Advisory Board. After retiring from the Teamsters, I worked around the country as a Field Director and lobbyist with the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks both federally and in 38 states.
Party Experience:

Kootenai County Central Committee
Kootenai County Chairman
Kootenai County State Committeeman
Organizer North Idaho Democracy Dinner
Organizer North Idaho Tube Steak Gala
Art Manley Huckleberry Social Emcee/Host
Larry LaRocco campaign
Dan Williams campaign
Idaho State Democrat Central Committee Member
1996 State Senate Candidate
1998 State Senate Candidate

ILLINOIS - MICHAEL J. MADIGAN

[since 1998]
Michael J. Madigan was elected Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 96th General Assembly on January 14, 2009. He has held that position since 1983, except for the period between 1994 and 1996. Representative Madigan was elected House Democratic Leader in 1981 and 1995. He served as House Majority Leader from 1977 through 1980.

His work in the legislature has been consistently marked with honors and distinctions from a wide range of civic, community, educational and business organization. The Chicago Sun-Times twice rated him as one of Illinois' "Ten Best Legislators". The respected Illinois Issues magazine cited him as one of the ten outstanding Illinoisans who made the greatest contribution to the state in the past decade.

Voters in the 22nd Representative District first elected him as their delegate to the 1970 Constitutional Convention and then as State Representative in November 1970. He has won reelection in every election since 1970.

A graduate of Loyola University Law School, Speaker Madigan practices law in Chicago.

Speaker Madigan was born April 19, 1942, in the southwest side district he now represents. A life-long resident of the City of Chicago, he graduated from St. Adrian Grammar School, St. Ignatius College Prep and the University of Notre Dame. Speaker Madigan and his wife, Shirley, are the parents of three daughters -- Lisa, Tiffany and Nicole; and a son -- Andrew.

INDIANA - JOHN C. ZODY

[elected March 16, 2013]
John Zody was elected to a four-year term as Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party on March 16, 2013. Prior to becoming Chair, John served as the Great Lakes & Mid-Atlantic Political Director on President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. In this role, he had political responsibilities in nine states including Indiana, Ohio and Virginia.

He began his involvement in Indiana politics while a student at Indiana University, interning for city, county, state and federal elected officials in Indiana and Washington, DC, and volunteering on a number of local and state political campaigns. In 1999, Zody joined the administration of Governor Frank O’Bannon and Lieutenant Governor Joe Kernan as a Program Manager at the Indiana Department of Commerce and then joined the staff of the Indiana Democratic Party as the Eighth District Regional Field Director for the 2000 O’Bannon-Kernan re-election campaign. Following the campaign, John served as Deputy Communications and Planning Director in the Governor’s Office, writing speeches and researching talking points for O’Bannon. Following Governor O’Bannon’s passing, John stayed in the office, working for Governor Joe Kernan there and then on the 2004 Kernan for Indiana campaign.

Following his service in state government, Zody served as District Director and then as Chief of Staff to Congressman Baron Hill of Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District. In this role, John managed the Congressman’s three Congressional offices and worked on Hill’s political team during the 2008 and 2010 election cycles.

During his time in state and federal government, Zody also served as President of the Indiana Young Democrats and then as Democratic County Vice-Chair in Monroe County during the 2006 election cycle. He has also served as Secretary of the Ninth Congressional District Committee and has attended three Democratic National Conventions. He is a part-time instructor for Indiana University – Bloomington’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), where he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Public Affairs.

Zody has been awarded two Sagamores of the Wabash and was named the 2011 Leadership Bloomington Monroe County Distinguished Alumni. He is a past participant of the Bowen Institute for Political Participation and has also worked for Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana in the areas of workforce, civic engagement and resource development.

John is a seventh-generation Hoosier, born in Vigo County and raised in Morgan County. He currently lives in Monroe County with his wife, Erin, and their two dogs.

IOWA - SCOTT BRENNAN

[elected interim chair June 15, 2013]
ed. Previously served as chair of the IDP from 2006-2008.  A senior shareholder of the Davis Brown Law Firm, member of the Litigation Division, and the current Vice President of the firm's Board of Directors.  After receiving his undergraduate degree, and prior to attending law school, Scott served for several years as an aide to United States Senator Tom Harkin in Washington, D.C.  Grinnell College, 1985; University of Iowa College of Law, 1993.

ed. note:
Brennan succeeded Rep. Tyler Olson, elected Jan. 26, 2013, announced resignation on June 11, 2013.

KANSAS - JOAN WAGNON

[February 2011; re-elected Feb. 23, 2013]
Joan Wagnon was elected state party chair in February, 2011, only a few weeks after she retired as the Secretary of Revenue for the state of Kansas. During her eight year tenure at the Department of Revenue she was active in many professional organizations and served as chair of the Multistate Tax Commission and president of the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. Wagnon has been active in Kansas politics for many years. She served as a state legislator for 12 years (1983-1994) and was the only woman ever elected as Mayor of Topeka (1997-2001). Before moving to the Department of Revenue, Wagnon served as president of Central National Bank, Topeka. A former executive director of Kansas Families for Kids and of the Topeka YWCA, she has also been a schoolteacher and medical researcher. In addition to her work with the Kansas Democratic Party, Wagnon serves as treasurer of the National Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts USA and is an active Rotarian.

KENTUCKY - DAN LOGSDON

[elected June 19, 2010; started July 1]
Logsdon, 40, served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Gov. Beshear since September 2009. Prior to joining the Beshear administration, Logsdon worked for Windstream Communications for five years, supervising local and state government affairs in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. He served in a number of capacities for six years for then-State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, including Assistant Treasurer.  Logsdon, who has a bachelor’s degree in history from Murray State University, lives in Lexington.

LOUISIANA - KAREN CARTER PETERSON

[elected April 28, 2012]
Senator Karen Carter Peterson was elected chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party in April of 2012, making her the first woman to ever hold this post.  She represents New Orleans and parts of Jefferson Parish in the Louisiana State Senate. She is currently Chair of the Louisiana Women’s Caucus and Senate Select Committee on Women and Children. She also serves on the Senate Judiciary B, Insurance and Local and Municipal Committees. 

Over the 11 year of service, Sen. Peterson has been also recognized by many organizations and publications for her work, including being awarded the Legislator of the Year Award by the Alliance for Good Government in 2000 and 2004. Sen. Peterson has also been honored with the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government’s New Frontier Award and the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship in Public Service. In recent years, she is been recognized as one of New Orleans City Business Women of the Year. In 2011, the NewDEAL recognized Senator Peterson as an emerging pro-growth progressive leader.  She was also presented with the Louisiana Association of Justice Public Service Award in 2011. She also serves as a commissioner on the Louisiana Bicentennial Commission.

During her time in the Louisiana House of Representatives, Sen. Peterson established herself as a powerful, worthy asset to the legislature, serving on the House Appropriations Committee, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the House Governmental Affairs Committee, and most recently, she served as House Speaker Pro Tempore. During her service in the House, she was also the first woman to chair the House Insurance Committee.

Sen. Peterson is a 1991 graduate of Howard University School of Business, where she received a degree in International Business and Marketing, and of Tulane University Law School, where she was afforded the opportunity to attend both Boston College Law School and the University of Virginia’s Law School as a visiting student.

Sen. Peterson has many present and past professional and civic activities on her resume. She has been a board member and volunteer for a wide variety of organizations. Beginning at the age of 18 through the year 2008, she served as a delegate to Democratic National Conventions. She and her husband Dana are members of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church and live in downtown New Orleans.

MAINE - BEN GRANT

[elected Jan. 23, 2011; re-elected Jan. 28, 2013]
Grant is a cum laude graduate of the University of Maine School of Law and is an attorney at McTeague Higbee in Topsham where he practices labor and employment law.

Prior to joining McTeague Higbee, he was an aide to State Senate Presidents Beth Edmonds and Beverly Daggett, served as the director of the Maine Senate Democratic Campaign Committee during the 2004 election cycle, and worked on numerous other campaigns in Maine and New Hampshire.

Ben is a native of Merrimack, NH, but his Maine roots run deep. His father, Clair, hails from Millinocket, and his mother, Joan, was born in Bar Harbor and grew up in Bangor. Ben and his family reside in Portland.

MARYLAND - YVETTE LEWIS

[announced as acting chair on May 12, 2011] 
Yvette Lewis is the founder and director of “So This is Opera,” a program that introduces young audiences to the world of opera in performance, workshop and residency settings.  She is also a lyric soprano who has performed extensively, including appearances with the Washington Opera, the Baltimore Opera, the Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, the Baltimore Symphony, and at the Spoleto Festival in Melbourne, Australia.  Ms. Lewis has almost fifteen years experience as an elementary general music teacher in the Baltimore City and Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools.  She also worked for a period as a staff assistant at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.   Ms. Lewis holds a Mus.B. from Howard University and is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists.  [bio from April 6, 2010 White House announcement appointing Lewis a Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars]

"Yvette Lewis is assuming leadership of the Party after extensive political experience in Maryland including most recently, the 2010 Hoyer for Congress and 2008 Obama for America campaigns. Ms. Lewis, who was appointed by President Barack Obama to sit on the Commission on Presidential Scholars, is a lifelong educator and advocate for children and the performing arts. She currently serves as the Maryland Democratic Party’s First Vice Chair and represents Prince George’s County on the Party’s Executive Board."

MASSACHUSETTS - THOMAS McGEE

[elected Oct. 17, 2013]
Senator Thomas M. McGee proudly serves the Third Essex and Middlesex District, which includes the communities of Lynn, Marblehead, Melrose, Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott.  Senator McGee is the Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, the Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service and the Senate Chairman of the Children’s Caucus.  He was also appointed Vice-Chairman of the Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Financial Services Committee and is  a member of the Judiciary and Transportation Committees.   McGee co-chairs the North East Legislative Caucus and in 2007 was appointed Chair of the Afterschool and Out of School Time Commission.  McGee continues to be a leader on after school and out of school policy development and funding in Massachusetts.

Before his election to the Senate in 2002, McGee served four-terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he represented West Lynn and Nahant.

Prior to serving in the House, McGee practiced law at Quinn and Morris (1990-1994), and served as an Assistant District Attorney for Essex County (1988-1990).  McGee has served on the Democratic State Committee for over thirty years and has been a delegate to several State and National Democratic Conventions.

The Senator is a life-long resident of Lynn where he lives with his wife, Maria, and their children, Thomas and Katherine.

Senator McGee is committed to such issues as providing quality education and extended learning opportunities to students in the Commonwealth, improving the state’s transportation system and fighting for regional equity, working to improve the lives of children and their families, ensuring accessible and affordable childcare and healthcare for working families, and expanding workforce training and development.

MICHIGAN - LON JOHNSON

[elected February 23, 2013]
For more than 20 years, Lon Johnson has been a leader in the Democratic Party. He has served in critical strategic roles for political campaigns and committees, advocacy organizations and businesses.

Lon grew up in the Downriver community of Rockwood. As a high school yearbook photographer, Lon found himself stranded at the opening of an auto plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Little did he know that afternoon would change his life. Congressman John Dingell was also attending the opening and offered Lon a ride back to school. The two got to talking and the Congressman invited Lon to attend a Michael Dukakis rally the following meeting. After that rally, Lon was hooked on Democratic politics and never looked back.

Lon attended college at Arizona State University and was elected the President of the Arizona Young Democrats in 1991.

In 1992, Lon worked his first Congressional campaign in a 52% Republican base district. Lon won despite the fact that his candidate was outspent 3-to-1. In the years that followed, Lon continued to run and win campaigns in states across the country. In 1999 Lon took a position fundraising for Al Gore’s presidential campaign in George W. Bush’s backyard: Texas. He proved to be an adept and innovative fundraiser.

While Lon spent his early years working to elect Democrats from coast to coast, he was always on the lookout for an opportunity that would bring him back to the Great Lakes State. That opportunity came in 2001 when Congressman Dingell asked Lon to come home and run his primary campaign against Lynn Rivers.

After winning Congressman Dingell’s primary, Lon took a position with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2003 and as the Michigan Director of America Coming Together in 2004. In 2005, Lon spent six months in Iraq with the National Democratic Institute helping rebuild a political infrastructure in the wake of the Iraq War.

Upon returning from Iraq, Lon went to work for a firm focused on investing in and growing U.S. manufacturing companies.

In 2012, Lon ran for the Michigan State House of Representatives in the 103rd District, and received more than 47% of the vote in an overwhelmingly Republican district.

He currently lives in northern Michigan with his wife, Julianna Smoot, who served as Deputy Campaign Manager for President Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.

MINNESOTA - KEN MARTIN

[elected Feb. 5, 2011; re-elected Feb. 2, 2013]
Growing up in Minnesota I learned the values of the DFL party at an early age. One of my earliest memories is joining my Mom at an ERA march at the State Capitol in the mid-70's. Although she's not with us anymore, she instilled in me a deep commitment to social justice and helping the least among us.

My senior year in high school I volunteered on a college professor's campaign for the U.S. Senate and my life was changed forever. Paul Wellstone taught each of us that "we all do better when we all do better". I later had an opportunity to intern for him and to this day he remains one of my political heroes.

I served as the Field Director for the DFL during the 1998 elections. It was here during this time, that I started my long relationships with many of you in the party. Traveling throughout the state, working with party leaders and candidates gave me a deep appreciation of how well run and organized our state party is. This is a testament to all of you who have spent countless hours building this organization. I look forward to being a continued partner with you in this endeavor.

Most recently, I worked as the Executive Director of WIN Minnesota and then served as the Director for the Gubernatorial Recount effort. I am proud to have been a part of the effort to elect a DFL governor and look forward to working under Mark Dayton's leadership.

Marrying a farm girl from Wells also instilled in me a very deep appreciation for greater Minnesota. Countless days down on the farm with my boys are moments I will treasure forever. My sons, Sam (8) and James (6), remind me each and every day why I fight for our party's values - better funding for public education, quality health care for all, good jobs in Minnesota and protecting the environment. These values we profess become much more meaningful to me when I think of the world that I want to the next generation.

ed. note-more experience:
Political director on the DFL Coordinated campaign in 2004 after serving as campaign director for Kerry's Minnesota caucus campaign (March 2, 2004).  Campaign manager of Buck Humphrey's campaign for Minnesota Secretary of State in 2002.  Deputy state director of Al Gore's presidential campaign in Minnesota in 2000.  State field director for the Minnesota DFL Party, 1997-1999.  Kansas Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign 1996.  Graduate of the University of Kansas with a B.A. in political science and history.

MISSISSIPPI - RICKEY COLE

[elected June 30, 2012] 
A seventh generation Mississippian, Rickey Cole has spent most of his adult life marketing Mississippi agricultural products, organizing grassroots networks, and serving as a leader, spokesman, administrator, advocate, advisor and strategist in Democratic politics.

The Cole family farm near Ovett in southeastern Jones County produces vegetables, melons, grass-fed beef, grain, hay, timber, and gravel. The farm’s specialty is fresh turnips, mustard, and collard greens, which are delivered fresh daily in season to supermarkets and other retailers in the Pine Belt area. The Cole family has truck farmed since 1944. Rickey worked full-time marketing his family’s and other farmers’ produce from 1988 through 2003. During that period, he developed and managed a marketing and delivery system that annually sold and distributed thousands of dollars’ worth of Mississippi farm fresh vegetables directly to supermarkets and other retailers at more than forty locations throughout South Mississippi and Greater New Orleans. He is a member of the Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, Mississippi Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union and held a farmer/vendor permit at the New Orleans French Market prior to Hurricane Katrina. He continues to be involved in the management of the family farming operation, and has served as an advisor on marketing fresh vegetables to several growers, vendors and market groups. Rickey assisted in the development of new farmers’ markets in Laurel and Hattiesburg.  Cole Farm regularly sells fresh local produce at five seasonal farmers markets in South Mississippi. Rickey is also an active member of the Mississippi Food Policy Council board of directors.

Rickey is a United Methodist. He is a native of Jones County, having been born at Laurel on August 10, 1966, the youngest of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Cole, Sr. Rickey attended Mississippi State University and studied political science on a John C. Stennis scholarship.  Rickey is married to the former Ayana Smothers of New Orleans.  Their daughter Katherine Alexandra, was born September 27, 2005, and their son Jackson Robert was born November 20, 2009. Ayana works in Human Resources and Employee Relations at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jackson.  The Coles divide their time between their house in the Fondren community in Jackson and their home at Cole Farm near Ovett.

Beginning as President of the Young Democrats at Mississippi State University in 1985, Rickey Cole served the Democratic Party as Second Vice President of the Young Democrats of Mississippi, President of the State Young Democrats (twice), National Parliamentarian of the Young Democrats of America, Member of the State Democratic Executive and Administrative Committees, Chairman of the Jones County Democratic Executive Committee, Chairman of the Mississippi Association of County Democratic Chairpersons, runoff candidate for United States Senate, Democratic National Committeeman, Member of the Credentials Committee of the Democratic National Committee, and National Parliamentarian of the Association of State Democratic Chairpersons.

Cole was elected Chairman of the Democratic Party of the State of Mississippi on August 18, 2001, serving until July 29, 2004. During his tenure, the state party renovated its headquarters, launched a state party website and a toll free phone hotline, upgraded office technology, secured party ownership of an updated 1.6 million name voter file, gave long overdue tribute to Fannie Lou Hamer by re-naming its signature annual event the Jefferson-Jackson-Hamer Dinner, settled a seven-year outstanding lawsuit, raised and spent over 1.2 million dollars, and successfully retained Democratic majorities in both houses of the Mississippi legislature. In December of 2005 the Young Democrats of Mississippi named their Legislative Internship stipend the” Rickey L. Cole Scholarship”.

From July of 2004 until March 2007, Rickey served as founding President of Mississippi Policy Forum, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit institute that conducted public forums, sponsored research projects, and assisted in the development of educational, community and grassroots civic organizations to improve civic literacy and encourage civic engagement in Mississippi.

Rickey Cole is a veteran volunteer, activist and staffer on more than twenty Democratic political campaigns since 1982. He was appointed to serve as a member of the Mississippi Chief Justice’s Task Force on Judicial Selection in 2002. In May of 2002, Cole was part of a delegation of state Democratic Chairpersons who were guests of the Republic of China in Taiwan. In June 2003, he took part in a ten-day visit to the Kingdom of Morocco as a member of a bi-partisan delegation coordinated by the American Council of Young Political Leaders. In September 2003, Cole was appointed to serve as a founding member of the Advisory Council of the Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Policy at Tougaloo College . In July 2005, Cole presented a paper at the Fifth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations at the Central Institute of Ethnic Administrators in Beijing, China . In December 2012, Rickey led a delegation of state Democratic Chairs and Vice Chairs to Taiwan, Republic of China.  Rickey has served as a guest lecturer on politics and civic engagement at Lockhaven University, Roger Williams University , and North Carolina Central University. He is an advisory board member of Rural Votes, and is regularly consulted by members of the media, Democratic candidates and scholars for an insider’s perspective on Mississippi politics, elections and government.  He has testified in federal and state court, before state legislative and Congressional committees, and the 2008 Democratic National Platform Committee.

In the general election of 2007, Rickey Cole received 308,693 votes as the Democratic nominee for the statewide office of Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. A shift of 356 votes from the incumbent to Cole or to a minor party candidate would have denied the incumbent a majority and thrown the election to the Democratically-controlled state House of Representatives. Though greatly outspent, Rickey was endorsed in that election by every newspaper in Mississippi that made endorsements in the race for Agriculture Commissioner.

Since January 2008, Cole has consulted as Governmental Affairs Advisor for the Eaves Law Firm in Jackson. His work focuses upon developing and implementing strategies for the firm to advance several major advocacy projects where they interface with the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.

On August 29, 2011, Rickey was appointed Executive Director of the Mississippi Democratic Party. On June 30, 2012, Cole was elected to a four year term as Chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party.  Since that time, he has served as the full-time chief executive officer of the state party, with primary responsibility for the administration and development of the Democratic Party in Mississippi.  On January 22, 2013, Rickey was unanimously elected to represent the Southern Region on the Executive Committee of the Association of State Democratic Chairs.

MISSOURI - ROY TEMPLE

[elected Aug. 24, 2013]
Roy Temple is a veteran political, public affairs and social media strategist from the great state of Missouri and a partner at Groundswell Creative. Temple is an innovator in the use of digital media in advocacy efforts. He is an original founder of Fired Up! Missouri, recognized by the Washington Post as an outstanding local political blog. In addition, Temple secured a pivotal FEC advisory opinion (FEC AO 2005-16) that offers guidance to bloggers about the intersection of blogging, advocacy, and campaign finance law.

During the 2006 and 2008 election cycles, Temple was a principal in the Washington-based Democratic polling firm, The Feldman Group. At the Feldman Group, he worked primarily on U.S. Senate races, and in 2006, his work included Sen. Sherrod Brown's effort in Ohio and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's independent expenditure efforts in Maryland, Montana and Rhode Island. During the 2008 cycle, Temple was heavily involved in Al Franken's pursuit of the U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota, and worked closely on the DSCC independent expenditure efforts in the Oregon Senate race.

ed. - in addition...
Missouri state director for Kerry-Edwards '04 from Aug. 2004.  Campaign manager for Missouri Gov. Bob Holden's unsuccessful bid for the 2004 Democratic gubernatorial nomination in the Aug. 3 state primary.  Kerry campaign state director in the March 3, 2004 Missouri presidential primary.  Washington chief of staff to Sen. Jean Carnahan.  Executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party, 1998-2000. Ran Gov. Carnahan's 1996 re-election campaign.  Served in the Carnahan administration as deputy chief of staff and as chief of staff.  Political director on Mel Carnahan's successful 1992 campaign for governor in Missouri.

MONTANA - JIM LARSON

[from early April 2014 following resignation of Nancy Anderson]
Jim Larson joined Teamsters Union Local 190 in 1988 as an employee of United Parcel Service. He continued his employment with UPS until becoming a Business Representative in 1997. Jim is the Political Coordinator and works with elected officials from both parties on issues affecting working families. Jim is also Montana's representative on the IBT Human Rights Commission and is the recording secretary for the Montana Teamsters Employers trust. Jim was appointed to Secretary Treasurer on June 30, 2012.

Jim was raised in Helena and resides in Billings with his wife and three sons.

NEBRASKA - VINCE POWERS

[elected June 2012; started Nov. 2012]
Mr. Powers previously held the position of DNC Member from 2004-2012. He is past president of the Nebraska Association for Trial Attorneys and is past chair of the political action committee of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys. He presently serves on the board of governors of the American Association for Justice. He also currently serves as chair of the Employment Rights Section of the American Association of Justice. He was selected as one of “Best Lawyers in America” and “Great Plain Super Lawyers.”

He was born September 14, 1953 in Omaha and currently resides with his wife, Alison, and daughter, Courtney, in Lincoln.

Attorney at Vincent M. Powers & Associates in Lincoln.

EDUCATION:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Juris Doctorate, 1978
Bachelor of Arts, 1975

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE:
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
State of Nebraska

MEMBERSHIPS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Civil Justice Foundation
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundation
Nebraska State Bar Association
House of Delegates, 1991-1999
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys
President, 2000-2001
President Elect, 1999-2000
Treasurer, 1998-1999
Secretary, 1997-1998
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Sustaining Member
Member of Board of Governors of the American Association of Justice
(formerly known as the Association for the Trial Lawyers of America), 2008-Present
Democratic National Committee, 2004-Present

NEVADA - ROBERTA LANGE

[elected March 26, 2011; re-elected March 2, 2013]
Roberta has worked as an activist and elected leader in Democratic organizations and professional consultant in national, state, and local campaigns for over twenty-five years. Recently Roberta was recognized by Campaign & Elections magazine as one of Nevada’s top 50 influencers. 

Early in her career as a teacher, Roberta recognized the power of grassroots participation in creating change.  Beginning as local union representative for teachers in her school, she worked her way to role of Chief Negotiator.  Six years later, her leadership was recognized and elected President of her local union.  As a leader in the State Union, she was appointed to become the lobbyist to then Congresswoman Maria Cantwell and in 1992 appointed to be the liaison to Congressional races in Washington State. 

Moving to Nevada in 1995, to marry Ken Lange, former Executive Director of the Nevada State Education Association, Roberta joined the staff of Durango High School in Clark County.  In 1998, she left teaching to become the Deputy Campaign Manager for U.S. Senator Harry Reid in 1998 and served as Operations Manager for the dramatic recount.  Turning full time to politics, working as Finance Director for Bernstein for U.S. Senate, Operations Manager for Tom Gallagher for Congress, and Nevada State Director for Bill Richardson for President. 

In 2000, Roberta worked with Nevada businesses on Ballot Question 1, a constitutional measure to change the Nevada Constitution to stimulate and diversify the state’s economy. In 2008, she was State Director for The Pickens Plan educating Nevadans about renewable energy.  Today, she consults with the Western Conservation Foundation on key environmental and conservation issues. 

Serving as President of the Henderson Democratic Club and elected for a second term Roberta left that position to become Finance Director for Dina Titus for Governor helping her raise 3.9 million dollars. 

Currently Roberta is the Chairwoman of the Nevada State Democratic Party, working tirelessly to elect Democrats and build the Democratic Party.  She is the former Chair of the Clark County Democratic Party.
 
Roberta is married to Ken Lange, an advocate for foster children and families.  They have 4 children, Hilary, Jake, Liz, and Taylor and four grandchildren, Nate, Charlotte, Erick, and Xavier.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - RAY BUCKLEY

[first elected March 2007; re-elected to fourth term on March 9, 2013]
Raymond Buckley was elected President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs on January 21, 2009. He is the first openly gay politician to serve in that position.

Buckley, a New Hampshire native, has been active in politics since the age of eight when he volunteered for his first campaign. Since then he has worked for numerous local, state and national campaigns, in addition to serving eight terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

Buckley began his official political career as an organizer for Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, and went on to serve in high-ranking positions – both in New Hampshire and nationally – for the presidential campaigns of Mike Dukakis, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Joe Lieberman, John Kerry and Barack Obama. He has worked as a campaign manager for virtually every local and state office in New Hampshire, including Governor, U.S. Senate and Congress. Early in his career, Buckley served several years on the staff of the New Hampshire House Democratic Leadership and has been a lead recruiter and trainer of New Hampshire legislative candidates for over two decades.

In January of 2005, Buckley was hired as the Director of the New Hampshire Senate Democratic Caucus, where his efforts led to largest Democratic Senate majority in over 150 years.

Buckley was elected Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party in March 2007, and oversaw the dramatic Democratic victories in New Hampshire in November 2008. Prior to his election as State Chair he served four terms as a Vice Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. He has held several staff positions at the New Hampshire Democratic Party office, including four years as Executive Director and two cycles as New Hampshire Coordinated Campaign Director.

Buckley was first elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1986, and served eight terms representing the south end of the city of Manchester,  New Hampshire. While in the House, he served as House Democratic Whip and the Deputy House Democratic Leader. He also served four terms on the Election Law Committee, five terms on House Rules Committee, and as ranking Democrat on the House Redistricting, Election Law, and Commerce Committees.

As a Manchester, New Hampshire Alderman, Buckley chaired the Administration Committee. During his tenure as an Alderman, the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper named him “The Aldermanic Workhorse” for his tireless service.

Since March of 1999, Buckley has been a member of the Democratic National Committee. He has been elected to two four-year terms as Chair of the DNC Eastern Region, and is a member of the DNC Gay and Lesbian Caucus. He served four terms as a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, three terms as a Vice President of the ASDC, and also served as Co-Chair of the ASDC Committee on the Help America Vote Act.

Buckley was an active participant in the DNC Voting Rights Hearings in Newark, New Jersey and Detroit, Michigan. Since 2001, he has served on Board of the National Stonewall Democrats and on their Executive Committee. In 2004 Buckley was the Chair of the Stonewall Democrats National Convention.

Buckley was a founding member of the New Hampshire Citizens for Gay and Lesbian Rights and served two terms on the Board of the New Hampshire Gay Pride Committee. He has also been involved with the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. In 2005, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch named Buckley as his representative on the New Hampshire Commission to Study Same Sex Marriage.

Buckley has appeared on numerous New Hampshire and national television and radio programs, and hosted a long-running political talk show in Manchester.

NEW JERSEY - JOHN CURRIE

[elected June 13, 2013]
Born in North Carolina, John Currie has been a distinguished resident of Passaic County for many years. He is a proud graduate of the Paterson School System. A graduate of Central High School, Currie attended Rutgers University where he pursued studies in Business Administration.

John Currie is in his 19th year as the Chairman of the Passaic County Democratic Party, elected in 1990. He is the second ever African-American to hold the position of County Chairman in the State of New Jersey, the first to do so in Passaic County. He accepted this challenge when 7 Republicans controlled the Passaic County Freeholder Board. Under John Currie’s diligent leadership, he has since turned it around to a 7-0 Democratic Freeholder Board in 2005 taking total control of the County. He is responsible for having elected the first minority to the Board in 1996 and the first Hispanic in 2000. He has made great strides in Passaic County with having the first African-American Female Freeholder Director in 2004 and the first female African-American County Clerk in 2005. To his credit, Mr. Currie has led the campaign to elect the first Democratic Sheriff in 50 years in 2001. Throughout Passaic County, he has helped to elect Democratic Mayors and Council Members with Democratic majorities in several Municipalities.

Mr. Currie has served the New Jersey Democratic State Committee as a Deputy Vice-Chair since 1995. In 2008, Mr. Currie was selected to be on the National Platform Committee, for the Democratic National Convention, in Denver. Mr. Currie was one of three individuals from New Jersey invited to be on this selective committee. Additionally, less than 175 people, nationwide, are only requested to be a part of this integral decision-making process.

John Currie was elected to the Paterson Branch NAACP Board from 1996 to 2004. During his tenure, he served as first Vice-President from 1998 thru 2001. He has served on the United Way of Passaic and Bergen County for many years.

In 1996, John Currie spear headed the fight and was the main plaintiff in a Federal Court battle, which ultimately allowed all New Jerseyans the opportunity to vote by provisional ballot. Mr. Currie was appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Board of Elections in 1998 by Governor Whitman, he is the first African-American in Passaic County to serve in this capacity. Mr. Currie serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Passaic Clifton YMCA, United Way of Passaic Valley, as a Commissioner on the Paterson Board of Recreation, an Executive Board Member of the Salvio Association of St. Gerard’s Church, President of Eastside/Central/Kennedy High Schools Alumni Association, a Past Member of the Paterson Jaycees and as Vice President of the Paterson Chapter of the NAACP.

John Currie has been employed by Hawthorne Chevrolet for more than thirty years, serving currently as Corvette Manager. He was the only African-American Director of a private motor vehicle agency in the State of New Jersey- serving in Rahway from 1992 through 1995. He has received numerous awards for achievements for his numerous community and civic activities throughout the years but the most momentous achievement was being inducted into the Central-Kennedy High School Football Hall of Fame for his outstanding record during his High School years. John Currie is married to Iris DeLuc-Currie. They have three sons and three grandchildren.

NEW MEXICO - SAM BREGMAN

[elected April 27, 2013]
DPNM Chairman, Sam Bregman is a lifelong Democratic Party activist, businessman and lawyer, having spent his life standing up for people that need help.  The Chairman was elected in April 2013.

He started as a precinct chair when he was 18 years old and has been involved in every major campaign in New Mexico since 1981.  In addition he served as an Assistant District Attorney for the State of New Mexico.  Mr. Bregman served on the Albuquerque City Council from 1995 until 1999 and has also served as Deputy State Auditorf or the State of New Mexico.

In 2004, Sam was Vice-Chair of the State Party. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of New Mexico and a J.D. from the UNM School of Law. Sam is married and the proud father of three children.

ed. note:
Bregman is an attorney at Bregman & Loman, P.C.

NEW YORK - Chair DAVID PATERSON

[announced May 21, 2014] 
In 1985, at the age of 31, Governor Paterson was elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate, becoming the youngest Senator in Albany at the time. In 2003, he became the first non-white legislative leader in New York's history when he was elevated to Minority Leader of the Senate. He made history again in 2004 when he became the first visually impaired person to address the Democratic National Convention and again in 2007 when he became New York's first African-American Lieutenant Governor.

David A. Paterson became New York's 55th Governor on March 17, 2008. Governor Paterson was ahead of the national curve in predicting and acting on New York State's fiscal downturn. Despite the greatest economic crisis that New York State has ever faced, Governor Paterson enacted sweeping reforms on a wide range of issues facing New Yorkers.

Governor Paterson, who is legally blind, is nationally recognized as a leading advocate for the visually and physically impaired. He is a member of the American Foundation for the Blind and he serves on the Board of the Achilles Track Club. He has served as a member of the Democratic National Committee and as a Chairman of the Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG).

ed. Paterson was sworn in following Eliot Spitzer's resignation.  He sought a full term but withdrew on Feb. 26, 2010.

NORTH CAROLINA - RANDY VOLLER

[elected Feb. 2, 2013]
Demographics & Family
-44 YEARS OLD
-Married to Lesley Russell Landis, who is the President of the Chatham County Arts Council
-Born in Grand Forks, ND on January 8, 1969
-Raised in Northwest Indiana (Ogden Dunes and Valparaiso)
-Andrean High School (Lake County, IN)
-BA History Indiana University, 1991, Honors Program
-Father: Major Lothar A. Voller, Retired USAF, (deceased)
-Mother: Viktoria Danning Voller, retired college administrator
-Maternal Grandfather: Harry “the Horse” Danning, Catcher NY Giants, (deceased)
-Maternal Grandmother: Diane Nygaard Danning, (deceased)
-Paternal Grandfather: Moritz A. Voller, (deceased)
-Paternal Grandmother: Herta Katharina Ziefer Voller, (deceased)

Political and Community Contributions and Accomplishments
-Four term Mayor of historic Pittsboro, the county seat of Chatham County
-Current Democratic Party Chair of Chatham County  See the CCDP website
-Chatham County led the state with a 76.51% turnout in 2012
-Chatham County Democrats had a 80.6% turnout
-Pittsboro precinct led the county with 4,882 total votes and had a turnout of 77.8%
-Led effort to defeat Amendment One in Chatham County
-Led effort by the Town of Pittsboro to pass a resolution opposing “fracking”
-Led effort in 2009 to pass “Liquor by the drink” in Chatham County
-Chair of the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO) since 2006
-Board Member of Advanced Energy
-Board Member of the Chatham County Economic Development Corp.
-Board Member of the NC Juvenile Justice Planning Committee
-Led effort to elect Pittsboro Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Baldwin, who became the first African American woman to ever serve on the Pittsboro Town Board
-Led effort to elect Beth Turner and Bett Foley to serve on the Pittsboro Town Board

ed. note:
Voller elected over former Congressman Etheridge in a tight 309-298 vote.

NORTH DAKOTA - BOB VALEU

[elected late Feb./ea. March 2013] 
Valeu recently retired from KLJ Engineering, where he was the Director of Government Relations from 2008 until January of this year. Prior to his tenure with KLJ, he served as US Senator Byron Dorgan’s State Director. Valeu is a graduate of UND and an Air Force Veteran and has been involved in politics since his served as the youngest Executive Director of the Dem-NPL Party in 1966. Valeu and his wife, Marge, have two daughters and four grandchildren.

OHIO - CHRIS REDFERN

[first elected Dec. 2005; re-elected 2008; re-elected April 12, 2012]
Chris Redfern is the current chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. He won election to the chairmanship of the Ohio Democratic Party in December 2005 and was reelected in 2008 and again in 2012. He was previously a Democratic State Representative for Ohio House District 80 and had been a member of the Ohio House since 1999. During the 2012 general election, he was again elected to serve as State Representative for the newly drawn 89th District.

Before becoming party chairman, he was the Minority Leader in the Ohio House of Representatives. During Mr. Redfern’s term as Minority Leader, he was the first Democratic Leader to oversee multiple gains in the Ohio House of Representatives (during the 2004 election) since former Speaker of the Ohio House Vern Riffe. Mr. Redfern was also an Ottawa County commissioner from 1993 to 1999 – the youngest in the state when his term began in 1993.

Central to Chairman Redfern’s success has been the “88-County Strategy” which recognizes that Democrats win by competing for votes in every area of Ohio, metropolitan or micropolitan, industrial or agricultural, urban or rural.

The strategy bore fruit immediately in 2006 with the election of Governor Ted Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown, whose victories proved that Democrats could compete in any region of the state. Chris Redfern led the Ohio Democratic Party into key municipal elections, capturing the Canton mayor’s office for the first time in sixteen years and helping to elect the first African American mayor in the history of Mansfield, Ohio.

In 2008, Chairman Redfern set the party’s sights on the general election and began constructing the largest field operation ever envisioned by a state political party. Together, the Campaign for Change and the Ohio Democratic Party registered 105,862 new Ohio voters and engaged in 3,552,486 conversations with Ohioans at their doors or on the phone. Fueling these record-breaking figures were the efforts of more than 60,000 committed volunteers from neighborhoods across Ohio. On Election Day, Ohio Democrats delivered a decisive victory for Barack Obama and picked up three new congressional seats. Democrats also captured the Ohio House on a legislative map drawn by state Republicans, a feat never before seen in Ohio history.

Following a disappointing national Republican wave in 2010, Chairman Redfern led Ohio Democrats back to victory in 2012 by championing one of the largest campaign investments in Ohio’s history. Between the Ohio Democratic Party and the President’s Ohio campaign, Democrats made an unprecedented 16,261,643 attempts to talk to Ohio voters from more than 170 field offices, staffed by more than 750 paid employees and tens of thousands of volunteers across the state. On Election Night, Chairman Redfern’s gamble paid off as Barack Obama made history to become the first Democratic presidential candidate since 1940 to carry more than fifty percent of Ohio voters’ support twice.

Ohio Democrats’ early investment was also successful for Senator Sherrod Brown who was able to overcome an unprecedented $40 million dollars spent against him in attack ads in part because of the infrastructure his campaign and the Ohio Democratic Party put in place. Despite a redistricting period controlled by the opposing party where three Democratic State House incumbent seats were eliminated, Ohio Democrats also won races that were supposed to be out of reach, and overcame a 3-1 financial disadvantage to re-elect Lou Gentile to the State Senate. And for the first time in 12 years, Democrats won a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court.

Chairman Redfern attended Bowling Green State University where he earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and then his Master’s Degree in state and local government. He received the BGSU Accomplished Graduate Award in 2004. Redfern is married to his wife Kim and they live with their daughter on Catawba Island.

OKLAHOMA - WALLACE COLLINS

[elected May 14, 2011 (started May 16); re-elected May 19, 2013]
Wallace Collins has been active in Democratic politics all his life. Starting with the campaign of Roy J. Turner, Democrat for governor. Collins was just a boy of five, but he put his dog in his red wagon, placed Turner signs on the sides of the wagon, and walked through his neighborhood calling out to the neighbors to vote for Turner.

Years later, in 1996, Collins made his first run for a political office, winning a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for HD 45, in Norman. He served two terms, before losing in 2000. While there, he served as a committee vice chair, as well as Assistant Majority Whip.

In 2001, Collins ran for, and was elected, chair the of Cleveland County Democratic Party. Some highlights of that stint are: starting the Cleveland County Democrat’s Corn Bread & Beans weekly luncheon, hosting the Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday colloquium, and having Presidential Candidate, John Edwards at the Annual Cleveland County Democratic Party Labor Day Celebration. Proud of his labor connections, Collins has been a member of the Machinist’s Union for 44 years. In 2006, he ran for the HD 45 seat again and served for another four years. During this hitch in the House, Collins was elected by his contemporaries to be an Assistant Minority Floor Leader. He was known for his strong support of mental health, education, veterans, and children’s issues. Collins was named one of the “Top Five Legislators” by Frosty Troy of the Oklahoma Observer. In addition, he was named “Outstanding Legislator” by the National Alliance for Mentally Ill (NAMI). [defeated in 2010]

Collins and his high school sweetheart, Pat, have been married for 50 years and have six sons and six grandkids.

OREGON - FRANK DIXON

[elected March 10, 2013]
Frank Dixon is currently serving his first term as Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon, after serving three terms as First Vice-Chair. He has been a member of the Democratic National Committee and the DNC LGBT Caucus since 2007, and was elected in 2013 by the Western Region of the Association of State Democratic Parties to serve on the national ASDC Executive Committee.

PENNSYLVANIA - JIM BURN

[elected chair June 19, 2010]
Elected Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman in 2010, Jim Burn has an extensive career in public service. Jim is an attorney representing the rights of injured workers and an elected member of Allegheny County Council. 

Jim graduated from Duquesne University in 1985 and received his J.D. from the University of Dayton in 1988. While in law school, Jim served as the President of the Student Bar Association and as the President of the Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity. Jim was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1988 and has been practicing law in Southwestern Pennsylvania ever since.

Throughout his career, Jim has understood the value and need for unity and teamwork. While serving as Mayor of Millvale Borough, Jim credits teamwork as not only the catalyst for Millvale's rebirth and revitalization, but also the driving force behind the ability of the community to rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Ivan. Jim was recognized in his community and by the Commonwealth for his outstanding service as mayor – he received the "Mayor of the Year Award" in 1997 from the Pennsylvania State Mayor's Association, the "Outstanding Young Men in America Award," and the "Community Award" from the North Hills Community Outreach.

After serving 12 years as Mayor of Millvale, Jim was elected to Allegheny County Council in 2005. Jim served as President of the County Council in 2011. With his experience – leading Millvale through the trials of Hurricane Ivan – Jim also served as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee of Allegheny County and is uniquely prepared to lead in times of crisis.

Jim also served as Chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Party from 2006 through 2011. Bringing his message of teamwork to this position, Jim successfully built party unity and consistently got Democrats elected.

In 2010, Jim was named as one of Pennsylvania 's Top 50 Political Influencers by Politics Magazine. His insight and knowledge of Pennsylvania 's political landscape has led to frequent appearances on television and radio news programs across the Commonwealth as a spokesperson for Pennsylvania's Democrats.

Married in 1997, Jim lives in Millvale , PA with his wife Lori and their two sons, James Edward and Brandon Patrick.

RHODE ISLAND - REP. JOSEPH M McNAMARA

[elected Oct. 9, 2014, succeeding acting chair Grace Diaz; David Caprio resigned]
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D) represents District 19 in Warwick and Cranston. First elected in November 1994, he is the Chairman of the House Health, Education, and Welfare Committee.

Representative McNamara is a member of the Irish Social Club, the former President of the Governors Golf League, and is a member of the Warwick Firefighters Association. He also previously served as an Explorer Advisor for the Boy Scouts of America and the Committee Chairman of Pack 4. Additionally he is involved with Save the Bay, the Gaspee Day Committee, the Wyman P.T.A, and the Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scouts.

Representative McNamara is a retired educator, previously serving as the director of the Pawtucket School Department’s Alternative Learning Program. He received his Master of Education degree from Providence College. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Boston University and graduated from Pilgrim High School in Warwick.

Representative McNamara was born on September 7, 1950. He is married to Diane and they have two children, William and Katie.

SOUTH CAROLINA - JAIME HARRISON

[elected May 4, 2013]
A rising star in the Democratic Party, Jaime R. Harrison draws on his mastery of the legislative process to help clients maneuver complex congressional alignments related to transportation and infrastructure issues, among others. In addition to his work on behalf of clients on Capitol Hill, Jaime provides strategic and political guidance to clients based in or doing work in South Carolina. As the former director of floor operations and counsel for former House Majority Whip, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), he was responsible for the successful navigation and passage of key legislation and served as a senior political and legislative adviser. Accumulating a wealth of experience and a deep bench of relationships, Jaime worked closely with the House and Senate leadership.

Previously, Jaime served as executive director of the House Democratic Caucus. Widely recognized for his work, Jaime was named six times as one of Roll Call’s “Fabulous Fifty Movers and Shakers Behind the Scenes on Capitol Hill” and listed as one of The Hill’s “35 Stellar Staffers Under 35.” In 2010, The Root web magazine included Jaime on its list of 100 “emerging and established African-American leaders who are making extraordinary contributions.” He was also dubbed one of the “Top 40 lawyers under 40” by the National Bar Association and Impact DC.

Jaime has appeared as a political strategist on CNN, MSNBC and ATN’s "American Dream." He is a regular guest lecturer for the Brookings Institute and the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education Leadership Institute’s Political Training Boot Camp. In 2009, he served as a lecturer for the Harvard Kennedy School’s Black Policy Conference. Jaime has developed and conducted a small business development seminar and provided legal technical assistance to small business owners in Washington, DC. Before entering politics, Jaime worked in education serving as chief operating officer and director of program development for the College Summit, Inc., a national nonprofit organization that helps low-income students enroll in college.

A teacher at heart, Jaime once taught world geography at his high school alma mater in Orangeburg, South Carolina. A first-generation college graduate, Jaime earned a bachelor's from Yale University and Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.

ed. note:
Bio from the Podesta Group where Harrison is a principal.

SOUTH DAKOTA - DEB KNECHT

[interim from July 2, 2013; when Ben Nesselhuf announced resignation to run congressional campaign; elected Sept. 21, 2013]
Deb and her husband Randy live in Houghton, South Dakota. They have been on the family farm for almost 40 years. Randy and Deb have three grown sons, five grandchildren and another grandchild on the way. Deb served on the Brown County Commission for twelve years. She has worked on several campaigns and was Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s Regional Director in 2006. Deb was the Brown County Chair for many years and also served as Vice-Chair of the SDDP for a short time before she worked for the state party as a Field Director/Fundraiser in 2008. Deb is currently the vice-chair of the Brown County Democrats.

TENNESSEE - ROY HERRON

[elected Jan. 26, 2013]
Roy Herron graduated from UT-Martin with highest honors, studied New Testament and Ethics in Scotland as a Rotary Scholar, then became one of Vanderbilt University’s first two joint Divinity and Law graduates.  He worked part-time as a minister and began making his living as a country lawyer and small businessman.

He began public service by working on the staffs of his Dresden neighbor, then-Speaker Ned McWherter, and then-Congressman Al Gore when he ran for the U.S. Senate.  He was elected to Governor Ned McWherter’s Tennessee House seat, and served there and then in the Tennessee Senate where his colleagues elected him Democratic Floor Leader and Democratic Caucus Chair.

He authored literally dozens of laws strengthening ethics, enabling health care, attacking crime, helping victims, and protecting children, workers, whistleblowers and freedoms.  Roy held over 1,000 listening meetings, more than any other Tennessee legislator, while attending 1,292 floor sessions, every single session for 26 years except the day his youngest son was being born.

He also worked on Vice President Al Gore’s presidential campaigns, serving as Gore’s Tennessee state director in 2000.  In 2010, Roy won the Democratic nomination seeking to fill Congressman John Tanner’s seat representing Middle and West Tennessee.  He earned all eight newspaper endorsements, including those of the Nashville, Jackson and Memphis dailies.

In January 2013, Roy concluded his service in the Tennessee Senate and was elected Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Roy is the author of three books about faith, family and political humor.  He and his “bride” of 26 years, Nancy, a Tennessee Claims Commissioner, are the parents of three Eagle Scouts who now are college students.  They are members of the First United Methodist Church.

Roy also is a Boston Marathoner who has completed more than 30 marathons and ultramarathons, and last August he completed his fourth Ironman Triathlon, swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, then completing a marathon, 26.2 miles, for a total of 140 miles.

TEXAS - GILBERTO HINOJOSA

[elected June 9, 2012]
Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Gilberto attended public schools and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Pan American University (now University of Texas, PAU); the first in his family to graduate from college. He went on and received a doctorate’s of jurisprudence from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C. After law school, Gilberto practiced law as an attorney for Migrant Legal Action Program (MLAP), a national legal services support center in Washington D.C. There he represented migrant farm workers in the courts and with state and national governmental agencies who provided (or failed to provide) services to migrant farm workers. At MLAP he represented farm workers in class actions seeking federal minimum wages, gaining access to farm labor camps, preventing temporary foreign workers from being brought to the United States to break farm worker strikes and making sure that the U.S. Department of Labor Employment Services Division provided farm workers with needed interstate employment services. Gilberto went on to become the Director of the Migrant Farm Worker Program of Colorado Rural Legal Services. In 1981 he returned to Texas where he was the managing attorney for the Brownville office of Texas Rural Legal Aid, Inc.

In 1984, Gilberto was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Brownsville Independent School District, where he served as Vice President of the Board before being appointed Presiding Judge of Cameron County Court at Law No. 2. In 1987 Governor Mark White appointed Judge Hinojosa to the 107th District Court where he served until he was elected Justice of the 13th Court of Appeals, serving 20 South Texas counties from the Rio Grande Valley to Nueces and Matagorda counties, south of Houston. While on the Court of Appeals, Governor Ann Richards appointed Judge Hinojosa to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice where, he helped oversee the Texas prison and parole system and assisted in establishing policies for probation departments throughout the State. During his service on the Board, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, inspired by the leadership of Governor Ann Richards, developed first of its kind substance abuse prison facilities designed to treat offenders with substance abuse problems.

After completing his term on the 13th Court of Appeals, Judge Hinojosa ran for and was elected Cameron County Judge where he served for 12 years. As Cameron County Judge, Judge Hinojosa transformed county government in Cameron County to make it one of the most effective and efficient in the State of Texas. During his tenure as county judge, he managed a $110 million dollar budget (about 100 times larger than the budget of the Texas Democratic Party) and he left Cameron County with an A+ bond rating and one of the lowest tax rates for a county in the State of Texas and the lowest south of San Antonio, including San Antonio. In 2007 Judge Hinojosa was elected Cameron County Democratic Party Chair where he continues to serve. In 2008 he was elected to the Democratic National Committee and in 2009 Chairman Tim Kaine appointed him to the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee. At the time of his appointment, Gilberto was only one of two Latinos appointed by Chairman Kaine to the Executive Committee.
Gilberto Hinojosa practices law in Brownsville, Texas.

Gilberto is married to Cyndi, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor. He has five wonderful children: Gina, Xochitl, Miguel, Diego and Maya and one grandson – “TGM” (The Great Matteo) and one son in law John P. Donisi.

UTAH - PETER CORROON

[elected April 26, 2014]
Peter Corroon is currently a manager with the Ninigret Group, a commercial real-estate development firm, where he oversees development projects. He was elected state party chair in April 2014.

Peter also has his own firm Corroon Company and partners with The Bennett Group International, a consulting firm started by former U.S. Senator Bob Bennett, to provide consulting services to businesses seeking to expand their products’ markets.

He has an extensive background in government, community leadership, commercial and residential real estate, construction, civic affairs and small business development.

Peter was elected Salt Lake County Mayor in 2004 and served for eight years in this position.

He holds a Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law, a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development and Finance from New York University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University. Peter also speaks fluent French, intermediate Spanish and some Italian. He also has taught finance and real estate development courses at Westminster College and Salt Lake Community College.

He has served as President of the Salt Lake Vest Pocket Business Coalition, a group of locally owned and managed independent businesses, and was appointed as a Small Claims Court Judge in Salt Lake’s Third District Court. He has served on the boards of the National Association of Counties, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce where he received the Best Elected Official award, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, the Utah Technology Council, and the United Way.

Peter has a long record of public service. He was responsible for starting a non-profit affordable housing company to serve unmet housing needs in Salt Lake City. Over the years he has also provided volunteer legal advice in Spanish to community members who had little or no proficiency in English. He also served as Vice President of the Salt Lake Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

VERMONT - DOTTIE DEANS

[elected April 15, 2013]
Deans spent 14 years as an elementary school teacher in the Cherry Creek school district in Colorado after graduating from the University of Denver. After moving to Vermont, Deans became involved in the Democratic Party at the grassroots level beginning as Town Chair of Pomfret, before becoming elected Windsor County chair, and finally elected as Vice Chair of the state party in 2011.

Dottie also has been dedicated to her local HIV/AIDS Service organization, H2RC, since 1999 serving as a volunteer, staff member, and most recently stepped down as the Board Chair. She remains passionate about the mission of H2RC and continues to serve on the board.

She lives in North Pomfret, Vermont with her partner of 17 years, Lydia Spitzer.

VIRGINIA - DWIGHT C. JONES

[elected March 15, 2014]

Mayor Dwight C. Jones has been an active public servant in the city of Richmond for over 35 years. Dwight Jones has entrenched himself in the social and political realms of the city of Richmond. Throughout his tenure he has worked for causes that positively affirm his beliefs and efforts that uplift not only his immediate constituency, but also the city and state at large. Mayor Jones has diligently advocated economic empowerment for those who are not in the mainstream. He has been instrumental through his various board appointments and other community investments in creating positive change.

Richmond's Representative in the House of Delegates

Mayor Jones was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1993. In that time he has assembled an impressive legislative record, working with members on both sides of the aisle to focus on providing health services, ensuring strong finances, and protecting Richmond's neighborhoods and most fragile citizens.

A Community Leader

Mayor Jones holds a firm belief that change and progress start in your own neighborhood. Since 1975, he has founded the South Richmond Senior Center, and the Imani Intergenerational Community Development Corporation - a community-based development corporation committed to the building of affordable housing, revitalization of distressed business areas and business development, as well as creating workforce initiatives and training. When most were leaving South Richmond, Mayor Jones encouraged citizens to stay and take back their neighborhoods. He worked in the communities to reduce crime and make new investments in the communities.

Mayor Jones continues to recognize the needs of those who have not been afforded the same opportunities that many take for granted as he strives to address the varied needs in and around the community.

In 1985, he was named one of Richmond's 100 Most Outstanding Citizens. Mayor Jones has served as a member of the Richmond City School Board in 1979 and served as its chairman from 1982-1985. He has served in the Virginia State Legislature since 1994 as an honorable member of the House of Delegates serving the 70th district. Mayor Jones also serves as the Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.

Mayor Jones remains active in community life. He has served on many corporate and community boards and has been appointed to various committees. His service has included Richmond Renaissance (former chair), MCV Hospital Authority, Metro Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau, Richmond Red Cross, YMCA Board of Directors, Richmond Commission on Human Relations, and was recently appointed to serve on the Virginia Commission on Immigration.

WASHINGTON - JAXON RAVENS

[elected Feb. 1, 2014]
Jaxon Ravens grew up in Missoula, MT. He has a bachelors degree in politics and economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz and an MBA from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management. He was the Executive Director of the King County Democrats for a couple of years at the turn of the century and has been working for the Washington State Democrats since 2004. He served as President of the Washington State Young Democrats from 2000 to 2001 and as President of the National Association of State Democratic Executive Directors from 2009 to 2013.

In each of these roles, Ravens has lead and worked with Democrats across the state, national party organizations, local party organizations, various constituency groups, allies, candidates, and elected officials, to help elect Democrats and build the Democratic community in order to promote the values expressed in the State Democratic Party Charter and Platform.

He spent the 1990s traveling overseas and in 2003 biked solo across the US following the Lewis and Clark Trail. Jaxon is actively involved in several local non-profit organizations including the School for Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA), where he serves as Board President, Seattle Works and the Red Cross. In 2011 he was presented with a Washington State Volunteer Service Award from the Governor. He also serves as a member of the Washington State Arts Commission.
ed. - Prior to being elected chairman Ravens served as executive director of the party for the past ten years.

WEST VIRGINIA - LARRY PUCCIO

[elected June 26, 2010; re-elected June 9, 2012]
Larry Puccio, is a businessman from Fairmont, West Virginia  who co-owned Puccio & York appraising for a number of years. He ran Joe Manchin’s successful campaign for Secretary of State in 2000 and served as his Chief of Staff there. Puccio also ran Manchin’s 2004 campaign for Governor and served as Gov. Manchin’s Chief of Staff from Jan. 2005- Dec. 2009.

WISCONSIN - MIKE TATE

[elected June 13, 2009; re-elected June 8, 2013]
Mike Tate was elected State Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in June, 2009. Thirty years old when elected, Tate [was] the youngest state party chair in the nation for either the Republican or Democratic Party.

Mike’s career in Democratic organizing began at a very early age, when in 4th grade he helped Michael Dukakis score an upset victory in his school’s mock election. Two years later, Tate was begging his mother to drive him down to Tom Loftus’ gubernatorial campaign office, where he would help stuff envelopes after school.

Mike’s passion and commitment to the Democratic Party and progressive causes haven’t waned since. In 1998, Mike worked as a volunteer for Senator Russ Feingold’s reelection campaign, and then became very active with the College Democrats, serving as Chair of the College Democrats of Wisconsin and Vice President of the College Democrats of America.

Mike has worked for Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Governor Jim Doyle, and AFSCME Council 40, and in 2003, Mike served as the Wisconsin State Director for Dean for America, and then served as the Deputy State Director for America Coming Together, overseeing one of the largest grassroots voter mobilization efforts in Wisconsin political history.

In the 2006 election cycle, Mike managed the Fair Wisconsin campaign, overseeing the effort to defeat the constitutional amendment banning civil unions and marriage. Fair Wisconsin was one of the largest anti-amendment campaigns ever mounted, raising a historic $5.3 million from over 11,000 individual donors and mobilizing significant progressive turnout in opposition to the constitutional amendment.

Most recently, Mike directed Advancing Wisconsin’s vast voter mobilization effort in 2008, helping boost turnout in key legislative districts and for Barack Obama.

For many years, Mike has served as a board member and is now the President of the Democratic Leadership Institute. He has also served on the Administrative Committee of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and as a member of the Democratic National Committee.

Mike received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently lives in Milwaukee County with his wife Amy, a member of the academic staff at the UW-Milwaukee Alumni Association.

WYOMING - ANA CUPRILL

[started May 16, 2014] Youth services librarian at Sublette County Library in Pinedale.  B.S. degree from Northland College, 1992.

DEMOCRATS ABROAD - KATIE SOLON

PUERTO RICO - ROBERTO PRATS

AMERICAN SAMOA - J.R. SCANLAN

GUAM - CARL T.C. GUTIERREZ

USVI - EMMETT HANSEN

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New Chairs in 2014 [8 total]:

RHODE ISLAND - JOSEPH McNAMARA [elected Oct. 9, 2014]  ...GRACE DIAZ, acting from July 2014.

HAWAII - STEPHANIE OHIGASHI [elected May 25, 2014]

NEW YORK - FORMER GOV. DAVID PATTERSON [announced May 21, 2014]

WYOMING - ANA CUPRILL [May 16, 2014]

UTAH - FORMER MAYOR PETER CORROON [elected April 26, 2014]

MONTANA - JIM LARSON [from early April 2014]

VIRGINIA - MAYOR DWIGHT JONES [elected March 2014]

WASHINGTON - JAXON RAVENS [elected Feb. 1  2014]

Chairs resigning/finishing in 2014:

RHODE ISLAND - GRACE DIAZ, acting   ..to Oct. 9, 2014

[from July 29, 2014, when David Caprio resigned]
Has represented the people of District 11 in Providence since 2005, after being elected to the seat in November 2004. She was named a Deputy Majority Leader in April 2014.

A class facilitator at Ready to Learn, Providence, Rep. Diaz holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Springfield College which she earned in 2008 and 2010 respectively. A native of the Dominican Republic, she graduated from Los Angeles Custodios High School in 1977.

RHODE ISLAND - DAVID CAPRIO   ...to July 29, 2014

[elected Oct. 3, 2013; resigned July 29, 2014 amid investigation]
Chairman David Caprio is a former State Representative first elected in 1999, representing District 34 in South Kingstown and Narragansett. During his tenure, Caprio rose to the role of chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee in 2010. He was elected as Chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party on October 3, 2013.

David is a life-long resident of Narragansett. He began his education at American University in Washington, D.C. and later transferred to Boston College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1989. From there, he went on to earn his MBA while studying in France at the University of Southern Europe. Chairman Caprio continued his education at Suffolk University Law School earning his J.D. in 1994. David has been a practicing attorney with the Caprio Law firm since graduating law school.

HAWAI'I - DANTE CARPENTER  ...to late May 2014

[started as interim chairman on Jan. 24, 2010; elected May 30, 2010]
Dante Keala Carpenter has had a dynamic and varied public life.  Mr. Carpenter currently serves as the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i, having been elected by acclamation at its Biennial Convention on May 30, 2010, after serving as its interim chair since January.  Mr. Carpenter is also president of Carpenter & Carpenter Inc., a consulting firm, and serves on the Boards of Directors for the Country Club Village, Phase 2, a 469 unit Homeowners Association; Carbon Bio-Engineers Inc., producing biocarbon products; and Pacific Waste Inc., a W-T-E producer.

As mayor of Hawai’i County from 1984-88, he had an enormous effect on the Island County of Hawai’i by facilitating resort development in West Hawai’i and promotion of new enterprises in high-tech and agriculture. Carpenter is a former elected trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from 2002-06, Hawai’i State senator from 1978-84, and Hawai’i County councilman from 1968-76.  Mr. Carpenter also served as a factory and design engineer as well as Public Affairs director for a total of 25 years in the Hawaiian sugar industry.

Mr. Carpenter is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, at Kings Point, NY and is a LCDR (Retired) after having served over 25 years in the U. S. Naval Reserve.

WYOMING - PETE GOSAR   ...to mid-May 2014

[started May 7, 2013]
Pete Gosar was born and raised in Pinedale. He's a lifelong Wyoming native. He worked as a teacher before becoming a commercial pilot. He was a regional airline pilot for 6 years before becoming employed at the Aeronautics Division of the Department of Transportation as their Flight Operations Manager who oversees the daily schedule of the State’s aircraft. Pete was a football player at the University of Wyoming where he obtained a BA in secondary education. Pete also has an Associates degree in Aviation Technology obtained from San Juan Community College. He is an outdoor enthusiast who loves to bow hunt, fish, mountain bike, hike, snowboard, and cross country skiing.

ed. note: Gosar was a candidate for governor in the Aug. 17, 2010 Democratic primary, finishing second to Leslie Peterson.

NEW YORK - Co-Chair KEITH L.T. WRIGHT   ...to May 2014

[June 2012 to May 2014] 
Keith L.T. Wright has been the representative for Central and Western Harlem in the New York State Assembly since 1992. He is the Chairman of the Assembly Standing Committee on Labor, the County Leader of the New York County Democratic Committee and most recently, Mr. Wright was elected to co-chair the New York State Democratic Committee.

Prior to becoming a member of the Assembly, Wright worked for the city's Human Resources Administration (HRA) as Special Assistant to the General Counsel. In 1986 he left HRA to direct the Uptown Office of then-Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins. Following Dinkins' successful bid for Mayor of the City of New York, Wright left city government to handle Government Relations for the New York City Transit Authority.

As the New York County Leader, Wright has continued to foster the placement of judges of the highest caliber on the bench in the same spirit of reform that began in the 1970s. Additionally, he has created a true sense of community throughout the entire county by bringing party members from downtown uptown and from the east side to the west. Two of his goals as County Leader are to continue to strengthen the bench and increase democratic voter registration.

Since being elected to office, Wright has been a tireless advocate for his community and for those often left without a voice in society. During his tenure in the Assembly, Wright authored and shepherded enactment of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, fought successfully to raise the public assistance grant during tough economic times and is the prime sponsor of legislation to not only raise but index New York State's minimum wage. He was also a key sponsor in the rollback of the Rockefeller Drug Laws and is responsible for the expansion and extension of rent regulations that kept thousands of New York City residents in their homes. Wright also chairs the Harlem Community Development Corporation where he has secured millions of dollars towards infrastructure and economic development in Northern Manhattan. As the new Co-Chair of the State's Democratic Party, Wright intends to work with similar fervor to elect democrats into positions throughout New York and nationally.

Wright is a graduate of The Ethical Culture Fieldston School and Tufts University. He also holds a J.D. from Rutgers University. Wright is the son of the late New York State Supreme Court Justice Bruce McMarion Wright and Constance Wright, a retired New York City School principal. He is married to Susan I. Wright and has two sons, Jared and Jordan. Wright was born, raised and currently resides in Harlem, New York City.

NEW YORK - Co-Chair STEPHANIE MINER

[from 2012, resigned April 17, 2014]
Stephanie A. Miner is the 53rd Mayor of the City of Syracuse. Born on April 30, 1970, she became involved in politics at an early age, stuffing envelopes for local candidates at her Grandmother Cooney’s kitchen table in the Eastwood neighborhood.

She attended Syracuse University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science and Journalism in 1992.

After college, she worked as the Assistant Upstate Coordinator for Geraldine Ferraro for U.S. Senate and then served as Central New York Regional Representative to Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1994.

In 1999, Miner earned her J.D. from SUNY Buffalo and began working at Blitman & King, LLP as a labor lawyer, representing unions and employees.

Already deeply involved in politics, Mayor Miner became a Syracuse Common Councilor-at-Large in 2002 after winning city-wide election in 2001 when she was 31 years old. Re-elected to the Council in 2005, Mayor Miner received the most votes of any candidate on the ballot, including the incumbent Mayor. As a Councilor, she championed and helped pass legislation that gave $1 million in initial funding to Say Yes to Education, a program that provides necessary support services for Syracuse City School District students and promises free or reduced tuition to students who graduate from City high schools.

During her tenure on the Council, Mayor Miner established a reputation as a principled leader who asks tough questions. This led the Syracuse Post-Standard to endorse Mayor Miner’s 2009 candidacy for Mayor, calling her “principled,” “intelligent,” “energetic,” and a “passionate advocate.”

Mayor Miner was elected on November 3, 2009 in a three-way race, receiving 50.1% of the vote. She became the first woman elected Mayor of any of the “Big 5” cities in New York State.

MONTANA - NANCY ANDERSON   ...to early April 2014
resigned

[elected weekend of July 13, 2013]
From Great Falls; previously Vice Chair.

UTAH - JIM DABAKIS    ...to March 24, 2014
resigned citing health reasons

[elected July 16, 2011; re-elected June 22, 2013]
The grandson of Greek immigrants, Jim Dabakis moved to Utah when he was 17 to attend school at Brigham Young University. After college, Jim worked for 13 years as a Radio and TV talk-show host. He became known as the “Voice of Utah Democrats” as he defended the Party’s values against the continual onslaught of the Ronald Reagan-era Republicans.

Jim also began his own company in the art dealership world, and has worked primarily with Russia for the past 20 years. During that time he also founded the Jim Dabakis Educational Foundation which has helped bright students from all over the world continue their education in the United States. He is also one of the original founders of both Equality Utah and The Utah Pride Center.

VIRGINIA - CHARNIELE HERRING   ...to March 15, 2014
resigned to run for Congress

[elected Dec. 8, 2012]
Charniele’s lifelong commitment to public service began at age 13, when she testified before a committee serving President Ronald Reagan’s White House about the need for continued health care coverage for military children.  As an adult, she has combined this advocacy with a thriving career in business, building bipartisan coalitions seeking solutions for issues such as the homelessness of children.

Delegate Herring has lived in Northern Virginia area for almost 30 years, 22 of them in the West End of Alexandria.  She is a Past President of the West End Business Association (WEBA) and serves on the Boards of Directors for the Hopkins House and the Parent Leadership Training Institute of Alexandria.

Prior to her election, Delegate Herring was active in her community, especially on issues affecting the homeless and children, an issue that has touched her personally after experiencing homelessness as a child. Her career started as a Volunteer in Service to America with Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services in Alexandria, Virginia. There she worked to raise money for agencies’ housing programs.

As a participant with Social Action Linking Together (S.A.L.T.) she received the Monsignor Geno Baroni Award for Social Justice for her work to get full funding for the Homeless Intervention Act.  She founded and co-chaired the Virginia Privileged Communication Task Force which was comprised of counselors and advocates around the state. She worked with a bi-partisan delegation to get a bill sponsored to protect communications between victims and advocates. Governor Tim Kaine twice appointed her to the Council on the Status of Women.

Delegate Charniele Herring was elected to the General Assembly in January 2009 in a special election to fill the vacated seat for the 46th House District.  Her election is historic because she is the first African American woman from Northern Virginia ever elected to the over 400 year old Virginia legislature. Since her election, Delegate Herring has served on the Joint Subcommittee Studying Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment, Governor McDonnell's internal working group on voting rights restoration, and the Virginia State Crime Commission.  

In the legislature where she was appointed as the Democratic Whip, Delegate Herring serves on the Courts of Justice and Science & Technology Committees. She has also chaired the Legislative Reproductive Health Caucus, fighting for women’s rights in the Commonwealth. Delegate Herring has many legislative accomplishments, among them are her successful fight to restore funding for homeless services in Virginia's 2010-2011 biennial budget, the passage of her bill to give small businesses a competitive advantage in the state's procurement process, and her leadership on environmental issues. Her environmental stewardship has been recognized by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters with the Legislative Hero Award.  She was also recognized in 2009 by the Virginia Education Association for her commitment to a good education for all Virginia’s children with the Rookie of the Year award.

Delegate Herring earned a B.A. in Economics from George Mason University and a J.D. from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.

WASHINGTON - DWIGHT PELZ   ...to Feb. 1, 2014

[first elected Jan. 2006; re-elected Feb. 2, 2013...on Sept. 30, 2014 announced resignation effective Feb. 1, 2014]
A fifth generation Washingtonian, Dwight was born in Seattle in 1951. In 1954 the family moved to Washington DC when his father joined the staff of Seattle Congressman Don Magnuson. Dwight graduated from the University of Michigan in 1974 and returned to Seattle the next year. For 15 years he worked as a community organizer for a variety of grassroots groups on a variety of social issues. In 1977 Dwight organized the statewide initiative campaign that repealed the sales tax on food. He was elected to the State Senate in 1990, where he represented the 37th District for six years. He chaired the Senate Education Committee and Labor and Commerce Committee for two years. In 1996, Dwight was appointed to take Ron Sims's place on the King County Council, representing South Seattle. He was elected in 1997 and re-elected for a second term in 2001. He became a recognized leader in the areas of transit and transportation, growth management, the environment, human services, and civil rights. He served on the Sound Transit Board and led the fight for the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Dwight was elected Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party in January 2006 and re-elected in 2007 and 2009.

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New Chairs in 2013 [25 total]: 

MASSACHUSETTS - THOMAS McGEE [elected Oct. 17, 2013]

RHODE ISLAND - DAVID CAPRIO [elected Oct. 3, 2013]

ARKANSAS - VINCE INSALACO [elected Sept. 14, 2013]

GEORGIA - DuBOSE PORTER [elected Aug. 31, 2013]

MONTANA - NANCY ANDERSON [elected weekend of July 13, 2013]

SOUTH DAKOTA - DEB KNECHT, acting [from July 2, 2013]

IOWA - SCOTT BRENNAN, interim [elected interim chair June 15, 2013]

NEW JERSEY - JOHN CURRIE [elected June 13, 2013]

GEORGIA - NIKEMA WILLIAMS, interim [from June 10, 2013]

ALASKA - MIKE WENSTRUP [elected May 12, 2013]

WYOMING - PETE GOSAR [started May 7, 2013]

SOUTH CAROLINA - JAIME HARRISON [elected May 4, 2013]

NEW MEXICO - SAM BREGMAN [elected April 27, 2013]

ALABAMA - NANCY WORLEY [from April 22 , 2013]

VERMONT - DOTTIE DEANS [elected April 15, 2013]

INDIANA - JOHN C. ZODY [elected March 16, 2013]

OREGON - FRANK DIXON [elected March 10, 2013]

NORTH DAKOTA - BOB VALEU [elected late Feb./ea. March 2013]

MICHIGAN - LON JOHNSON [elected February 23, 2013]

IDAHO - LARRY KENCK [elected Feb. 23, 2013]

NORTH CAROLINA - RANDY VOLLER [elected Feb. 2, 2013]

FLORIDA - ALLISON TANT [elected Jan. 26, 2013]

TENNESSEE - ROY HERRON [elected Jan. 26, 2013]

VIRGINIA - CHARNIELE HERRING [elected Dec. 8, 2012]

NEBRASKA - VINCE POWERS [elected June 2012; started Nov. 2012]

Chairs resigning in 2013:

MASSACHUSETTS - JOHN WALSH   ...to Oct. 17, 2013

[elected April 2007; re-elected Nov. 14, 2012]
*Walsh announced in July 2013 that he will be resigning to join Deval Patrick's Together PAC; his resignation will be effective Oct. 17, 2013 when the party will hold a special meeting to elect the new chair.

John E. Walsh is the Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and was proud to be Deval Patrick’s Campaign Manager and Transition Director. John is an active Democrat. He is a member and former Chairman of the Abington Democratic Town Committee and a former Chair of the Plymouth County Democratic League, a regional membership organization dedicated to “promoting and actively supporting the candidates and values of the Democratic Party in Plymouth County.”

He has actively participated in numerous campaigns, serving in many different capacities including as Campaign Manager for the Mass Democratic Party’s 2002 Coordinated Campaign which set records for party unity, fundraising and grassroots activities. He also served as Field Director of Brian Donnelly’s campaign for Governor in 1998.

He was elected and served ten years as a member of the Abington Board of Selectman and served for three years as a member of the Plymouth County Charter Commission.

John is President of Independence Insurance Agency, Inc., a small business focused on meeting the insurance needs of families on the> South Shore and is active in many community organizations. He is a graduate of Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton and earned a Bachelors Degree from Princeton University. He lives in Abington with his wife Donna and sixteen-year-old son Coleman.

ARKANSAS - WILL BOND   ...to Sept. 14, 2013
Bond announced at the end of July 2013 he will resign as he considers a run for public office; he will serve to Sept. 14, 2013 when Vince Insalaco is expected to be confirmed at a state committee meeting.

[elected Feb. 12, 2011]
...an attorney and former State Representative from Jacksonville...

Professional
Partner, McMath Woods, P.A., 2006
Partner, Bond & Chamberlin, 2002-2006
Partner, Bond & O’Brien, 1996-2001
Associate, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, 1995-1996
Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Governors 1998-2002)
Arkansas Bar Association
Association of Trial Lawyers of America
American Bar Association
Pulaski County Bar Association
Admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in Arkansas, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. 

Education
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN - B.A. 1992
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville – J.D. 1995

Civil Service
Member, Arkansas House of Representatives, 2003-2008
2005-2006, Chair Arkansas Code Revision Commission
Past President of Jacksonville Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors
Arkansas Access to Justice Commission 2007-2008
Member, First United Methodist Church, Jacksonville

GEORGIA - NIKEMA WILLIAMS, interim*  to Aug. 31

*Democratic Party of Georgia’s State Committee will meet Aug. 31 in Newman to select new chair.  Running are RJ Hadley, Dubose Porter and Doug Stoner. >

[from June 10, 2013, following Mike Berlon's resignation; she had been serving as First Vice Chair]
Nikema Williams is the Interim Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia. Over the past decade, she has served in numerous leadership roles within the Democratic Party including serving as a member of the Democratic National Committee, Chair of the 13th Congressional District and 1st Vice Chair of the Fulton County Democratic Party. Nikema represented Georgia as a delegate to the 2008 and 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Nikema got her start in Georgia politics with the Young Democrats. She served as the National Committee Woman for the Young Democrats of Georgia as well as the Deputy Director of the Southeast Region for the Young Democrats of America. In recognition of her work to engage more young people in Democratic politics, she was named Georgia Young Democratic of the year in 2009 and received the 2009 Future is Now Young Leader award from the Young Democrats of Atlanta. Nikema also serves on the Board of Governors for Red Clay Democrats.

The Apex Society designated her as one of their Power 30 under 30 in the field of politics for 2008. She is an alumnus of Leadership Atlanta’s LEAD class of 2009 and a 2009 graduate of Yale University’s Women’s Campaign School. She was also recognized in the 2009 and 2010 publication of Who’s Who in Black Atlanta as a community leader. She was honored in 2010, by Outstanding Atlanta, the city’s premiere honor for community involvement. Nikema was named one the Women of Influence for 2011 by the Atlanta Business League. Nikema was a 2013 New Leaders Council Fellow, an organization dedicated to training and promoting the next generation of progressive political entrepreneurs.

In 2011, Nikema was appointed to the Advisory Board of SCLC W.O.M.E.N. Inc, by founder, Mrs. Evelyn G. Lowery. SCLC Women, INC is a civil rights group dedicated to offering intergenerational programs designed to empower women, girls, and families as they relate to human rights, social action, economic self-sufficiency, reduction of health disparities, and leadership to build strong families and communities.

Nikema most recently served professionally as the Vice President of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast, Inc. Nikema served as the primary contact with key community leaders, coalition partners and elected officials building a long term public policy, legislative, and community engagement program for reproductive healthcare throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi.  She also served as the Vice President of Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates, the affiliated political arm of Planned Parenthood Southeast.

Born in Columbus, Georgia, Nikema was raised nearby in Smiths, Alabama. She attended Talladega College, a private liberal arts HBCU in Talladega, Alabama and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is married to Mr. Leslie Small, and they reside in Historic Westside Village in Atlanta with their two rescue Yorkshire Terriers, Ginger and Belle. Nikema and Leslie are members of Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta.

MISSOURI - MIKE SANDERS  ...to Aug. 24, 2013

[elected Nov. 19, 2011]
*Sanders announced at the end of July 2013 that he will resign effective Aug. 24.

Mike Sanders has always called Greater Kansas City home, even when away during his service as a United States Army officer and while a student at The Ohio State University (OSU) School of Law.

Education & Military Service

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Mike set out for The Ohio State University. When tensions in the Middle East began to heat up in the early 1990s, Mike left law school after one semester and volunteered for military service. The Army promoted him to the rank of First Lieutenant.

Upon completing his military service, he resumed his studies and earned his Juris Doctorate from The OSU School of Law in 1994.

Jackson County Prosecutor

Initially, Mike embarked on his law career in 1994 in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. He served as a special prosecutor for the Jackson County Drug Task Force and was the lead attorney for D.A.R.T. (Drug Abatement Response Team). He personally prosecuted drug dealers, armed robbers, rapists and murderers.

In 1995, he received the Rookie Prosecutor of the Year award from the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. That same year Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) named Mike the Top Prosecutor of the Year for the state of Missouri. MADD’s Heartland Chapter also presented him the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award.

In 1997, Mike entered private practice, yet continued to serve the County’s citizens as an appointed special counsel by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office.

Mike was first elected Jackson County Prosecutor in 2002, then reelected in 2004. During his tenure as the elected Prosecutor, he retooled and strengthened the County’s jailing procedures, pioneered legislation and enlisted extensive DNA testing to convict perpetrators of both recent crimes and dozens of previously unsolved “cold cases.” He also pursued the prosecution of several serial killers and he streamlined spending and accountability measures in the County’s COMBAT Program.

In the fall of 2005, Mike joined with citizens in the community to launch “The Silence Is Killing Us.” The campaign put existing dollars and more innovative strategies to work in creating safer communities.

The campaign, beginning with rallies in the Prospect and Troost corridors, focused on the neighborhoods most affected by the homicides and it exceeded many of its goals.

Jackson County Executive

Mike was elected to his second term as Jackson County Executive in 2010, having first been elected in 2006. Since taking office in January 2007, he has worked to fundamentally change the way Jackson County Government operates on a daily basis.

Family

Mike and his wife, Georgia Cardwell Sanders, are the proud parents of two sons, Jonathan Michael and Patrick David. The family resides in Independence.

SOUTH DAKOTA - BEN NESSELHUF  ...to July 2, 2013

Resigned to managed congressional campaign in Iowa.
[elected Dec. 4, 2010]

Ben was born in Rapid City to South Dakota to Ed and Diane Nesselhuf. Ed is a Lutheran minister and Diane is a high school educator. In 1987, Ben moved with his family to rural Vermillion. Growing up in the country, Ben learned the value of hard work and a love of the land. He graduated from both Vermillion High School and the University of South Dakota.

In 2000 Ben was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives representing district 17. At that time he was the youngest representative ever elected to the legislature. During his 2 terms in the house, Ben gained a reputation for being a advocate for open government and campaign finance reform.

In 2004, Ben was elected to the State Senate. After being elected to his 2nd term, Ben was elected by his fellow senators to be the Caucus Chairman of the Senate Democrat Caucus.

After several years of working in the insurance industry, Ben now works as a consultant in Vermillion. In addition to his parents, Ben has four siblings who he is very close with: Stephanie, Ana, Seth and Miguel.
[ed. note: defeated in Nov. 2010 campaign for Secretary of State]

IOWA - REP. TYLER OLSON  ...to June 11, 2013

Announced resignation on June 11, 2013; considering running for Congress.
[elected Jan. 26, 2013]
Representative Tyler Olson and his wife, Sarah, live in Cedar Rapids and have two young children. He is Vice-President at Paulson Electric, a family business started by his great-grandfather in 1928 with offices in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Waterloo.

Tyler is a graduate of George Washington High School in Cedar Rapids and earned a law degree from the University of Iowa.

Representative Olson was recently re-elected to his fourth term in the Iowa House where he serves as ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

GEORGIA - MIKE BERLON ....to June 10, 2013

On May 20 Berlon was reprimanded by the state Supreme Court and had his law license temporarily suspended leading to his resignation.

[elected Jan. 29, 2011] Mike Berlon has eight years experience as the Gwinnett County Chair, four years as the President of the Georgia Association of Democratic Party Chairs.  Berlon is currently a practicing attorney in Lawrenceville.  He has been married to Susan Berlon for 26 years and has one adult son, Nicholas.

RHODE ISLAND - REP. EDWIN PACHECO  ...to April 22, 2013

Announced resignation on April 22, 2013 to run for Secretary of State.
[elected April 30, 2010]
Edwin R. Pacheco has been in public office since 2001 when he was elected to fulfill an unexpired term for the Burrillville School Committee. After running for election in 2002, he was the highest vote getter out of fourteen candidates and subsequently would be elected Vice Chair, then Chair of the committee.

In 2002, Pacheco decided to embark on a campaign for the District 47 (Burrillville – Glocester) seat in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He successfully won both the democratic primary and general election becoming one of the youngest State Representatives in the history of Rhode Island.

During both his years on the Burrillville School Committee and as State Representative, Pacheco has worked towards bettering education, healthcare, the economy, and the overall quality of life for all Rhode Islanders. Rep. Pacheco successfully introduced legislation regarding campaign finance reform, health care reform, voter’s rights, and job creation. All while reaching beyond the lines of party affiliation for the betterment for our community by working with both Democrats and Republicans alike.

Representative Pacheco lives in the town of Burrillville with his lovely wife Claudia and their 15 month-old-daughter Savannah. The Pacheco’s have been married for just over 2 years. He has a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island and is attending Roger Williams University for his Masters in Public Administration. Pacheco is the Executive Director of Education in Action a non-profit organization that provides experiential learning opportunities for local school children focused on financial literacy, civics, and economics.

ALABAMA - MARK KENNEDY  ...to April 22, 2013

On April 19 announced resignation effective April 22; formed Alabama Democratic Majority.
 [elected Jan. 29, 2011]
Justice H. Mark Kennedy, a native of Greenville, Alabama received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University and his Juris Doctorate, with honors, from Cumberland School of Law.

From 1978 to 1999, Justice Kennedy served as a Juvenile and Family Court Judge in Montgomery, Alabama, as a Circuit Judge for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and for eleven years as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of Alabama.

Following his retirement in 1999 he became President of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation, a not for profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Montgomery. It was through his leadership that the first Comprehensive Master Plan for downtown Montgomery was published in 2001.
 
During his tenure as Chairman, he oversaw the construction of the Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium, home of the Montgomery Biscuits, the Capital City Riverwalk and Amphitheater along the banks of the Alabama River and served as the City's Project Manager during the development of Montgomery's new Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center.

As a volunteer, Justice Kennedy served for twenty-one years as the Chairman of the State of Alabama's Children's Trust Fund that raised over fifteen million dollars and funded community based child abuse prevention programs. He is the founder and Chairman of the Corporate Foundation for Children, partnering with public and private foundations and the business and legal communities to provide services in the areas of maternal health and strengthening families. Kennedy serves on the Board of Directors of the Washington based Second Chance Employment Services Foundation providing job skills training to victims of domestic violence and is the past President of the Board of Directors of the Family Sunshine Center and the Board of the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. In recognition of his public service as an advocate for children Justice Kennedy is a past recipient of the American Pediatric Association's National Child Health Advocate Award, the University of Alabama's first recipient of the Champion for Children Award and the National Exchange Club Leadership Award.

Justice Kennedy taught courses for over a decade at Troy University, Auburn University in Montgomery and Jones School of Law.

Kennedy has served as an economic development and project management consultant to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Foundation.

Justice Kennedy and his wife Peggy Wallace Kennedy have two sons, US Army Captain Leigh Kennedy, an Airborne Ranger who was awarded a Bronze Star in recognition of his leadership and valor in the Iraq War, and Burns Kennedy, a junior at the University of Alabama.