Meet our March 2021 Endorsement Class!
Today we are excited to introduce you to 68 state and local candidates running for office in 2021. Our newest batch of endorsed candidates come from all walks of life and have used their voices and strength to advocate for thousands of people in their communities as educators, veterans, activists, and more.
In our March endorsement class: 42% of our March candidates identify as female, 46% are BIPOC, and 32% are LGBTQIA+. A few examples:
- Amit Singh Bagga is a native New Yorker, son of South Asian immigrants, and a local queer activist running for NYC Council in District 26. Prior to launching his campaign for City Council, Amit helped lead the NYC’s $40 million 2020 Census campaign, achieving a historic response rate for New York City, which outpaced all major cities in the U.S.
- Gabrien Gregory is an Army Reserve officer, community and campaign organizer, and service industry worker running for San Antonio City Council. If elected, Gabriel will beat a two-term incumbent in the most historically conservative seat in San Antonio.
- Former Spanish teacher, community organizer, and doctoral student Sandra Gonzalez is running for Waubonsee Community College Trustee in Illinois. The daughter of Salvadoran migrants — who fled the country’s civil war in 1992 — Sandra advocates for students affected by immigration, housing, and educational issues.
Learn more about our latest endorsement class! If you like what you see, make sure to help us recruit more candidates to run by contributing or volunteering today!
CANDIDATES
ALASKA
Carl Jacobs
Anchorage School District School Board, Seat G
www.carl4anchorage.com
Carl is running for Seat G on the Anchorage School Board. The Anchorage School District (ASD) is Alaska’s largest, and one of the most diverse in the entire nation.
Car is running as someone who has spent their career engaged in public service as an investigator and regulatory enforcement specialist, serving and protecting elders and children in licensed facilities. He and his wife, Alicia, have also served as licensed therapeutic foster parents for the last decade, having cared for dozens of at risk youth with behavioral or mental health challenges.
He is committed to making ASD more responsive to the needs of his community, while increasing accountability and transparency. Anchorage parents deserve leadership willing to engage and tackle the significant challenges facing our district head on. Carl will work tirelessly to do just that.
CALIFORNIA
Amy Jimenez
Mayor of Compton
www.amyjimenez.org
Amy is a first generation Mexican-American. Her experience as a Mexican-American minority, female in the United States, and the educational and professional opportunities she was able to access despite the systemic barriers she came up against have driven her efforts to address the longstanding issues and work towards creating a Compton that is responsive to the diverse needs of its community.
She has dedicated her studies both undergrad and graduate to understanding how society functions in relation to government and systems of governance. She has devoted her working life to advance the success and access of underrepresented students to education and the workforce as an educator, a mentor, an advocate, and a legislative director as well as a director of public affairs. She has worked with nonprofit organizations, public institutions, and state government in multilevel collaboration with private companies.
She has lived and worked in places like Haiti, India, Spain, and England. This has expanded her worldview and has introduced her to new ways of thinking. Most importantly it has taught her the importance of building relationships and developing trust across diverse communities.
Amy is running for Mayor to revitalize the city Compton, close community gaps and bring transparency. Her campaign is focused on infrastructure and a green revitalization; public safety and community wellbeing; and transparency and accessibility.
COLORADO
Harrison Wendt
Durango City Council
www.harrison4durango.com
Harrison is 23 years old. He is an educator, activist and community organizer. Harrison identifies as queer and has fought and continues to win his battle with addiction and mental health. Over the last year Harrison saw how his community had been both awakened and challenged. Through a pandemic, which hurt the working and middle class people and through Social uprisings after the murder of George Floyd. Harrison saw the people of Durango come together to support those grieving loss and saw a movement start in defense and advocacy of Black Lives. Harrison was honored to be a part of the Southwest Movement for Black Lives. Harrison believes that Black Lives Matter and that Indigenous lives must be valued, in every level of government. Harrison heard the calls from his community for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Harrison wants to pave the path for bold structural change:
-Economic Justice and Income Inequalities
-Environmental Justice
-Racial Justice
-Equity in Public Safety
-Expanded resources for addiction/mental health
-Accessibility for all; regardless of age, ability and language
-Combating gentrification and expanding affordable housing
-Safety and protection for Immigrants
-Dignity/shelter for unhoused neighbors
Harrison fell in love with Durango for its beauty, community and opportunity for growth. With that said, he recognizes the systemic inequities put in place to hinder opportunity and advancement for our most vulnerable citizens. This is just the beginning for bold change in our community. The time is now.
FLORIDA
Kassandra Timothe
North Miami City Council, District 2
www.kassandratimothe.com
In 2008, Kassandra stood before the Greater North Miami Chamber and received a college scholarship and in her speech, she told a room full of elected officials and business owners, she would one day come home, and run for office. 12 years later, she’s back home, and she’s running for office. Kassandra Timothe was born and raised in North Miami. A true native, Kassandra lives, works and plays in the heart and pulse of the City in District 2. At the young age of 15, Kassandra began working at North Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).
As the Legislative Aide for Councilwoman Lisa Montelione in the City of Tampa, Kassandra realized the power of local government but she knew this job would be more meaningful if she were home. In May 2015, Kassandra joined the City of North Miami in the Public Information Office. Kassandra planned in her later years to run for office, after her pension was invested, but never imagined the time would be now. Kassandra has over ten years of governmental experience and is ready to take her experience to the mountaintop. She graduated in 2012 with a Political Science degree from the University of South Florida and in May 2020, from Florida International University with her Masters in Public Administration.
Rachel Giuliani Hagenbaugh
New Port Richey City Council
www.RachelforCityCouncil.com
Rachel is First Generation American, daughter of a Marine, a wife, mother and a leader in her community. She is an environmentalist and true advocate towards humanitarian efforts. Through her work on the Cultural Affairs Committee as President, the houseless crisis, community gardens, farmers markets, sustainability, and commitment to advocate for equality on social justice issues.
Most recently Rachel has spent the last year on the front lines, volunteering as a legal observer to protect activists from law enforcement and vigilantes. Her fresh progressive ideas and demonstrated commitment to ending a racial public health crisis in her town amidst a pandemic, gained her acknowledgement and won her the First Amendment Award by the ACLU of Florida.
GEORGIA
Nicholas Ferrante
Mayor of Peachtree City
www.nick4mayor2021.com
Nick is running to be the next mayor of Peachtree City, GA for many reasons but the most important one is, love. He loves this city, the foundations and ideas of its creation, the diverse community of people who live in it and the way of life it allows for its residents. Peachtree City is not only his home, but also his hometown so he understands why his neighbors are so desperate to protect this beautiful and magical place. He gets it. He gets why families came here in the first place and he recognizes that continuing down a path of unmanaged growth will further subtract from the high quality of life residents enjoy.
Nick will champion Peachtree City both to the people and businesses here today and the people and businesses we need to attract to create a more balanced tax burden that doesn’t rely on constant millage rate increases. He will work to revitalize our village centers by emphasizing the importance and allowance for businesses to thrive together rather than singularly. More than anything, Nick believes that we do this together or not at all.
ILLINOIS
Patrick Lawler
Bloomington City Council, Ward 5
www.lawlerforward5.com
Patrick is an educator who decided to run for City Council to make sure that Bloomington isn’t just serving the needs of the affluent and those who own businesses. Having grown tired of City leaders emphasizing economic development over the struggles facing his students and their families, Patrick decided to take his service beyond the walls of his classroom to City Hall.
He believes that people should be placed at the forefront of every decision made by the City. With the pandemic being far from over, Patrick would like to see Bloomington prioritize direct aid to vulnerable families. As a teacher, he also knows that proactively addressing the unmet needs of students is a more effective way to help them than using reactive, punitive measures. He wants Bloomington to operate in the same manner. Instead of leaving problems that arise from homelessness and a lack of mental healthcare services to be managed by the police, Patrick wants the Council to focus on addressing those underlying issues in a manner that uplifts local families.
Kelby Cumpston
Bloomington City Council, Ward 7
www.kelbyforward7.com
Kelby is a townie, a longtime Ward 7 resident, a husband, and a father to an adopted dog named Frank.
He never thought he would run for elected office. He has been in organizing spaces in Bloomington-Normal for over a decade, but had always taken more of a supporting role. He was the guy that combs through hundreds of pages of city council agendas. He doesn’t come from a political family, He doesn’t have a political science degree. But he is motivated to run because he sees his neighbors hurting and a city council that does not represent them.
Kelby’s heart lies with his community and those most disenfranchised. He has marshaled a two-day march from Decatur to Taylorville to advocate for the rights of our immigrant community. He has fought against payday lenders who prey on the vulnerable. He coordinated grassroots efforts like the Bloomington-Normal Really Really Free Market and the McLean County COVID-19 Mutual Aid project to support and uplift our local community.
Kelby has been a general member of Black Lives Matter Blono for five years, doing what has been asked of him by our Black leaders. He will carry this into his work on the City Council by listening to all residents of Ward 7 and prioritizing the voices of our BIPOC neighbors. He believes it’s his responsibility to use his privilege as a white man and his seat at the City Council as a way to amplify the voices that are too often silenced in our local government.
As your representative on the Bloomington City Council, Kelby will continue to advocate for the people of Ward 7 and humbly asks for your support and your vote. Let’s build a better community together!
Arjun Nair
Aurora City Council, 10th Ward
www.arjunforalderman.com
Arjun has been a resident of Aurora, IL for almost decade now. He has been an activist for progressive issues like environmentalism and labor rights. I want to ensure that all voices across Aurora’s 10th Ward are heard. I want to ensure that they feel heard by and connected to city government. I want to work to get high-speed internet access to all Aurorans. I want to fund more services for the youth as well as the elderly. I want to be the voice for Aurora’s youth in city government.
Brain LaVaque
Lombard City Council, District 1
www.lombardforlavaque.com
Brian has lived in Lombard Village, District 1 for eight years. His wife Diana actually grew up not too far from where they are trying to raise their children Leo and Margot. They wanted their kids to grow up in a place that had a great sense of community, and so were drawn to Lombard’s little downtown. Like a lot of suburban commuter communities, the area went through a slow decline for decades. More aggressive towns nearby successfully reimagined their town centers, while Lombard just kind of sat there. There’s so much potential in the city, but his neighborhood needs more attention from the Village.
With his interest in how the local government worked, and looking for an opportunity to help out the community, Brian volunteered to work for the Village in 2013. He was appointed to our Economic and Development Committee, where he served for six years. He could see up close both what the real challenges are in a very competitive landscape, and the resources that exist to face them — if they could just improve our focus.
Brian is a key account representative for a major food company where he works every day to help both some of the largest companies in America and small family owned businesses that are the heart of their communities. Brian knows how to do this. He wants to have the chance to bring his unique insights, personal experience, and creative new ideas to the Village Council to help build the future for the town that he loves.
Jeremy Brzycki
Joliet City Council, At-Large
www.electjeremybrzycki.com
Jeremy is a father, a devoted husband, and a passionate advocate for the city of Joliet, IL. He got involved in politics two years ago to protest a large development on the Southside of Joliet that threatened nearby Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Jeremy is running for Joliet City Council to bring the voice of the people back to the government, and to help his city chart a course ahead for the next 50 years and beyond. His top priorities are: providing critical resources for the underserved areas of Joliet, increasing government transparency, police reform, and bringing more living-wage jobs to his city.
As a project manager and process coach for the last six years, Jeremy has experience working with companies of many different sizes to increase their morale and customer focus. He will bring this skillset to the city council and work to pair neighborhood groups with the resources they need to help improve the community. Jeremy lives in the Marquette Gardens neighborhood of Joliet with his wife, two boys, two dogs, and a cat.
Kevin Hall
Edwardsville Township Supervisor
www.votekhall.com
Kevin is running for Edwardsville Township Supervisor because our community can do more to help the people struggling in the Township, especially in the midst of our current pandemic.
If elected, Kevin will help the Township work within our means to provide additional resources to those needing help with basic necessities like food, medicine, and diapers. As the father of two boys in diapers, he cares about the future of our township and will bring a fresh perspective.
Amy Burrell
Orland Park Board of Trustees
www.oneorland.com
From the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Amy is excited to invest in her community by running for village trustee of Orland Park, where she calls home with her husband and two dogs. Amy’s goal is to be a leader and representative for the younger generation in the community, and she hopes to inspire them to take an interest in their town — after all, the local level is where any vote carries the most weight. Amy recognizes the importance of having elected officials who reflect the diversity of one’s community, and she wants to work with her town to find more future leaders who will speak to the concerns of every voice in Orland Park.
In her term as trustee, Amy hopes to implement change in two other areas: the economy and the environment. With Orland being the major shopping center in the region, Amy is passionate about diversifying the town’s economy, as shopping trends are changing away from the traditional experience that Orland has to offer. Planning for the village’s success means preparing for an ever-changing future, and she wants to be involved in this process to invest in the long-term growth of her community. To further her other plans for Orland, Amy will use her background in animal sciences and sustainability to be an advocate for the environment. Her goal is to expand upon the existing open lands program to protect areas of Orland Park from unnecessary development, in addition to forming community garden spaces and implementing municipal composting.
Stacy Ellis
Mayor of Antioch
www.stacyellisforantiochmayor.com
Stacy grew up in a small working class town with humble beginnings. As the first in her family to attend college, Stacy received her bachelors in social work from Western Illinois University. She has a long history of working in social services. Within that time she got married and had two daughters. Being a working mother is extremely rewarding.
On March 30th, 2019 Stacy’s husband, State Trooper Gerald “Jerry” Ellis, died on duty when a drunk driver was driving the wrong way on I94 hitting Jerry head on changing her family’s life forever. She was showered by love, not only by the Illinois state police, but the community and her neighborhood. The support she received made a huge difference in the grieving process. The outpouring of support was so powerful she wanted to give back. The power of the community and difference they could make encouraged her to run for mayor. Between working in social services and the events of Jerry’s death She wanted to give back to the same community who supported her. Stacy wants to use her experiences to make a positive difference and to make Antioch a place people want to live, work and play. To be inclusive and welcoming for everyone.
Sandra Gonzalez
Waubonsee Community College College Board, District 516
www.sandrag4wcc.com
Sandra is a former teacher, community organizer, and doctoral student. She worked as a high school Spanish teacher in Aurora, having advocated for students affected by immigration and educational issues that impacted their experience and held educational stakeholders accountable. She is the oldest daughter of Salvadoran migrants, having fled the country’s civil war in 1992 while her mother was three months pregnant. She is the first in her family to pursue a doctoral program and the first to graduate from university in the U.S. Likewise, she is a Ph.D. student at Illinois State University, studying educational administration and foundations in order to pass on knowledge to her community and ultimately work with students as they navigate opportunities for advanced degrees.
She wants to make WCC equitable for all students. Sandra understands being a student during COVID and is determined to alleviate the stress students and faculty are facing during this time. Her interest is not making a career out of politics. Her career is in higher education and the board needs someone with that perspective. With that said, her priorities include bringing the student and faculty voice to the table; holding the administration and the Board of Trustees accountable along with decision-making information being transparent to the public; and lastly, keeping tuition affordable to increase retention at the institution. Sandra is looking forward to advocating for the needs of the students, faculty, and staff of Waubonsee Community College and working with and for the campus community.
Nathaniel Booker
Mayor of Maywood
www.maywoodtogether2021.org
Nathaniel is a 3rd generation Village of Maywood homeowner, with his family being residents of Maywood since 1961. He currently serves as Founder & Chief Engagement Officer of Astute Culture Consulting an Organizational & Leadership Development enterprise. He has served in Executive Hotel Operations and Human Resources for Marriott International and InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG). After serving in the hospitality industry for 15 years he rose to Area Director in Training & Performance Improvement for IHG overseeing the brands InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, and EVEN Hotels corporate properties. While with IHG, Booker was an essential piece in the opening of the first 4 corporate EVEN Hotel properties where he collaborated to establish brand policies and training practices.
Nathanniel’s career ambitions have had him serve in Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Dallas, and New York. Booker’s education includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Tennessee State University (Psychology), American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) (Certified Hospitality Trainer), Franklin Covey (Ultimate Competitive Advantage Certified Facilitator), Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (Illinois Economic Development Certified) and much more.
Gail Eisenberg
New Trier Township Supervisor
www.VoteGail.com
Gail lives in Wilmette, IL with her husband, David, and two children. She was elected to a four-year term as New Trier Township Trustee in 2017 and is running for Township Supervisor in 2021 to ensure efficient, empathetic government for the changing times. In addition to her civic work, Gail works as a civil rights attorney at Loftus & Eisenberg, focusing on workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Gail emphasizes pro bono service. As a cooperating attorney with the ACLU’s Judicial Bypass Project, for instance, Gail has represented more close to thirty young people who are attempting to effectuate their well-informed choice to have an abortion without notifying an adult family member. As a volunteer attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center, Gail obtained asylum for a transgender woman from Mexico who had faced persecution for her gender identity, and through the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic helped a woman obtain and enforce emergency and plenary orders of protection against her boyfriend. She is active in the community, currently serving on boards and committees for her local school district, her synagogue, the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, the March of Dimes, Women Employed, and the National Employment Attorneys Association -Illinois, Chicago Bar Association, and the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, while also co-leading her daughter’s Brownie Girl Scout Troop.
MAINE
Marpheen Chann
Portland Charter Commission, At-Large
www.chann4charter.com
A longtime Portland resident, Marpheen Chann is a civil and human rights advocate who cares deeply about a Portland that is inclusive and responsive, accountable and transparent, and fair and equitable.
The son of Cambodian refugees who moved to Portland, Maine in the 1990s and adopted son of a white, working-class family from Western Maine, Marpheen has a commitment to public and community service as a member of Portland’s Planning Board, leading the Cambodian Community Association of Maine’s COVID-19 response as president, pushing for digital equity as a member of the Maine State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and advocating for affordable housing for LGBTQ+ people as a member of the Equality Community Center board. He was recognized by Equality Maine as one of “35 LGBTQ+ Mainers who are actively working to make Maine a better place to live, work, and learn, specifically for our LGBTQ+ community.”
MASSACHUSETTS
James Ryan
Springfield City Council, At-Large
A public high school teacher by trade, James has watched the COVID-19 bring his community new challenges, while exposing deeply-rooted issues that have deprived Springfield of its full potential for generations. James is committed to making sure that all of Springfield has a voice as it not only recovers from this crisis, but rebuilds stronger than ever.
With years of governing experience under his belt — ranging from economic development, housing, public health, sustainability and environmental preservation, and public safety — James is ready to face the challenges facing Springfield head-on from day one.
James holds an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and has spent his entire teaching career in Springfield, where he lives with his wife (Jessi — also a teacher), their two dogs (Sansa and Archer), and their soon-to-be daughter (Arya Rose).
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Cambridge City Council, At-Large
www.votejivan.com
Jivan is an organizer, the son of an immigrant, and a democratic socialist. And like 2/3 of Cambridge residents, he’s a renter. He is currently serving his first-term on the Cambridge City Council, where he’s the Chair of the Transportation & Public Utilities Committee and Co-Chair of the Housing Committee. Before starting on the Council, he worked with environmental programs at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a nationally-recognized land policy think tank in Cambridge. His work supported land conservation projects around the world, and he helped land trusts, academic institutions, and community organizations find the tools they need to build sustainable communities.
Outside his day job, he’s also involved in community organizing to make Cambridge and our region more just, equitable, and resilient. He’s a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has been involved in campaigns to support residents who face eviction, steep increases in rent, and poor living conditions like mold, lack of heat, and flooding. He’s the son of a woman who grew up on a farm in Iowa and a man who grew up in the Portuguese colony of Goa in India. As a result, he speaks Portuguese, is conversational in Spanish, and has eaten a lot of sweet corn with butter.
Bryan Cole
Milford Planning Board
www.bcolemilford.com
Bryan works as a research analyst in the baseball operations department of the Chicago Cubs. He earned a doctorate in electrical engineering from Boston University in 2012, and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and mathematics from Tulane University of Louisiana in 2007. He lives in Milford with his wife, Ashley and daughter Mattina.
If elected, Cole will work to proactively tackle quality-of-life issues, including protecting the environment and preserving Milford’s historical character, and build relationships with state agencies, other town departments, and local residents and business owners to streamline efforts to make Milford a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
Cole currently serves as vice-chair of the Milford Cultural Council and as chair of the Milford Democratic Town Committee. Cole also is a member of the Milford Area Humanitarian Coalition, a town meeting member in precinct 8, and a consultant with the Town Meeting Study and Improvement Committee. Cole recently served as co-chair for the town’s election working group, which sought to improve turnout in local elections and organized annual candidate forums and registration drives at Milford High School.
Madeline Ranalli
Newton City Council, Ward 1, At-Large
www.ranallifornewton.com
Madeline is a student, political advocate, and lifelong resident of Newton. She has served as the Political Director of March For Our Lives: Massachusetts, working over the past few years to advocate for gun violence prevention legislation across the state. She has also worked in the Boston office of Senator Ed Markey, in Iowa for Elizabeth Warren’s Presidential campaign, and most recently at the Department of Energy in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Ranalli is running for Newton City Council to bring a fresh perspective as a young resident of the city and to help Newton lead on addressing the concurring crises of COVID-19, housing inaccessibility, climate change, and widespread racial injustice. She is eager to bring a progressive vision and sense of urgency to help Newton set an example of brave leadership and build a livable, equitable future for generations to come. Maddy lives in Newton with her parents, two younger sisters, and her puppy Mavis.
Becca Miller
Somerville City Council, Ward 7
www.beccaforsomerville.com
Becca is running to represent Ward Seven on the Somerville City Council because the climate, housing and food security crises worsened by the pandemic require transformative governance. As an organizer, a democratic socialist, and a food justice advocate, Becca has the experience necessary to build with working people to enact change.
Becca works as a campaign manager at the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, where she has successfully won more than $20 million for food security programs and works to pass legislation to make our food system more sustainable and equitable for all.
Lezlie Campbell
Springfield City Council, Ward 3
www.votelezlie.com
Lezlie is a native of Springfield, where he was raised by a single mother who worked nights to provide for their family. She taught him the values of responsibility, hard work, and leadership that continue to drive him today. He is a graduate of Springfield Public Schools and Westfield State University.
Committed to serving Springfield, Lezlie is currently a middle school educator. He teaches history and incorporates racial and social justice topics into his curriculum, connecting them to his students’ everyday experiences. He recently served as Deputy Campaign Manager to newly elected State Senator Adam Gomez and serves as the first Black President of the Young Democrats of Massachusetts.
Lezlie is running for Springfield City Council because Ward 3 deserves a Councilor who will be accessible, combat youth violence, and work to invest in the neighborhoods. He is ready to step up to the plate to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table.
Stephen McBride
Boston City Council, District 3
www.mcbrideforboston.com
Stephen is running to represent District 3 and be a new, progressive voice for change in Boston. As someone who chose the city as his home for all the good that it emanates, he also recognizes that there is much more work to be done. Stephen believes that all Bostonains should have equitable access to healthcare, that we must work to combat rising housing prices by prioritizing affordable housing, that we must protect our environment to preserve the city for future generations, and that every student should have access to high quality, public education.
As we continue to face and begin to recover from the effects of COVID-19, he knows that it will be vital to focus on building back our small businesses and prioritizing an equitable recovery. Most importantly, Stephen promises to listen to his neighbors, understand their needs, and be a fierce advocate and champion for all of District 3.
MICHIGAN
David Hamilton
Troy City Council
www.hamilton4troy.com
David is running for reelection to City Council in Troy, Michigan where he was born and raised. Growing up, he admired how his father Ken supported neighbors whenever they needed help and often volunteered for activities through his church. David was attending Troy High when his father passed away unexpectedly, and he will never forget how residents rallied behind his family, whether it be by providing a home cooked meal or a listening ear. His simple goal is to be generous like his dad and support the city that helped him through the worst time in his life.
In 2017, his hometown was in trouble. The City Manager at the time had been accused (and was later convicted) of criminal activities. The city was often in the newspapers and residents had lost faith in their council. David, an Engineer at Ford, decided to run for a seat on a platform of ethics and transparency. He won and was part of the movement to ensure the firing of the City Manager. He then supported a complete redesign of the city’s ethics policy to make sure it would never happen again. The current council is collaborative and listens to residents. He wants to protect what they have built together and help his hometown thrive.
Nick Beaven
Wyandotte City Council
www.nickforwyandotte.com
Nick is running for Wyandotte City Council. Growing up he learned quickly that serving others was our duty as fellow people. From his Dad serving the community to his father, grandfather, spending his career serving as a minister and chaplain, being there for people in their darkest moments. His mom being a shining example of having empathy for others and her father an immigrant who served in WWII. Our existence, in his opinion, is meant to serve a purpose greater than ourselves. That’s what leads him to the classroom everyday as an elementary school teacher. It is what inspires him to run for city council — truly making a positive impact on the lives of others.
MINNESOTA
Aisha Chughtai
Minneapolis City Council, Ward 10
www.aishaforward10.com
Aisha is a community organizer, a union activist, a first-generation immigrant, and a Muslim American. As the political organizer for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Minnesota State Council, Aisha stands with working people everyday. She has spent most of her career working to elect progressive candidates, serving as Campaign Manager to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and working on the campaigns of progressive champions all over the state. She also served as Vice Chair to the Fifth Congressional District DFL, and helped found the Muslim Caucus of the Young Democrats of America.
Aisha believes that our local governments should look like the people in our neighborhoods. People who know poverty and hardship, people who have student loan debt and have to move wherever they can afford to live, people who know what it’s like to have to help your immigrant parents navigate the world, or to make hard choices, like whether to buy groceries or make rent. She will be a champion for the people in her ward, and across the city, that are often forgotten — renters, students, our unhoused neighbors and working class people like her. Aisha believes that the people of Ward 10 want to build a city where everyone has what they need to thrive; a Minneapolis that honors people’s dignity and demonstrates that a different, better world is possible.
Patrick Martin
Bloomington City Council, District 4
www.patrickforbloomington.com
Throughout his first term as Council Member for District 4, Patrick has worked alongside his community to chart a new trajectory for Bloomington’s success. While this past year has produced hurdles, it has fortified his conviction that only a path rooted in equity, neighborhood investment, and innovation truly leads forward. Patrick is proud to have helped craft bold initiatives such as the city’s Opportunity Housing Ordinance, Racial Equity Business Plan, Gateway Development District, and the first parks system master planning in Bloomington’s history.
Patrick previously served on the Parks & Recreation Commission as well as the Advisory Board of Health, and has spent the bulk of his career helping nonprofits make an increased impact for those who need it most. All of it has affirmed his belief in the power of community and inspired him to continue his public service on the City Council. Beyond a doubt, Patrick knows that Bloomington can be the model of how a suburb committed to investing in all of its residents and being audacious in its goals can thrive in this new century.
MISSOURI
Heather Hardinger
Springfield City Council, General Seat A3
www.heatherforcouncil.com
Heather is a candidate for City Council, General Seat A in Springfield, MO. In volunteer roles and as a professional, Heather has dedicated time, energy, and effort to understanding the issues that face the city and wants to work to foster a community where everyone can thrive.
A growing economy can solve so many challenges in a community, and Springfield is a thriving and energetic metropolitan area that is the perfect incubator for a wealth of industries and jobs. One of Heather’s priorities is to support existing businesses so that they can grow and expand in the area while working to attract new companies and good jobs.
Heather’s entire career has been dedicated to public service in some capacity. She is committed to listening to citizens about their needs and working to lead Springfield’s economy into an era of robust growth so families can thrive and maintain a good quality of life.
Ian Shadrick
Jefferson City Board of Education
www.electianshadrick.com
Ian has over 16 years of experience in education, disability and blind rehabilitation services, counseling, administration, and public health. Ian is married and a parent of two children who are deaf and hard of hearing. As a person with low vision and parent, he understands the importance of access to high quality education.
Ensuring quality education for all students is a fundamental role of a community. Community involvement and investment in the education of its students is vital to helping all students succeed. From early intervention and Pre-K to High School, a high-quality education has a lasting impact on students and the community. Ian is running for the board of education because he has dedicated his professional life to advocating for access to quality education for all students. Having worked with students statewide, he has seen the impact of increased access to educational opportunities and services on students’ lives. These are two of Ian’s top priorities for JCPS. Additionally, guaranteeing decisions are made based on data. Increasing professional development opportunities for staff and improving district communication are also priorities.
Ian brings experience and leadership skills to help strengthen JCPS for all students, and would be honored to serve as a board member. Ian holds a doctorate of education in special education leadership and educational leadership, with masters in rehabilitation teaching and counseling. He currently works remotely as a Blind Rehabilitation Specialist at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Special Education at Hunter College.
Alisha Sonnier
St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education
www.alisha4slps.wordpress.com
Alisha was born and raised in the Gateway to the West, Saint Louis, Missouri. She is an unabashed mental health advocate and an impassioned community organizer, and she’s running for the SLPS Board of Education to establish every child has a gateway to success, not less. The catalyst for Alisha’s dedicated community advocacy was the unnecessary fatal shooting of Michael Brown in 2014, sparking her involvement in the Ferguson Protests. Alisha has always understood the opportunity in intellect, and following Ferguson decided to lobby her own higher learning institution for investment in local areas, leading a campus sit-in that became known globally as OccupySLU. The occupation was resolved with Saint Louis University allocating resources to a variety of educational initiatives aimed at empowering STL youth.
Alisha’s voice only grew from there, as she has become a prominent leader in St. Louis for social movements far before their time: such as the “Fight for $15,” Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Presidential candidacy, and electing Cori Bush to the U.S. House. Now holding a Bachelor’s in Psychology, Alisha works as a mental health advocate, and believes in a renaissance of STL through a holistic reimagining of childhood development and education. She believes off the back of a pandemic is the time to implement innovative and transparent reforms that center the child and community, and nurture a new normal for the bedrock of Saint Louis: our kids.
NEBRASKA
Jasmine Harris
Mayor of Omaha
www.voteforjasmine.com
Jasmine is a public health expert and community organizer born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Jasmine is running for Mayor of Omaha because she understands that the solutions to the city’s challenges lie with those who actually experience them. Too many of the issues that Jasmine faced as a Black woman and single mother 19 years ago are still holding the city back. All over, Omahans are struggling to make ends meet — and city leaders have failed to address the most basic issues felt by everyday people.
After getting a Master’s degree in Public Health from UNMC, Jasmine turned her focus to addressing the underlying conditions that impact quality of life for Omaha residents. Since then, she has been a proven leader of people, mobilizing local residents and grassroots experts to change government in meaningful ways — together.
Jasmine knows that Omaha needs a leader who will work proactively and inclusively to help everyone in the city thrive, regardless of race or zip code. Jasmine will manage COVID-19 by listening to public health professionals, maximizing vaccine distribution, and helping small businesses. She will also improve public safety by addressing the root causes that bring people into contact with the criminal justice system, such as mental health, poverty, and inequitable access to resources. Finally, Jasmine knows that it’s time for Omaha to provide reliable, equitable transit, modern and accessible city services, and an active commitment to sustainability.
NEW JERSEY
Gerald Reiner Jr.
Teaneck Township Board of Education
www.reiner4teaneck.com
Gerald believes that every child deserves equal access to the best education ability for the individual child. This means that fiscally ensuring that the schools are funded and that the monies are spent in the best place for the greatest impact. This also means that we need to ensure that the curriculum is relevant to the communities we serve.
Gerald is looking forward to running for re-election to continue the conversation he started 3 years ago, talking to parents about how their district can serve them and together building a stronger community.
Jen Rossi
Collingswood Board of Commissioners
www.collingswoodtogether.org
Jen is running for The Board of Commissioners in Collingswood, NJ. She is known in our community as an advocate for transparency, bridging communication shortfalls, connecting people with resources, supporting engagement from the community, recording for accountability from elected officials, and helping others connect over important issues in the Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia areas. She prefers to deal with conflict head-on and does not make excuses, downplay important issues, or avoid hard conversations. Jen strives to improve the lives of others through connection and empathy. She is running with the committee Collingswood Together which promises to put residents first.
NEW YORK
Julia Forman
New York City Council, District 26
www.votejulia.com
Julia is a third-generation New Yorker who has lived in Dutch Kills since 2014. She is an attorney with public service experience in criminal and civil law. As the Treasurer of the Western Queens Community Land Trust, Julia has been an advocate for giving the people of our community power over their own land and their own lives. This means building the kind of deeply affordable housing that our community needs, replacing our current system requiring certain income levels to enter lotteries for the chance to “win” a $2,000/month lease for a studio apartment. The inequality exposed by coronavirus has only made this project more urgent.
Julia held a roundtable on the effect of coronavirus on artists, developing a comprehensive plan to support artists living in our community and to make the arts in New York City more resilient. She is also a volunteer with the Astoria Mutual Aid Network, serving as intergovernmental communications liaison. In this role, she’s been able to hear directly what the people of our community need and take those concerns to elected officials and city agencies. She’s also coordinated with Sunnyside/Woodside Mutual Aid and LIC Support to connect volunteers with their vulnerable neighbors. Julia knows that our city faces many big challenges in the years to come, but she also knows that the people of Western Queens are ready to build from those challenges and create a bolder, more vibrant, and more sustainable life for all the people of New York City.
Amit Bagga
New York City Council, District 26
www.amitforcouncil.com
Amit is a native New Yorker, the son of immigrants, and proud to be both queer and South Asian. He is a longtime public servant and progressive advocate, and is running to represent District 26 in the New York City Council, which includes the neighborhoods of Sunnyside, Woodside, Long Island City, and Dutch Kills.
Prior to launching his campaign for City Council, Amit helped lead the City’s unprecedented $40 million 2020 Census campaign, achieving a historic response rate for New York City, which outpaced all major cities in the U.S., while battling both COVID-19 and daily attacks from Donald Trump. With more than 160 funded partners serving New Yorkers in more than 80 languages, the campaign was the City’s first-ever investment of public dollars for community organizing in Black, Brown, and immigrant communities.
Over the course of his career in government, Amit has also worked hand-in-hand with advocates, unions, and communities to help implement Paid Sick Leave for three million New Yorkers, created landmark labor protections, fought predatory lending and secured banking rights for undocumented immigrants. Amit has also worked on immigration reform legislation and helped nearly 1,000 immigrant families in Queens and Brooklyn reunite, obtain Green Cards or citizenship, or gain asylum.
Amit has also been on the forefront of LGBTQ+ advocacy for many years, in particular within queer South Asian communities. He is a proud graduate of NYC Public Schools, with Soul Summit and bhangra being his preferred soundtrack to the rhythm of resistance.
Jenna Curcio
Greece City Council, Ward 2
www.curcioforgreece.com
Jenna has been a member of the Greece community ever since she was three years old. She was raised by a single mother and know first-hand what it’s like to grow up in a working-class household. Her father immigrated from Italy to Rochester in the 1980s and became a citizen here. Both of her parents were factory workers and remember a different era in the greater Rochester area, one where industries not only thrived, but regular people could go beyond making a decent living and had plentiful opportunities, strong unions, and were a part of a powerful workforce. They experienced a time where workers were ultimately treated with respect and dignity, and Jenna plans to bring that back to the Town of Greece.
Jenna has a vision for the Town of Greece that focuses on actually improving the day-to-day lives of working people within her community. As a self-described Democratic Socialist and true progressive advocate, she believes that by allocating town budget funds into impactful community programs, Greece can turn over a new leaf. She’s a strong advocate for members of any and every marginalized group, including all people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, senior citizens, veterans, low-income and homeless people, and those with disabilities and mental illnesses.
Claire Owens
Dutchess County Legislature, District 19
www.voteclaireowens.com
Claire is a caretaker, a veterans advocate, and activist. She is running for Dutchess County Legislature, 19th District on the principles we all find our foundation in as progressives — creating good, living wage jobs, protecting and supporting those who need a helping hand in our communities, and building an economy for all, not just some. Her family struggled with food insecurity and homelessness when she was growing up, her mom playing double duty parenting, raising five kids and working long hours to provide for them while also caring for Claire’s dad who suffered debilitating health issues that ultimately necessitated his living in a nursing home. These lived experiences pushed Claire since she was young to work tirelessly to give voice to the voiceless and lend a helping hand where needed. She is ready to take on the status quo that the Republican majority has settled into in the Dutchess Legislature and bring real, tangible change that will make positive impacts for the families of the 19th District.
Matt Johnson
Onondaga County County Board, District 3
www.votemattjohnson.com
Matt is a 20 year old community organizer, medical interpreter, and local nonprofit Vice-President running for Onondaga County Legislature, in District 3. He is running because he believes the county can be doing more for its taxpayers.
Matt is a strong proponent of boosting local economic development and prioritizing the interests of everyday people. Onondaga County desperately requires more transparency, through a proper livestream of meetings, a fair and nonpartisan redistricting process, and legislature sessions scheduled to accommodate working people. With more young people leaving Onondaga County annually, Matt feels strongly that his youthful perspective is invaluable. The county needs to be attracting young people through creating, investing, and promoting opportunities that ensure a thriving economic future. He will also work with representatives at the state and federal levels to improve the county’s very outdated infrastructure by pursuing any and every opportunity.
His ultimate belief is that by working together, we can build a better Onondaga County.
Olivia Drabczyk
New York City Council, District 51
www.oliviadrabczyk.com
Olivia is a single mother and special education teacher with a background in mental health counseling and inclusive education. She lives in one of many multi-generational homes on the South Shore of Staten Island with her parents, sister, and son.
Olivia’s public service has been in the classroom and her vision for New York City is one in which those mean something. She is committed to ensuring the South Shore of Staten Island receives its fair share of resources, representation, and support from City Hall, and is dedicated to developing greater political engagement and civic literacy across the district.
Olivia’s top priorities include revitalizing restaurants and small businesses, increasing investments in free and affordable childcare and disability services, greater access to transportation and safer roads and sidewalks, and prioritizing trauma-informed approaches to addressing addiction, mental health struggles, and domestic violence.
John Bohuniek
Dutchess County Legislature, District 15
www.bohuniek4dutchess.com
John is a high school history teacher, proud union organizer, and community activist who has seen first hand all the horrible effects of this pandemic. He is running for Dutchess County Legislator in District 15 to make government work for those who need it most.
From his classrooms to kitchen tables, John has sat with families mourning the loss of a loved one, parents grappling with job loss and mounting bills, and students who are emotionally exhausted and worried about their future. John spent the days following the storming of the Capitol reading and listening to the stories of his students — young people who believe politics is broken, who question if they should remain in this country because of the color of their skin, who believe their future will continually get worse.
John could no longer tell his students that things will get better without doing something about it himself. John is running for office to restore the hope that our future can be better. To make sure that everyone has a fair shot at a better life. And John knows that to do that, we need people in office who are dedicated to helping every day, hard working Americans make positive change in their lives. John believes that by creating a plan for prosperity we can build communities and create a more sustainable future.
NORTH CAROLINA
Victoria Watlington
Charlotte City Council, District 3
www.winwithwatlington.com
Victoria is a licensed Professional Engineer and certified Project Management Professional. She has held several roles in engineering, initiative management and operations management in the consumer product goods industry. She is serving her first term as the District 3 Charlotte City Council representative.
A 2017 Charlotte Chamber YP award winner, Pride Magazine’s 2018 Outstanding Millennial, and Elevate Lifestyle 30 Under 30 honoree, Watlington was recognized as the 2019 UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumna; one of Mecklenburg Times’ 2019 50 Most Influential Women; and the Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 under 40. On a mission to build connected, inclusive, and responsible communities, Victoria is passionate about service and advocating for the West Charlotte area, having spent the last decade serving the community via various professional and service organizations. As the land use committee chair of the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition, she has led pilot efforts with the City of Charlotte to develop a holistic area plan for the corridor ahead of the 2020 budget and is currently initiating planning efforts with Mecklenburg County.
Watlington also served as vice chair of the city’s Civil Service Board, and served on the city’s Business Advisory Committee, and the United Way Central Carolinas Young Leaders Council. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and attends Elevation Church.
Victoria holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from UNC Charlotte.
OHIO
Sean Beck
Ada City Council, At-Large
Sean has lived his entire life in Northwest Ohio. Born into a working-class family, he has seen first-hand the slow dilapidation of the Midwest. The people here have grown tired of Washington, and politics entirely. As industry left, and with no horizons in sight they have given up on government all together. Sean believes that civilian action is key to returning to the prosperous Midwest of days gone. Sean knows that this movement begins at the local level. That is why he is running for Village Council as a Democrat in the town of Ada, Ohio.
While working full time as a customer service representative for a small business, Sean also dedicated time to a non-profit public service organization. Sean has benefited greatly from this work, honing skills in leadership and strategic planning in his role as Government Relations Advisor. Sean is deeply committed to democratic values and transparent governance; he believes that all forms of government should be for the people, and by the people. His campaign centers entirely on that very belief system.
Sean intends on ensuring that each Village Council meeting will be easily accessible to every person, instituting term limits on all public officials, and ensuring that council-members become available to the very people that they represent. Sean is happily married to his partner Samantha, living and raising their daughter in Ada.
OKLAHOMA
Molly Ooten
Oklahoma State Senate, District 22
www.mollyooten.com
Molly is a speech pathologist, mom and lifelong Oklahoman. She graduated from Edmond Memorial High School and went on to earn a dual degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish from Harding University in Arkansas. Returning to her roots, she furthered her education by attaining her Master’s degree in Speech Pathology at the University of Oklahoma in 2013.
Since then she has worked in both the adult and pediatric settings, but most notably she has been employed for the last 6 years by Oklahoma County SoonerStart, an early intervention program serving local children and their families. In this role she has had many leadership opportunities, including providing training and in-service to fellow SoonerStart employees, being a guest lecturer at the University of Central Oklahoma, and presenting at two consecutive state conferences in the field of speech pathology. In 2018 she completed the Partners in Policymaking training, a national program to develop and support advocates for people with disabilities.
She and her husband Michael have been married for 7 years and have two kids, Henry and Mazie. They moved back to Molly’s hometown of Edmond and are privileged to be able to live close to both of their extended families. Molly has recently enjoyed serving as a deacon at their church, Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ. She is currently also in the process of earning a second Master’s degree in Public Administration, and is looking forward to taking her fresh ideas and outlook to the Oklahoma State Senate.
PENNSYLVANIA
Elliot Gelfand
Clearfield County Magistrate Judge
www.elliotgelfand.org
Elliot is an attorney born and raised in DuBois, PA, the community he know wants to serve as District Judge. Elliot believes it is paramount that an attorney is in the role of District Judge. Elliot attended Penn State University majoring in Finance, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He clerked for a federal district judge and served as judge of elections for 4 years while living in Pittsburgh.
Elliot has always wanted to serve his community. He is currently a Rotarian and Board member of the local YMCA. Elliot wants to be District Judge to bring a fair and empathetic voice to the community. He wants to help alleviate the Opioid Crisis by instituting a Drug Court to get drug offenders the help they need, not throw them in jail and forget about them. Elliot wants to develop diversionary programs such as Teen Court to help educate teen offenders and get them back on a path to success not damage their record permanently. Elliot also wants to bring back a respectful relationship with local and state law enforcement collaborating to achieve mutual goals. Finally, he wants to be more proactive in ordinance enforcement to keep neighborhoods beautiful and reduce blight.
Zeke Rediker
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
www.zekeforjudge.com
Zeke is running for judge because he is passionate about the judiciary, his hometown of Pittsburgh, and access to justice for all people. He is a proud graduate of Pittsburgh Public Schools. After graduating from Cornell University, he earned scholarships to complete a master’s degree in African Studies at the University of Oxford and his law degree from the University of Michigan. Zeke is a former employee of the United Steelworkers and later began his legal career at Reed Smith. He has also served as a federal court clerk in New York City and Detroit. He rejoined Reed Smith after his clerkships and currently represents both plaintiffs and defendants in litigation. Zeke is passionate about criminal justice reform and fair housing and maintains a robust pro bono practice in both areas. Last year, he secured the release of a client from prison who had been illegally sentenced. Zeke is also an active member of his community, previously serving as a 14th Ward Democratic Committee member and leading programs to provide school supplies and clothing to kids in need.
Patrick Palmer
Allentown City Council
www.palmerforallentown.com
Patrick is a mentor, teacher, advocate and activist who cares about his community. He’s worked on creating safer communities and balancing the ballooning city budget deficit. Patrick is running for Allentown City Council as a progressive candidate who wants to work on community mental health instead of consistent policing.
Joar Dahn
Mayor of Darby
www.JFKDahn.com
Joar is running to become the first black man to be Mayor of Darby Borough. Joar received a BA in Political Science from Bloomsburg University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration from West Chester University. A student leader all his life, Joar was the president of the student council of his elementary school, Mary Mother of Peace Area Catholic School, President of the Student Government of his alma mater, Bloomsburg University (which he attended on a full academic scholarship), Chairman of the State’s Student Union and a member of the governing body of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, the largest provider of public higher Education in the Commonwealth. At Joar’s High school graduation, he was awarded an award for 12 years of perfect attendance — a goal he set for himself when he was in kindergarten (record kept by the archdiocese of Philadelphia) — Joar is a hard worker and will always show up. Joar has been an active volunteer in the Democratic party of his county and has even managed a campaign for a democratic candidate for state representative.
Joar is running because the immigrant community, which is a significantly larger portion of the Borough, does not have a presence in our local government, our streets do not get swept, our snow does not get plowed and we do not even have something as simple as recycling in our Borough. Our local government lacks transparency and visibility. Joar credits his current success to the man that his hometown, Darby Borough has made him to be, Joar refuses to stand by and watch his community deteriorate: especially when he knows that he can do something about it.
Justan Fields
Allentown City Council
www.justan4allentown.com
Justan (he,him,his) is a local community leader running for a seat on Allentown’s City Council. He is the co-founder and lead organizer for Black Lives Matter Lehigh Valley. He also co-founded Change Now, a local nonprofit with a focus on the unsheltered neighbor population in the Lehigh Valley. He is the proud father of Shyllee and Shamaer and the proud partner to Kevin.
He cares about his community, but more importantly the people that reside in it. He grew up in Allentown and understands that with the right people in position to move this city forward, it will thrive from equality, equity, and proactive change.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Dr. Aditi Srivastav Bussells
Columbia City Council, At-Large
www.aditiforthecity.com
Devoting her career to data-driven decision making, using sound science, and most importantly, identifying systemic solutions to complex public health and socio-economic issues, Dr. Aditi Bussells is a fierce advocate for economic growth, community investment, and equitable opportunities in Columbia. She is an ardent supporter of the notion that a healthy community goes hand-in-hand with a healthy economy.
Aditi is a first-generation immigrant who has personally experienced what a thriving community can provide for children and families to succeed. She believes that everyone, regardless of where they came from, deserves to live their best life. It is this belief that has kept Aditi passionate and engaged in public service. Professionally, Aditi is the Director of Research at a statewide non-profit, Children’s Trust of South Carolina where she oversees several statewide initiatives to support family and child well-being. She received her PhD in public health at the University of South Carolina.
Aditi is deeply involved in various Columbia causes. In 2018, she was a key partner in launching ‘Resilient Richland,’ now a county- and city-wide initiative. This past year, you may have seen Aditi knocking doors as a mayor-appointed member of the Complete Count Committee of the City of Columbia for the 2020 Census. She also works with several local community groups, to advocate for civic engagement, tackle food insecurity, and address affordable housing.
Aditi is running to represent the city as At-Large member on Columbia City Council. If elected, she will be the first Indian American woman to be elected to local office in the history of South Carolina. As a public health expert, Aditi is committed to ensuring that Columbia comes out of the pandemic more prosperous, equitable, and vibrant than ever.
TEXAS
Alison Maguire
Denton City Council, District 4
www.alisonfordenton.com
Alison is a second-generation public school teacher, a mom, and a progressive running for City Council in Denton, Texas.
As a teacher, Alison found herself frustrated trying to meet the educational needs of students who were facing food and housing insecurity. After making the difficult decision to leave the classroom, she decided to dedicate her time to volunteering on campaigns that fought to improve conditions for folks like her students, such as Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.
Alison believes that housing, healthcare, and food are human rights. If elected, Alison will prioritize affordable housing, responsible development, environmental sustainability, and public health. She recognizes that the wellbeing of each Denton resident is bound up with the wellbeing of the community at-large, and she believes that every Denton resident deserves a voice in City Hall.
Alison, her husband Sean, and their two dogs became Dentonites seven years ago. They have since welcomed two children, Thomas and Eleanor, and are so grateful for a vibrant, engaged, and caring community in which to raise them.
Hosanna Yemiru
Dallas City Council, District 11
www.hosannafordallas.com
Hosanna is an organizer running to represent her home district in the Dallas City Council. Hosanna was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and moved to Dallas with her family at just 11 years old. Growing up in a working family, she relied on her city to survive: using the bus to get around, the libraries for wifi, and city services for utility payment assistance. Yet, year after year, these necessary services are always first for the chopping block. Now, she’s running to ensure that all Dallasites have access to a city that invests in us as much as it demands from us.
On the council, Hosanna will be a champion for working families, and will fight to ensure that every Dallasite has a good home, access to good jobs and living wages, clean air to breathe, public transit that meets our needs and a neighborhood where we can raise our families in dignity. As an organizer, Hosanna knows that we only get what we fight for, and on the council, she’ll always be ready to demand more for our city: more accountability, more urgency and more creative solutions to our biggest challenges.
When elected, Hosanna will be the youngest member of the Dallas City Council, and the first woman of color to represent District 11.
Mina Davis
Hutto Independent School District Board of Trustees
www.minaforhuttoisd.com
Mina is a data scientist and lifelong community organizer running for Hutto Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees. Hutto ISD is a diverse district that is one of the fastest growing districts in the state of Texas. Mina’s passion for public education started in her debate days as a junior in HS and has since been highly involved in a variety of campaigns that aimed to fight for public education all over the country.
Mina is highly focused on promoting smart growth in the community, equity and inclusion and also bringing more of the community into the conversation. Mina believes that in order to be a good steward to the community, a more active presence is required.
She is running for a second time after narrowly losing her election for the same spot in 2020 by 40 votes because the love for her community is fierce. Her commitment to her community includes being precinct chair in Williamson County, President of Williamson County Young Democrats and also currently serving as the Interim Chief of Staff for the Young Democrats of America. Other local boards she is involved in include Eastern Williamson County Boys and Girls Club and the Austin Community College Regional Advisory Committee — North Region.
Janneke Parrish
Round Rock City Council
www.jannekeforroundrock.com
Janneke is an activist and advocate who fights for social equity and climate justice in central Texas. In walking the streets of Round Rock and helping her neighbors, Janneke hears the same stories over and over — rents are climbing, traffic is worsening, and when residents need help, the city council is nowhere to be found. She is running to bring the focus of Round Rock politics back to the people. She believes that good public transit, improved social services, and an accessible, transparent government will make a difference in the lives of everyone in Round Rock.
If elected, Janneke would be the youngest person ever elected to the Round Rock city council. She would also be the first LGBTQ elected official in her county.
Diana Saleh
Arlington City Council, District 3
www.dianaforarlington.com
Diana is a Texas transplant with business acumen and a heart for community service. Having chosen to make Arlington her home nearly a decade ago, Diana will bring both years of experience and a fresh perspective to the City Council to help ensure the City government works for all Arlington residents! She will strive to serve with equity, empathy, and action as her guiding principles.
The granddaughter of Palestinian refugees, Diana is a first-generation Palestinian American with strength and resilience in her DNA. As the eldest of five siblings, Diana assumed the role of interpreter, negotiator, and healthcare advocate for her family at a very young age. This experience taught Diana the importance of showing up for those you love with empathy and commitment. She is the embodiment of the promise America holds, and her background inspires her work to extend opportunities to succeed in Arlington, where Diana chose to move after college. Access to quality education with adequate preparation for college and the workforce has been critical in helping Diana’s whole family achieve their dreams, and she wants to make this a reality for all Arlington families.
Roxanne Martinez
Fort Worth ISD Board of Trustees, District 9
www.roxanne4fwisd.com
Roxanne is running for Fort Worth ISD School Board to champion the needs of all students and ensure that its schools are a place where all kids can thrive. A product of Fort Worth ISD, a mother of two children in the district and a community advocate with a decade of service in public schools, Roxanne knows first-hand the challenges that many students and families in the district face.
Roxanne is deeply rooted in her community. She is a local small business owner, nonprofit leader, community advocate, wife and mother. After working over a decade in nonprofit and corporate marketing, Roxanne launched her marketing agency, Roxstar Marketing. Since 2012, she has been assisting small businesses and mission-driven organizations in driving results through social media, email and online marketing. Most recently, she served as a marketing consultant for Read Fort Worth, a local coalition working to ensure that Fort Worth ISD third-graders are reading on grade level.
Roxanne has dedicated countless hours to improving the well-being of children and families in the Fort Worth community. She serves on numerous nonprofit and civic boards and committees. As a first-generation college graduate, Roxanne knows that students like herself can succeed with the right resources, guidance and tools. She is ready to work to improve the quality of education for all students in Fort Worth ISD.
Paige Dixon
Lewisville ISD School Board, Place 1
www.paigefortexas.com
Adopted to a family of working parents struggling to make ends meet, Paige overcame poverty and homelessness. Her family filled her with love, religious values, and principles to treat all with the utmost respect. In a working family of housekeepers, she helped from a very young age after school by cleaning homes. At the age of 15, Paige was labeled as non-University material. Her senior year, Paige found herself homeless — a teacher and role model that believed in her drove her to school each day and was essential in her graduating high school.
Paige’s story is one of perseverance and resilience. From a young age, she learned to overcome the odds and to have faith. She went from traveling 14 miles to go to school, from her one traffic light rural town, to traveling the globe where she served two tours of combat duty in Iraq in the Army. Paige received her bachelor’s degree, in preparation for life after the uniform, at Dallas Baptist University. Paige has great pride in knowing she beat the odds to become a first-generation graduate, paving the road for her progeny. With this position, she sees an opportunity to pay it forward.
Cydnei Drake
Carrollton Farmers Branch School Board
www.drakeforcfb.com
Cydnei is a proud Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD parent, nonprofit leader, and lifelong resident of Texas. She is a wife, mother, and community leader dedicated to helping her community thrive! Cydnei looks forward to bringing her experience, knowledge, leadership, relationships, passion, and commitment to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School Board. As a first-generation college student, Cydnei understands the importance of a quality education and the opportunities afforded by that honor. With hard work, dedication, and perseverance, Cydnei earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, graduating with honors, and went on to complete a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health and Substance Abuse from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at Arlington, respectively.
Cydnei is passionate and dedicated to serving our students, teachers, faculty, and staff and believes she can bring a unique perspective to the board as a mother, social worker, first-generation and low-income student of color, and nonprofit professional serving middle school, high school, and college students across the state. Cydnei’s lived experiences offer a new lens and advantage to the school board. Cydnei shares many similarities with CFBISD students, and will be an ardent champion for their success.
Gabrien Gregory
San Antonio City Council, District 10
www.votegregory.com
Gabrien is an Army Reserve officer, community and campaign organizer, and service industry worker. He is running for San Antonio City Council District 10 because he believes people across the political spectrum are ready for a new generation of elected officials — someone who will serve proactively, with humility, with a fresh perspective, and with the will to empower small business leaders and neighbors. With Gabrien, everyone has a voice at the table.
Gabrien is challenging a two-term incumbent in the most historically conservative seat in San Antonio. He is running to bring COVID19 relief and recovery for small and locally operated businesses. He advocates for Housing First policies that aim to keep families in their homes and provide permanent resources to chronically homeless residents. As the son of two Army veterans, he sees an opportunity to expand mental healthcare access, educational potential, and career opportunities for veterans and their families in Military City. Gabrien is eager to address inequities within the community, push for police accountability, follow science and further limit San Antonio’s carbon footprint.
Gabrien holds a degree in Political Science and a minor in Military Science from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. He is a proud graduate of MacArthur High School in District 10.
Crystal Davila
Pasadena ISD School Board of Trustees, Position 2
www.educatorsforpisd.com
Crystal is an educator committed to creating opportunities that are not present in the community she grew up in. As a daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, she learned the value of helping the most in need. She returned to her community after graduating from University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Mathematics, Urban Studies, and a teaching certificate. Teaching high school students for five years, she realized change wasn’t going to happen with the current school board. The school she graduated from and has been teaching for five years has had a leaking ceiling, missing bathroom doors, and mold, yet, the current School Board has started the process of making a new administration building with a tag of $27 million dollars. If elected, Crystal and her peers can stop this.
After working with high school seniors, Crystal has witnessed how their environment impacts a student’s future. Deteriorating schools, schools in close proximity to chemical plants, a lack of recreational activities, and a segregated city influence are why she is running for school board. She will improve the conditions for students and teachers. The city is 80% Latino, yet the school board is composed of older, affluent white people who are not representative of the majority of the population. Her district pushes students to college without preparing underserved communities with the tools to strive. Only a select pool of students gain entry to career training in Pasadena ISD’s high school. She will advocate that students be provided with multiple opportunities to prepare for life after high school.
Elizabeth Beck
Fort Worth City Council, District 9
www.elizabethforfortworth.com
Elizabeth is a single mother, veteran, lawyer, community leader. At seventeen, Elizabeth enlisted in the Army Reserves. In 2005, she deployed to Taji, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
She earned her BA and Master of City and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Arlington then her J.D. from Texas A&M School of Law. Elizabeth is an employment lawyer, representing employees across the country in overtime claims. Serving her community is one of her core values, and she is committed to ensuring that all of Fort Worth has the tools and infrastructure necessary to thrive.
VIRGINIA
Suhas Subramanyam
Virginia House of Delegates, District 87
www.suhasforvirginia.com
Suhas is an attorney and former Obama White House Advisor who represents the 87th District of Virginia in the House of Delegates. In 2019, he became the first Indian-American and person of South Asian origin ever elected to the House of Delegates in Virginia’s 400 year history. He currently resides in Loudoun County with his wife and daughter.
James Lewis
Alexandria City Council, At-Large
www.jameslewisva.com
James is an Alexandrian by choice; he lives and works in the City. Ten years ago, he chose Alexandria because, despite its size, it felt like his hometown in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Neighbors knew and cared about each other; everyone shared a passion for improving the world.
He originally moved to Virginia to attend the College of William and Mary and completed his Bachelors in Biology and International Relations. He briefly returned to the Pittsburgh area to lead a team of disadvantaged high school students to complete conservation projects in city parks, a partnership between Job Corps, Student Conservation Association and the City of Pittsburgh.
Following the 2010 election, he moved to Alexandria with whatever fit in his Suzuki Forenza. Living in the Foxchase Apartments, he launched his career in public relations and issue advocacy. Over the past decade, he has led efforts for think tanks, trade associations, PACs, candidates, and two Members of Congress.
A lifelong Democrat, James has been involved in Virginia politics since moving to the Commonwealth. Locally, he served as ADC Precinct Captain for Lyles Crouch. He led the Virginia Young Democrats during the 2017 election cycle. Under his leadership, the organization contacted more than 120,000 Virginians, helping to sweep the statewide offices and flipping 15 seats in the House of Delegates. He also managed policy and issue advocacy for the Young Democrats of America.
In 2013, he met his fiance, Trevor. After a few years, they moved from South Old Town to North Old Town. They both served on the board of North Old Town Independent Citizens (NOTICe) Association. In February 2020, they purchased a home on the West End; that summer James completed his Masters of Strategic Studies at the U.S. Army War College.
Jennifer Kitchen
Virginia House of Delegates, District 25
www.electjenniferkitchen.com
Jennifer is a lifelong rural Virginian running to represent the 25th district in the Virginia House of Delegates. For too long rural communities across the commonwealth have been devalued and ignored. Jennifer is prepared to go to Richmond to fight for the prioritization that all rural and marginalized communities deserve.
Rural broadband, healthcare access, and equitable funding for schools are just a few of Jennifer’s priorities. As a Community Organizer, Jennifer has fought for Medicare for All, Common-Sense Gun Legislation, Immigrant Rights, and Criminal Justice Reform.
Jennifer currently works as a program mentor for the Arc of Augusta, where she helps develop programming and supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Canek Aguirre
Alexandria City Council
www.canekforcouncil.com
Canek is the first Latino ever to serve on the Alexandria City Council. Canek is the son of Mexican immigrants who instilled in him the importance of hard work, education, and giving back to the community. He is committed to increasing housing opportunities, investing in our public schools and infrastructure, and eliminating health inequities.
A member of numerous boards and commissions in the region prior to his election, he has made it a priority to give back to his adopted community. Canek successfully led the City of Alexandria’s 2020 Census Complete Count Committee to achieve a 100% count of all households and secure federal funding for the next decade. He is a rising leader in transportation, currently serving as Vice Chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Chair of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s Access for All Advisory Committee, and as an alternate on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board.
In his professional capacity, Canek works to increase access to care and improve health outcomes for Medicaid populations throughout Northern Virginia. Prior to this, he spent three years serving students and families in Alexandria City Public Schools. Canek has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential people for the Hispanic community in the Washington, D.C., metro area, and as one of Alexandria’s 40 under 40 honorees. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
WASHINGTON
Kim-Khanh Van
King County Council, District 9
www.electkimkhanhvan.com
Kim-Khanh is a current Renton City Council member, an immigration and injury attorney, a small business owner, a working mother of two kiddos, and a former refugee and proud immigrant. At age six, her family fled war torn Vietnam for refugee camps in the Philippines, and later to the United States. When they arrived every member of her family worked to contribute. From a young age, she helped support her family, from working as a classroom tutor to a part-time janitor, even after college graduation.
As she grew older, she served as her family’s go-to translator navigating systems and seeking opportunity. In fourth grade, U.S. Senator Patty Murray spoke to her class and inspired her as a woman in office and a community leader. She became the first in my family to attend and graduate from college and later law school.
Today, she brings this perspective and drive to my work as an immigration attorney as she helps reunify families and helps clients achieve their own American dreams. She haS received awards from prominent local organizations for my work and pro bono service, and has helped educational and charity efforts through Goodwill, OneAmerica, King County Legal Clinics, mental health programs, and local law associations.
That work inspired her to run for City Council where I champion issues of inclusion and equity, drawing on my experience as a small business owner and immigrant. She is honored to continue giving back to her community as a member of Renton’s Rotary Club, as co-PTA President, where her son attends public school, and through her work with the Renton Technical School Foundation, the Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force, and ethnic and cultural community groups.
WISCONSIN
Juliana Bennett
Madison City Council, District 8
www.julianabennettfordistrict8.com
Juliana is currently in her junior year at UW-Madison and pursuing degrees in Political Science and Finance. Originally from a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, Juliana grew up in Beloit and later graduated from Madison West High School with honors. Enrolled at the University as a FastTrack scholar with direct admittance to the Wisconsin School of Business, Juliana co-founded the UW-Madison BIPOC Coalition that she connected with 50+ multicultural student organizations to meet BIPOC student demands. She has written successful legislation, through the Associated Students of Madison. As District 8 Alder, Juliana will not only represent but work to include and amplify the voices that have been historically left out.
