ALABAMA - MARK KENNEDY

[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.

ALASKA - DON GRAY interim through Jan. 2013

[from mid-May 2012 following Patti Higgins' resignation]
Don Gray is the Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party and had been First Vice-Chair from February 2011 until May 13, 2012.  Prior to 2011, he served 7 years as the  Regional Vice-Chair for Interior Alaska.

In Fairbanks, Don was President of the Fairbanks Education Association, the NEA-affiliate teachers union, in 1974-75 and became active in Democratic politics.  He was the first teacher appointed to the Alaska State Board of Education by Governor Bill Sheffield while still actively teaching, serving from 1983-1991, simultaneously teaching a full set of high school history classes and meeting monthly throughout the state for board meetings.  While on the State Board, he also served on the National Association of State Boards of Education from 1984-90, including the NASBE Board of Directors. In 1996, he was appointed to the Alaska State Mental Health Board for two terms by Governor Tony Knowles.

Don was a Bill Clinton Delegate to the 1992 Democratic Convention in New York City and a candidate for the Alaska State Legislature that same year.  During the 2008 Convention, Don went to Denver as a non-delegate intent on helping elect Obama president, and helped with the logistics of bringing the Republican Mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough to Pepsi Center to deliver his ringing endorsement of candidate Barack Obama to the Democratic Party (and the nation watching on TV) on Tuesday’s Nomination Night just before Hilary Clinton’s speech for Obama.

Don has been active in the district, regional and Alaska Democratic Party, from local precinct chair to the State Central Committee and Executive Committee and now Chair. He enjoys helping young people become politically active and has several former students in elective office.

Born in Sacramento, California, Don has been an Alaskan resident since he and his wife, Carolyn, moved to Fairbanks two days after their marriage in 1970. They met in graduate school at Stanford University where both were training to be high school teachers, discovering that they both had served in the Peace Corps, he in West Bengal, India and she in Panama. He taught social studies for 23 years then began a 12 year second career in finance before retiring in 2005. They have two grown daughters and twin 4-year old grandsons.

ARIZONA - BILL ROE

[elected March 17, 2012 following resignation of Andrei Cherny]
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 - WILL BOND

[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 

CALIFORNIA - JOHN BURTON

[elected April 2009] 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

COLORADO - RICK PALACIO

[elected March 5, 2011] Rick Palacio was born in Pueblo, CO in 1974. His father was a union steel worker and his mother a homemaker. Rick's maternal family's roots are in the southern part of Colorado, where he is a sixth-generation Coloradan. His grandmother was a leader in the Las Animas County Democrats for many years. Both of Rick's grandfathers were union mine workers. Rick's paternal grandfather was a Mexican immigrant, and his paternal grandmother was born in Sopris, CO to Sicilian immigrant parents. Rick attended Pueblo County High School, and later Regis University in Denver. 

From 2004-2006, Rick worked as the Assistant to Colorado House Majority Leader Alice Madden (D). He served as a principal member of the Majority Leader's management and strategy team, developing legislation and messaging aimed at helping Colorado's working families. Rick advised the Majority Leader on all legislation pending before the House, advised other members of the House regarding Democratic caucus positions, and acted as liaison to lobbyists and other advocates to communicate issues and concerns directly to the Majority Leader. It's little wonder that Rick became a trusted aide and friend to so many House members during his tenure. 

Based on his success in the Colorado House and his knowledge of Colorado politics, Rick was appointed as the Regional Director of Victory 2006, where he took charge of the political operations for 54,000 square miles of Colorado for the State Democratic Party. 

Additionally, he managed his very own race for Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder in 2006. He garnered 37% of the delegate vote in a five-way county assembly. Rick directed fundraising efforts, strategy, and implementation of field work operations and media outreach. Rick earned 49.9% of the Democratic vote - only two votes shy of becoming the party's nominee for the general election. 

Rick then accepted a job offer from Rep. John Salazar of Colorado's third congressional district. Rick held multiple roles with Rep. Salazar, including working as Deputy Communications Director and Legislative Assistant. While working for Rep. Salazar, Leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives noticed Rick's talent and his dedication to Democratic causes. Rick was hired to work in the leadership operation of Congressman Steny Hoyer (D), the second highest ranking Democratic congressman. During the last Congress, Rick was the Deputy Director of Member Services for Majority Leader Hoyer. While serving as a liaison between the Majority Leader and a diverse group of House members, Rick worked especially closely with members of the Colorado delegation, including Congressmen Salazar, Markey, and Perlmutter. Rick was one of the primary Congressional staffers responsible for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

As Chair, Rick will use his political skills to help guide the Colorado Democratic Party through the tough challenges of redistricting, regaining our Democratic majority in the State House, recruiting and training top-notch Democratic candidates, and ensuring that Colorado does its part to re-elect President Barack Obama.

CONNECTICUT - NANCY DINARDO

Nancy DiNardo began her political career in 1971 when she was elected as a member of her local Town Council. Subsequently, she was elected to, and served on, several other local boards and commissions. Nancy also served as the Chairperson of her Democratic Town Committee in Trumbull, Connecticut for almost 20 years.

Throughout her years as a Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman in the 4th Congressional district, Nancy worked to build coalitions with other town chairs, town committees and Democratic activists in an effort to create a Democratic infrastructure in order to launch a successful campaign against Republican Congressman Christopher Shays. She served as Treasurer and Finance Chair for Diane Farrell’s Congressional run against Shays, a campaign which raised $1.6 million, and came within 4 points of defeating Shays.

Nancy worked for 30 years as an educator in the Bridgeport school system, starting as a teacher and working her way up to Director of Psychological Services. During that time she served as a member of the School Administration Union and the Office of Professional Employee Internation Union (OPEIU), where she still maintains membership. In June 2002, she retired from her position at the Bridgeport Board of Education to devote her energies full time to politics. She has been an active member of the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee since she was first elected in 1998, and has served as Finance Chair since 2001.

Nancy is the first woman elected to the post of Chair in the history of the Connecticut Democratic Party. She was unanimously elected to her fourth term in January of 2011. Recently, the Democratic National Committee elected her to serve as their Chair of Eastern Regional Caucuses.

DELAWARE - JOHN D. DANIELLO

[elected in 2005, and reelected in 2009] 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

When Anita became Chair of the DC Democratic Party (January 2007), the State Committee was in debt and had been unable (for three years) to organize its “annual” Kennedys-King Gala Dinner. That fall, she was the agent of change that organized a highly successful dinner and erased the DCDSC’s debt. In 2008 she was the vision for an organized DC Democratic Party Platform Convention, the first to be held in more than a decade.

Through Anita’s leadership a successful pre-primary caucus was organized for the selection of convention delegates, affiliate member organizations – Latino Democratic Caucus, Asian-Pacific Islanders Democratic Caucus, Federation of Democratic Women, Gertrude Stein democratic Club, and the DC Young Democrats -- have taken an active role in organizing grassroots constituencies. Additionally, through Anita’s leadership the campaign for voting rights in Congress has assumed a viable role in the activities of the DC Party including members recruitment for regular response to call for action on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC Vote or other nationally oriented organizations in support of DC voting rights. Further, Anita spear-headed the changing of timing of the DC Democratic Primary to coincide with Maryland and Virginia into the first ever regionally focused Chesapeake-Potomac Primary.

A former Ward 5 Democrats Chair, retired government official, local and national political consultant with 2 decades of campaign experience, Anita continues public service in her neighborhood as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner.

FLORIDA - ROD SMITH

[elected Jan. 8, 2011] Raised on a family farm in South Florida, Rod Smith knows firsthand the true value of family and hard work. He graduated from public schools in Palm Beach County and worked his way through college, earning his law degree from the University of Florida.  Rod served nearly 20 years as a labor lawyer defending working Floridians.

In 1992, Rod was elected State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit. As State Attorney, he earned national recognition for his successful prosecution of Gainesville serial killer Danny Rolling on charges of first-degree murder for the slayings of five college students.  He also created one of the state's first special prosecution units to crack down on crimes against women and children and a special unit to target environmental crimes.

In 2000, Rod ran for State Senate, winning a seat previously held by a Republican. Despite the gridlock in Tallahassee, Rod was able to build consensus and produce legislative results. In 2003 the Miami Herald recognized his leadership by ranking him the most effective Democrat in the Florida Senate. He successfully led efforts to strengthen programs to help abused children, fight discrimination in housing, protect the privacy of crime victims, improve the state's crime prevention initiatives, and reinforce homeland security. In the Republican-controlled legislature he was one of only two Democrats given a chairmanship:  he served as Chair of the Agriculture Committee, and as the Vice Chair of the Criminal Justice and Justice Appropriations Committees.

Rod was not afraid to take a stand against misguided leadership in Tallahassee, leading a coalition of Democrats and Republicans to successfully thwart Jeb Bush's interference in the Terri Schiavo case, and again working across the aisle to gather the votes necessary to stop Bush's expansion of school vouchers. Despite opposition in the legislature, Rod would not give up the fight to expand stem cell research.

In 2006, Rod ran in Florida's Democratic gubernatorial primary, gaining the endorsements of nine major Florida newspapers along the way, although he lost the nomination in a close battle to U.S. Representative Jim Davis. In 2010, Rod was the Democratic Nominee for Lt. Governor.

Rod practices law at the Gainesville firm of Avera and Smith and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Florida College of Law. He and his wife, DeeDee, an attorney and advocate for child abuse victims, live on their farm in Alachua County. They have three children and two grandchildren.

GEORGIA - MIKE BERLON

[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.

HAWAI'I - DANTE CARPENTER

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.

IDAHO - LARRY GRANT

[elected Feb. 26, 2011] A former Vice President and General Counsel of Micron Technology, Inc., Grant ran for Congress in Idaho's 1st Congressional District in 2006 in a tight race with Bill Sali.  Larry and his wife Pam now live in Fruitland where they both grew up and went to school.

ed. also ran in the 1st CD in 2008, but left the race before the primary

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 - DAN PARKER

Dan is an adopted Hoosier, born in Braintree, Massachusetts, and is a 1992 graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.  His parents are public school teachers who inspired him to public service and a love of history and politics.

Dan has been actively involved in the Indiana Democratic Party since 1992.  He helped the Indiana House Democrats win 11 new seats and re-capture a majority in the legislature when he served Speaker John Gregg as Political Director in both the 1996 and 1998 elections.

In 1999, Dan coordinated Mayor Bart Peterson’s successful field campaign, as well as the elections of Indianapolis City-County Councilors.  Dan served as Senator Evan Bayh’s State Director for three years.

Dan’s other positions include serving as Democratic Policy Director for the Indiana House of Representatives, Program Coordinator for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Manager of the Jeffers for Secretary of State campaign, and a member of Governor Evan Bayh’s re-election campaign.  Dan was also elected to represent Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District at the 1996 and 2000 Democratic National Conventions. Dan was a Superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Dan was the Indiana Democratic Party Executive Director in 2003 and 2004 and then was elected Chair on November 23, 2004.  Dan helped the State Party recover from 2004 election losses, by winning three new Congressional seats and regaining the majority in the Indiana House of Representatives.  In 2007, Dan led the coordinated mayors’ campaign which elected a record number of Democratic Mayors (68). In 2008, Dan oversaw the Democratic Party’s campaign to secure Indiana’s 11 electoral votes for President Barack Obama, the first time a Democrat has carried Indiana in 44 years, and to strengthen the Democratic legislative majority in the Indiana House, the first time the Party opposite the Governor held the majority in a Gubernatorial election year.  Dan is a member of the Democratic National Committee, serving on the Resolutions Committee and currently serves as the Midwest Vice President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs.

Dan has been recognized as a leader by the Indianapolis Business Journal, “Forty Under Forty,” and for the last five years by the Howey Political Report as one of the most influential political leaders in Indiana.

Dan has been married to his wife, Colleen, for 15 years and has two wonderful children, Aidan and Brigid.  He is a member of Saint Barnabas Catholic Church in Indianapolis.

IOWA - SUE DVORSKY

[elected June 27, 2010] Retired teacher and longtime Democratic activist Sue Dvorsky is Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Sue Dvorsky, 55, recently retired from teaching special education in Iowa City for 30 years. She was instrumental in Tom Vilsack’s historic election in 1998 and has been a tireless advocate for Democrats her entire life. She lives in Coralville with her husband Senator Bob Dvorsky and their daughters Ann and Caroline.

In June of 2010, Sue was named acting chair after Michael Kiernan stepped down due to health reasons. She was later unanimously elected Chair.

KANSAS - JOAN WAGNON

[February 2011] Also, from March 2011, is executive vice president of The Federal Tax Authority®, a private company that is committed to making it easy for online merchants to collect sales tax—at no cost to merchants.  Kansas Secretary of Revenue from 2003-11.  President of Central National Bank in Topeka from 2001-03 and then on their board of directors until 2009.  Mayor of the city of Topeka from 1997-2001.  Executive director of Kansas Familys for Kids, 1995-97.  Candidate for Governor, 1993-94.  Democrat member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1983-94.  Executive director of the Topeka YWCA from 1977-93.  M.Ed. in counseling from University of Missouri-Columbia, 1968; B.A. in biology from Hendrix College, 1962.

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] 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 - JOHN WALSH 

[elected April 2007] 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.

MICHIGAN - MARK BREWER

[February 1995] Mark Brewer is the longest serving Michigan Democratic Chair since the 1950's and is the senior Democratic state party chair in the country.

Active in the Michigan Democratic Party for 30 years, Mark Brewer has an extensive record of successful grassroots activity. A 1973 graduate of Mount Clemens High School, Brewer obtained his A.B. with Honors from Harvard College in 1977 and his law degree from Stanford University Law School in 1981 where he served on the law review. After working for two years for federal and state courts, he joined Sachs, Waldman, O’Hare, Helveston, Hodges and Barnes, PC in 1983, becoming a shareholder in 1989. He resigned from the firm upon becoming Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.

Brewer received his start in politics as a summer intern for Congressman David Bonior in 1977 and was involved in every reelection campaign of Congressman Bonior until 2000. From 1984 until 1993, Brewer served as President of the Clinton Township Democratic Club. The largest Township in Michigan, Clinton Township is home to nearly 90,000 residents and is a key political battleground in Macomb County, itself a key to winning Michigan elections. Under Brewer’s leadership, the Democratic Club became one of the most influential Clubs in the County and it served as a model for the creation of other clubs in Macomb County.

In 1983, Brewer also became a member of the former 12th Congressional District Democratic Committee, and joined the Executive Board in 1987. In 1992, he received the Committee’s first Outstanding Service Award for his work. In 1993, Brewer was elected Chair of the 10th District, the successor to the 12th District following reapportionment.

Brewer also has been a member of the Macomb County Democratic Committee since 1982, and an Executive Committee member from 1986 until 1997. He was elected Treasurer in 1990 and served in that role until 1993.

In addition to these activities, Brewer has served as a Precinct Delegate, been active in Michigan Young Democrats, been a delegate to local, state and national conventions, and has been involved in many local, state, congressional, and ballot question campaigns in every role including campaign manager.
He served from 1983 until 1995 as Assistant General Counsel to the Michigan Democratic Party, handling many matters such as reapportionment, election law, campaign finance law, recounts, interpretations of the Party’s rules, election day legal counseling, defamation claims, and service as parliamentarian at several Party Conventions.

In February 1995, Brewer was elected Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. He was reelected in February 1997, February 1999, February 2001, February 2005, February 2007 and February 2009. He was elected Executive Chair in February 2003.

He was elected President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC) and DNC Vice-Chair 3 times, serving from 2003 until 2009. During that time, he led the ASDC to its endorsement of Howard Dean as DNC Chair and he worked with Dean to implement his very successful 50-State Strategy.

Brewer was a delegate to the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Democratic National Conventions and served as Chair of the Michigan delegations at all of those Conventions.

Among his other accomplishments as Chair of the MDP, Michigan Democrats have carried the state for the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008, won five straight U.S. Senate races, including electing Senator Stabenow in 2000 and reelecting her in 2006, elected Governor Granholm in 2002 and reelected her in 2006, won nearly 80% of all statewide education board races, defeated GOP Chief Justice Cliff Taylor in 2008, worked to elect hundreds of county and municipal officials, used ballot questions as part of their campaign strategy and developed innovative programs to turn out absentee and young voters. Brewer was also the principal author of the MDP’s 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Delegate Selection Plans, two of which included an innovative Vote by Mail feature which allowed Michigan Democrats to cast votes by mail to select the party’s presidential nominee. The 2004 Plan also successfully used an internet voting option. Brewer has also expanded the Party’s constituencies, improved its fundraising, revised the MDP’s Rules, upgraded its technology and has expanded the MDP’s communications and research efforts.

Brewer has testified on election and campaign finance issues before the Michigan Legislature and Michigan government agencies, in federal court and before the Federal Election Commission.

Brewer has also been a guest lecturer on political parties and the political process at Oakland University, University of Michigan, and University of Michigan-Dearborn.

MINNESOTA - KEN MARTIN

[elected Feb. 5, 2011] 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. also note: 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.

MISSOURI - MIKE SANDERS

[elected Nov. 19, 2011] 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.

MISSISSIPPI - JAMIE FRANKS

[elected July 2008] James R. Franks, Jr. is a partner of Wheeler & Franks Law Firm, P.C. and ShawnCoulson, LLP, a member of the ShawnCoulson Alliance with Offices in Washington, D.C., London, and Brussels. Mr. Franks represents both national and international clients on legislative issues as well as litigation matters.  

Practice Areas:  Legislative (50%); Corporate Litigation (25%); Plaintiff (25%) 

Education:  Mississippi College School of Law, J.D., 2000; University of Mississippi, B.A., 1995.   

Admitted: 2001, State of Mississippi; 2002 Federal District Court of District of Columbia; 2002, Federal District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi 

Memberships: Mississippi Bar Association, Mississippi Association of Justice, American Association of Justice. 

Special Agencies:  Chairman of Mississippi Democratic Party, 2008 – present; Democratic Nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, 2007; Member of Mississippi House of Representatives, 1996 – 2008; Majority Whip, Mississippi House of Representatives, Chairman of Conservation and Water Resources, Mississippi House of Representatives; Member of Democratic National Committee.  

Born:  Tupelo, Mississippi, December 26, 1972.   

Biography:  Chairman of Mississippi Democratic Party, 2008 – present; Democratic Nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, 2007; Member of Mississippi House of Representatives, 1996 – 2008; Majority Whip, Mississippi House of Representatives, Chairman of Conservation and Water Resources, Mississippi House of Representatives; Member of Democratic National Committee.

MONTANA - JIM ELLIOTT

[2009] Jim was raised on a Dairy farm in Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in Behavioral Physiology from San Francisco State College in 1969. He moved to Montana in 1974 and was engaged in ranching and farming. He now practices sustainable yield timber harvest on his ranch. 

Jim was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 1988 where he served until 1997, when he took a voluntary leave from politics. After a four year hiatus Jim was elected to the Montana Senate in 2000 where he chaired the Taxation Committee. 

Throughout his legislative career he championed fair taxation and civil liberties. He rewrote Montana’s income tax code in 1995, only to have anti-tax groups repeal it by initiative. He also won awards from the Montana Library Association for his opposition to the PATRIOT ACT and for protecting free speech. 

Montana’s Term Limits law forced him out of office in 2008. He was elected Chairman of the Montana Democratic Party in 2009.

NEBRASKA - VIC COVALT

[elected June 2008; started Nov. 2008] Vic Covalt has served as state chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party since November 2008.  He had previously served on the Executive Committee for the Lancaster County Democratic Party and on the Rules Committee for the Nebraska Democratic Party.  Vic was the State Party 1st Congressional District Volunteer of the Year in 2008 for his work in helping design and implement the first ever Presidential Caucus in Nebraska. He has volunteered his time for numerous political campaigns since 1982. 

Vic is an attorney with Ballew Covalt PC LLO in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He practices law in the fields of loan and financial transactions, commercial litigation and bankruptcy.   

Vic is a fifth generation Nebraskan. He is a graduate of Alliance High School in 1971, and of University of Nebraska-Lincoln (B.A. with Distinction 1976) and the University Of Nebraska College Of Law (J.D. with High Distinction 1981).  He served as Editor in Chief of the Nebraska Law Review.  

Vic also has a an extensive record of civil rights litigation and was featured for his pro bono work death row defense of Harold “Wili” Otey in CBS’s 48 Hours episode “ Death by Midnight.” He was awarded the Nebraska ACLU “Defender of the Bill of Rights” Award in 1991. Vic is married to Ann, has two daughters, Emma and Maddie, and one grandson, Reign.

NEVADA - ROBERTA LANGE

[elected March 26, 2011] 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

[March 2007] 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 S. WISNIEWSKI

John S. Wisniewski was elected Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee January 27, 2010. Chairman Wisniewski was unanimously confirmed for this position and previously served as a DNC member.

John Wisniewski also represents the 19th Legislative District in the General Assembly of New Jersey. He serves as Deputy Speaker, chair of the Transportation, Public Works & Independent Authorities Committee and as a member of the Appropriations Committee & the Financial Institution & Insurance Committee.

John is an attorney and managing partner of Wisniewski & Associates, Inc.

B.A. Rutgers University (English/Economics)
J.D. Seton Haul University School of Law

NEW MEXICO - JAVIER GONZALES

[Elected in September 2009] Chairman Gonzales was nominated to the position by Lt. Governor Diane Denish to fill the position vacated by Brian Colon. Gonzales ran unopposed and was elected by the members of the State Central Committee by acclamation. Gonzales is proud to be the only Hispanic state party chair and one of two Hispanic Democratic party chairs in the United States (the other is Puerto Rico's chair). Gonzales' was re-elected in April of 2011 and will serve until 2013.

Gonzales served as a Santa Fe County Commissioner from 1994 to 2002. During his term, he also was elected president of the National Association of Counties (NACo). In its 66 year history, he was the youngest elected president and also the first Hispanic president of the organization. He has also served as chief representative for NACo testifying before Congress, the White House and the Administration, serving as an expert witness to the U.S. Senate and the White House on Homeland Security.

Currently, Gonzales is leading the effort to bring a state-of-the-art film studio to Santa Fe. Santa Fe Studios was conceived as a world-class and environmentally sustainable facility which will encompass up to 500,00 square feet of studio stages, is expected to employ 500 New Mexicans and generate an annual payroll impact of $71 million to the local economy.

Gonzales earned his B.A. in Accounting from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1989. He currently serves as a Vice-Chair of the New Mexico State Board of Regents.

A lifelong resident of Santa Fe County, Gonzales' commitment and dedication to public service is a family tradition. His father, George Gonzales, also served as a Santa Fe County Commissioner and later was elected Mayor of the City of Santa Fe in the 1970s. Gonzales has two daughters, Cameron and Cadence Gonzales.

NEW YORK - Co-Chair KEITH L.T. WRIGHT

[June 2012]  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.

NORTH CAROLINA - DAVID PARKER

[elected January 2011] David Parker has 35 years of experience in state campaigns and fundraising for Democratic candidates. From 1976 when he was Jimmy Carter's North Carolina Youth Coordinator through 2008 as an Obama Super-Delegate, Parker has demonstrated strong, experienced leadership.

At the local level he has been a successful Precinct and County Chair in Iredell County. At the State level, David has been State President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina and the First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

At the national level, he has served on the Democratic National Committee since 1995. In addition, Parker has been a member of the North Carolina delegation at every National Convention since 1984, when then Party Chairman David Price named him as a page while he was President of the Young Democrats.

As a campaign manager for Terry Sanford's US Senate campaign in 1992, Parker ran a fundraising effort that raised $2.5 million. He has hosted dozens of fundraisers in his Iredell County home for local, statewide, and national Democrats, including: Kay Hagan, Terry Sanford, John Edwards, Joe Biden, and D.G. Martin.

He has consulted or managed inumerable local and congressional campaigns. And in 2010, he was an instrumental leader in the drive to allocate tax check-off money through the NCDP Congressional District Chairs to the grassroots at the county level.

Locally, Parker has been on the finance boards for the YMCA, Mitchell Community College, Fort Dobbs historical site, and numerous smaller fundraising drives. A significant accomplishment of his term on the Iredell-Statesville School Board was raising money for schools.

NORTH DAKOTA - GREG HODUR

[elected Sept. 17, 2011]  Fargo attorney.  Toledo, Ohio native.

OHIO - CHRIS REDFERN

Chris Redfern was elected Chairman in December 2005, promising to rebuild the Ohio Democratic Party from the ground up. In five short years, Chairman Redfern has moved the Ohio Democratic Party from chronic defeat to widespread victory, making the Party one of the premier state political organizations in the country.

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, Senator Sherrod Brown, and three other statewide candidates. These broad-based victories proved that Democrats could win in any region of the state. Following these sweeping successes, Chairman 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 historic victories in 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 of Representatives on a legislative map drawn by state Republicans, a feat never before seen in Ohio history.

Chairman Redfern previously represented the families of the 80th Ohio State House District for five terms where he established himself as a leading voice for fiscal discipline, an advocate for tax fairness, and a staunch proponent and advocate for Lake Erie. Redfern served in various leadership positions within the House Democratic Caucus, including Minority Leader from 2003 until early 2006. Before coming to the Statehouse, Chairman Redfern was an Ottawa County Commissioner – the youngest in the state when his term began in 1993.

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. Chairman Redfern lives on Catawba Island with his wife Kim and their daughter, Reese.

OKLAHOMA - WALLACE COLLINS

[elected May 14, 2011 (started May 16)] 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 - MEREDITH WOOD SMITH

Meredith Wood Smith has served since March 10, 2007 as full time Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon and previously served four years as the full-time DPO Vice Chair. She also serves as Western Vice President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and is a member of the Executive Committee. In 2009 she was appointed by DNC Chairman Tim Kaine to serve on the Change Commission. The Commission is charged with reviewing and making recommendations on automatic delegates to the national convention, timing of the Presidential primaries and process for presidential caucuses. Governor Kaine also appointed her to the DNC Budget and Finance Committee.

Her political involvement was born in 1961, when she became active in John F. Kennedy's Presidential campaign in Kentucky. Since coming to Oregon 38 years ago she has served as a Party county chairperson, chair of several Party committees, worked full time on a Congressional Campaign and volunteered on many congressional, gubernatorial, legislative, city and county campaigns, first in Jackson and Josephine counties and later in the Portland Metro area. She has also participated in local and statewide referendum and initiative campaigns (both for and against), giving her positive and constructive avenues for community participation. As State Party Chair and Vice Chair, Meredith has worked tirelessly to strengthen county parties through training, mentoring and support. She is also actively engaged in DPO fundraising and in building coalitions with allied groups and minority and business communities. She has served as precinct committee person for over 20 years.

As a small business owner, president of a local business association, and sales representative for a mid-sized national corporation, she developed a keen interest in, and understanding of the needs of the small business community.

Meredith loves Oregon and cannot imagine permanently living anywhere else. Living in both rural and urban environments has provided her the opportunity to gain an understanding of the blessings and challenges of each.

She was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts and at ten moved with her family to Versailles, Kentucky. She attended the University of Kentucky and received a BA in Education. Upon graduation she taught children with disabilities, served as a vocational counselor, taught delinquent and neglected adolescents and later served as an "at risk" youth advocate and community organizer for city, county and state government. She maintains close relationships with her three brothers and a sister in Vermont, Georgia, and Utah.

Meredith has been married for twenty-six years to Joe Smith, former Legislator and Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Oregon, and chief aide to both the Speaker of the Oregon House and a member of Congress. He is semi-retired as a business consultant and attorney, and remains politically active in both the Democratic Party, and the Oregon Bus Project. They enjoy a close relationship with their four sons and their partners and three beautiful grandchildren, three living in Portland and one in England.

PENNSYLVANIA - JIM BURN

[elected chair June 19, 2010] Elected to Allegheny County Council in 2005, Jim Burn came to County Council with 12 years of municipal service. Jim had been serving as Mayor of Millvale since 1994. During his 12 years as Mayor, Jim worked with Borough Council and others to pay off Millvale's debt and institute aggressive efforts in community revitalization. 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. Jim credits Millvale Borough's rebirth and revitalization to teamwork.

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 passed the Pennsylvania Bar exam in 1988 and has been practicing law in this area ever since.

Jim also Chairs the the Allegheny County Democratic Party, serves on the Northern Area Boys and Girls club, Chief Executive Onorato's Transportation Action Team, and as Millvale's Emergency Management Coordinator, directly overseeing and coordinating the immediate disaster recovery efforts for the community of Millvale after the flooding rains of Hurricane Ivan.

Jim has been appointed by Council President Fitzgerald to serve as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and believes that his service as a mayor and emergency management coordinator will be of benefit to this Committee. He has also been appointed to serve on the Budget and Finance, Economic Development and Public Works Committees

In 2010 Jim was named as one of Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Political Influencers. His notoriety as a local political leader has lead to frequent appearances on Pittsburgh television and radio news programs. As a spokesperson for county Democrats, Jim is often quoted in the Pittsburgh press and has had published several OpEd’s and Letters to the Editor. 

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

RHODE ISLAND - REP. EDWIN PACHECO

[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.

SOUTH CAROLINA - DICK HARPOOTLIAN

[elected May 1, 2011] Richard "Dick" Harpootlian is a legendary courtroom lawyer who has flourished as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and trial lawyer. He is well-known in the legal community as a skillful and dynamic trial lawyer with effective powers of persuasion.

Mr. Harpootlian has had a long and distinguished career trying cases in South Carolina for over three decades. He began his career as a prosecutor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office, one of the largest judicial circuits in the State. Within just two years, he was named Deputy Solicitor, assuming responsibility for the administration and supervision for over 20 attorneys and all staff members. He was the Chief Homicide Prosecutor for the Solicitor's Office, and personally prosecuted hundreds of murder cases, including twelve death penalty cases, one of which he argued before the United States Supreme Court.

Over the years, Mr. Harpootlian has taken on cases not universally popular, but he has consistently represented his clients with the same level of zealous commitment. In 1983, Mr. Harpootlian confirmed his reputation as a fearless courtroom lawyer when he helped convince a jury to put notorious serial killer Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins, the largest mass murderer in the history of the state, to death. Mr. Harpootlian also obtained a conviction against ex-University of South Carolina President Jim Holderman of using his office for personal gain. Mr. Harpootlian also was one of the key lawyers for the video gaming industry.

In 1990, Mr. Harpootlian was elected Fifth Circuit Solicitor (by an almost 2 to 1 majority), where he served from 1991 until 1995. As Solicitor, he personally prosecuted and obtained convictions in a number of high profile murder, drug, and public corruption cases, including the driver who struck and killed United States Senator Strom Thurmond's daughter.

Mr. Harpootlian has had a successful private practice for over 20 years, during which time he has been recognized for his multi-million dollar verdicts in National Lawyer's Weekly and South Carolina Lawyer's Weekly publications, as well as other legal publications.

In addition to practicing law, Mr. Harpootlian was elected to Richland County Council, which has over 300,000 residents, from 1986 to 1991. Mr. Harpootlian served as Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party from 1998 to 2003. During that time, he orchestrated the Party's successful election bids of United States Senator Fritz Hollings, Congressman Jim Clyburn, and Governor James Hodges first in the history of South Carolina to unseat an incumbent Governor in his bid for re-election as well as four other Democrats to state-wide office.

Mr. Harpootlian regularly appears as both a guest and legal commentator on national news programs, including 60 minutes with Dan Rather; 60 Minutes with Leslie Stahl; ABC Good Morning America and Nightly News; NBC Nightly News; Dateline NBC; and various CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News broadcasts. He also is frequently quoted in national publications such as TIME Magazine, the NY Times, the Boston Globe, and the Los Angeles Times.

SOUTH DAKOTA - BEN NESSELHUF

[elected Dec. 4, 2010]
[ed. note: defeated in Nov. 2010 campaign for Secretary of State]
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.

TENNESSEE - CHIP FORRESTER

[elected Jan. 24, 2009] Chip is the son of a retired soldier who saw combat 3 times during his 35-year military career. Originally from Watertown, TN in Wilson County, Chip's father met his mother in Japan. Chip was born in Ft. Benning, GA and lived all over the world during his father’s military career.

In 1985, Chip moved home to Tennessee to raise his family. He has 2 sons, Evan, a senior at the University of Tennessee and Wilson, a senior at Hume-Fogg High School in Nashville. He is married to Gabrielle Mittelstaedt and they live in Nashville.

After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Politics, Economics, Rhetoric and Law (PERL), Chip began his political career working for Harold Washington. Chip worked on numerous campaigns with Washington that culminated with Washington being elected Mayor of Chicago. Chip subsequently served as Assistant Director of Chicago’s Department of Economic Development in Mayor Washington’s administration. In 1985, Chip moved to Tennessee to be Deputy Campaign Manager for Speaker Ned McWherter’s successful campaign for Governor.

In 1990, Chip was U.S. Senator Al Gore’s campaign manager for his reelection to the US Senate. After the re-election Chip was appointed as Gore’s Tennessee Chief of Staff.

Chip’s prior service to the Tennessee Democratic Party has included a stint as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Democratic Party from 1987 -1989, serving as an Executive Committee member since 1988 and most recently as TNDP Treasurer.

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 - JIM DABAKIS

[elected July 16, 2011] 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.

VERMONT - JAKE PERKINSON

[elected Sept. 18, 2011] Jake Perkinson, Chair of the Vermont Democratic Party, also serves as chair of the Chittenden County Democratic Committee.  Mr. Perkinson is the founder of Theseus Advisors, a political consulting firm based in Burlington, Vermont.  He has successfully managed campaigns on the local, county and state level.

Jake attended Earlham College where he majored in Philosophy and Economics and graduated with College Honors and Departmental Honors in Economics. In 1992, he moved to Vermont to attend Vermont Law School where he received numerous academic awards, served as a Note Editor on the Vermont Law Review, was selected to participate in the Securities & Exchange Commission’s Summer Honors Program, and founded the school’s Native American Law Society. In 1995, Jake began practicing law in the field of class action securities litigation. He now represents individuals and organizations on matters concerning election law and campaign finance and has successfully sued to remedy financial abuses and ballot tampering with clients ranging from gubernatorial candidates to individual voters. He is admitted to jurisdictions throughout the United States, including Vermont, Maine and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Perkinson resides in Burlington, Vermont with his family and is active in the community, serving on numerous commissions and boards and as a legal advisor to several non-profit organizations.

VIRGINIA - BRIAN MORAN

[elected Dec. 4, 2010] Brian grew up in a middle-class family of seven children that didn’t have much and he took his first job bagging groceries at age 14. After transferring to a college closer to home to care for his ailing father, Brian worked construction, as a bartender, and a gas station attendant to put himself through college and law school. Brian served as a county prosecutor until being elected to the House of Delegates in 1996, where he became Chairman of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus only a few years later. In the legislature, Brian Moran has fought for the values that his parents taught him: raising the minimum wage, increasing access to health care, making the largest education investment in Virginia history, and protecting our environment for the next generation.

In December, 2008, Moran resigned from the House to campaign full-time for Governor.

Public Service
Brian received his law degree from Catholic University and passed up lucrative private sector work to join the prosecutor’s office in 1989. He worked his way through the ranks to become Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney where he remained until his election to the House of Delegates.

He was an active member of his local community, including service to the United Way, serving as Chairman of the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Advisory Council for the City of Alexandria, and as a member of the Board of Stop Child Abuse Now.

In 1995, the voters of the 46th district elected Brian to the Virginia House of Delegates. During his time in the House, he has worked to crack down on drunk driving, improve Virginia’s small business climate, provide childhood vaccinations and improve preventative health care. He has been a champion for raising teacher salaries and improvements in our transportation system, particularly rail and mass transit. In the House, Brian led the effort for the largest investment in education in Virginia history.

Democratic Leader & Partner of Governors Warner and Kaine
House Democrats elected Brian Moran to Chair the House Democratic Caucus in 2001. In that role, he has served as the chief legislative partner for Governor Mark Warner and Governor Tim Kaine, working to make Virginia the best managed state in the nation. As Caucus Chair, Brian led efforts to expand the Democratic Caucus, leading it to the largest Democratic gains in the Virginia House in a generation.

Recognized Leader
Throughout his tenure, Brian has won a number of distinguished awards and recognitions, including the Jaycees’ Man of the Year award, twice awarded the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Legislative Award, repeatedly named Mothers Against Drunk Driving Legislator of the Year, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Friend of Business Award, the Legislative Award from the League of Conservation Voters, and the “Tech Ten” award by the Northern Virginia Technology Council. Recently, he was named the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Legislator of the Year and named Child Advocate of the Year by the Virginia PTA.

WASHINGTON - DWIGHT PELZ

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.

WEST VIRGINIA - LARRY PUCCIO

[elected June 26, 2010] 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

Mike Tate was elected State Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in June, 2009. Thirty years old when elected, Tate is 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 - CHUCK HERZ

Chuck Herz was elected State Chair of the Wyoming Democratic Party in February 2011, previously serving as acting Chair since June 2010. Chuck has also served as the state party's treasurer since 2007. Prior to taking that position, he chaired the Teton County Democratic Party from 2003 to 2007.

Chuck is a retired attorney and former General Counsel of the National Science Foundation. He lives in Moose with his wife Barbara. One of his two daughters, his son-in-law and two granddaughters also live in Moose.

Chuck was appointed to the vacant vice chair position in June 2010 - an appointment subsequently ratified by the party's State Central Committee. He has overseen state party affairs since that time in the absence of State Chair Leslie Petersen, who took a leave of absence to wage her campaign for governor.

DEMOCRATS ABROAD - KENNETH E. SHERMAN

PUERTO RICO - ROBERTO PRATS

AMERICAN SAMOA - FAGAFAFA DANIEL LANGKILDE

GUAM - CARL T.C. GUTIERREZ

USVI - EMMETT HANSEN

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former....exits from Feb. 2011 onwards

TEXAS - BOYD RICHIE  ...to June 9, 2012; did not seek another term

Boyd Richie was unanimously elected Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party on April 22, 2006.

During his first speech as Chairman, Boyd’s message to Texas Democrats was “our job is not win arguments, but to win elections” and announced his five point plan to revitalize the Texas Democratic Party and expand field staff and grassroots trainings, build a pro-active communications team and incorporate modern technology into the Party’s fundraising, communications and outreach strategies.

In 1976, Boyd beat an incumbent to be elected District Attorney for the 90th Judicial District, which covered three counties.  A lawyer in private practice for over 35 years, he also served for three terms as County Attorney for Young County.  Boyd has also served as Vice President of the Young County Bar Association and in 2005, was elected a life fellow of the Texas Bar Association.

Prior to being elected Chair, Boyd served two terms on the State Democratic Executive Committee and was Chair of Audit Subcommittee of the Finance Committee.  Boyd was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Selective Service Local Board, a position he held until his election as Young County Attorney.

Boyd resides in Graham, Texas with his wife, DNC Member Betty Richie.

ALASKA - PATTI HIGGINS   ...to May 2012; resigned to run for state legislature

[from July 2007]
Patti Higgins has been the Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party since July 2007. She has been active in political campaigns since 1993 after winning a seat on the Anchorage School Board. Patti was then the successful campaign manager for Melinda Taylor for Assembly, 1998 and has volunteered on numerous other campaigns. Other offices held include Vice-Chair of Alaska Democratic Party; Delegate to 2000 and 2008 National Conventions; Resolutions Chair for 2000 Alaska State Convention; Chair of District 30 and the former District 19; Past Co-Chair of Bartlett Democratic Club.

Within the broader community Patti is Past President of Alaska Women's Political Caucus, Past Vice-President of PTA council, Past Chair of Denali Montessori Advisory Committee, Past President of Wendler PTA and former Board Member of Planned Parenthood. She is the treasurer for the Abbott Loop Community Council.

Born in Fort Bragg, NC, Patti toured much of the United States following the many transfers of her army pilot father and her PTA mom. Captain Spencer was the 1st person to land a chopper on an Alaskan glacier and was in Alaska Magazine 1959; Alaska Bear Tales; and National Geographic. Her mother was a dynamite curling competitor at Government Hill in the early days.

Patti is a 1987 graduate of the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She has been a Realtor® with Prudential Jack White Vista since 1999 and has a very successful practice with her partner/daughter Rachael Lalki. Before Patti's term on the School Board she worked as a substitute high school science teacher and with the elementary Montessori program. During college she worked for the U. S. Geological Survey while majoring in geology and sampled many lakes dead from acid rain while at the same time hearing from then President Reagan that there was no such thing as acid rain. After the Exxon Valdez oil spill Patti worked for GenWest and NOAA helping track the oil spill.

Patti has been married to Patrick, her high school soul mate for 32 years. Patrick is a Human Resources Director and is currently serving on the Anchorage School Board. They have three adult children: Gavin, 30; Rachael, 28; and Tara, 25. They are members of Congregation Beth Sholom.

LOUISIANA - CLAUDE "BUDDY" LEACH   ...defeated April 28, 2012

[elected Jan. 30, 2010] Leach, a longtime businessman and philanthropist in Southwest Louisiana, was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1968 where he served for 16 years. During his tenure he served as chairman of Ways and Means Committee and chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Council. He served in the 96th U.S. Congress as the last Democrat to represent the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana. Leach was appointed to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, Small Businesses Committee and the Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Leach maintains a law office in Leesville and he is president and CEO of Sweet Lake Land & Oil Company, LLC, and North American Land Company, LLC, Lake Charles, and is chairman of the board of directors of Merchants and Farmers Bank.

In addition to serving on numerous professional and nonprofit boards locally, he also serves as National Democratic Committeeman from Louisiana and is a member the U.S. Rice Federation International Trade Committee and the National Cattleman’s Association.

/A Leesville native, Leach served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1968-1979 and 1984-1988. Leach represented Louisiana’s fourth congressional district in Congress from 1979-1981./

ARIZONA - ANDREI CHERNY   ...to Jan. 30, 2012; resigned to run for Congress

[elected Jan. 22, 2011]
[short version] As an Arizona criminal prosecutor, a nationally-recognized economic policy expert, and a businessman working with some of America’s top companies, Andrei Cherny has been a leader on the issues confronting Arizona’s economy in the 21st century. On January 22nd, 2011 Andrei was elected Chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party for the 2011-2012 election cycle. He is working to create a party with a clear vision, and a party that achieves electoral success at the ballot box.

A COMMITMENT TO SERVING ARIZONA AND AMERICA

Andrei lives in Phoenix with his wife Stephanie, and son Ben (a fifth-generation Arizonan). He was born and raised in California and worked his way through college at Harvard and law school at the University of California. Andrei has served on the City of Phoenix Commission on Housing and Neighborhoods and the board of the Arizona League of Conservation Voters.

He is a noted American historian whose bestselling book The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour told of Harry Truman, the occupation of Germany, the beginning of the Cold War, and the role of one pilot from Southern Arizona in changing the course of history.

For over seven years, Andrei has also been an officer in the United States Navy reserve.

[version from website of his 2010 campaign for Arizona State Treasurer] 
As an Arizona criminal prosecutor, a nationally-recognized economic policy expert, and a businessman working with some of America’s top companies, Andrei Cherny has been a leader on the issues confronting Arizona’s economy in the 21st century. As State Treasurer, he'll be "the taxpayers' bulldog" in going after those who misuse government funds whether they're in Wall Street banks or in the state bureaucracy.  He'll work across party lines to use the powers of the office to make safer investments that spur new job growth; use audits to help reform government so that it works better and costs less; and help make Arizona "the Solar State " -- a national leader in solar energy jobs.

AN ARIZONA STATE PROSECUTOR

From 2006 to 2009, Andrei served as an Arizona Assistant Attorney General. He achieved a 100% conviction rate as a criminal prosecutor in dozens of cases involving multi-million dollar Ponzi schemes, home mortgage frauds, financial crimes, public officials who abused their powers, and illegal alien smuggling rings.

As State Treasurer, he’ll use that experience to go after the abuse and misuse of taxpayer dollars. He’ll crack down on fraud and corruption in state government by following the trail wherever the evidence leads. Andrei will be the taxpayers’ watchdog, but he’ll be more than that – he’ll be the taxpayers’ bulldog.

AN ECONOMIC POLICY LEADER

Coming from an immigrant family where both his parents worked hard but often struggled, Andrei worked his way through Harvard by holding down three jobs at a time. While there he studied economics under President Ronald Reagan's chief economic advisor.  For more than a decade, he’s been on the forefront of creating new economic policies that will bring more opportunity to all our people in this high-tech, global economy. 

When he was just 21, he became one of the youngest senior White House officials in American history when he went to work for Bill Clinton and Al Gore. He was part of the effort to work across party lines to balance the budget, pay down our national debt, reinvent government for a new century, and spread economic growth.

Andrei is the author of The Next Deal: The Future of Public Life in the Information Age, which examined how American government must change to meet the challenges of the 21st century New Economy. The Los Angeles Times called the book “visionary in scope,” the Financial Times reported that The Next Deal “has become required reading” in the British Prime Minister’s office, and it received bipartisan praise by everyone from Al Gore to Joe Lieberman to Newt Gingrich who called it “one of the most thoughtful books about…the information age to be produced by anyone of any ideological background.”

Andrei has been called a “superstar” by CNN, a “progressive reformer” by Washington Monthly, an “all-round political heavyweight” by Phoenix Magazine, “smart, bold, and thoughtful” by the Washington Post’s E.J. Dionne, and one of the “more creative thinkers” on the issues of the future by U.S. News and World Report’s Michael Barone. Andrei has written frequently on economic policy, government, and history for numerous publications including the Arizona Republic, New York Times, USA Today, East Valley Tribune, and Investor’s Business Daily.  

A BACKGROUND IN BUSINESS

Andrei has provided policy and strategy advice to some of America’s most prominent businesses including Microsoft, KB Homes, Advanced Micro Devices, and Cablevision. He has seen what works in corporate America – and what doesn’t. As Treasurer, he’ll make sure we’re wise with our state investments by supporting entrepreneurs and innovators instead of bailouts and bonuses for failed CEOs.

Andrei knows what it means to run an organization and meet a payroll. He was the founder and President of Democracy, a public policy journal and think tank that seeks to spur new ideas on the major issues facing America and the world.  Andrei built Democracy from the ground up, running this multi-million dollar enterprise and its staff. 

Democracy’s ideas on how to make the 21st century economy work for all Americans have made their way into the national political debate and into legislation in Congress and states across America. Today, Democracy has over 30,000 readers in every state and more than 150 countries around the world. In its first year of publication, Democracy was named “Best New Publication” by the Independent Press Awards. The Washington Post wrote that Democracy is “widely read” in the Obama administration and the Philadelphia Inquirer has noted that “one way to guess what Obama might do” is to look to Democracy.

A COMMITMENT TO SERVING ARIZONA AND AMERICA

Andrei lives in Phoenix with his wife Stephanie, and son Ben (a fifth-generation Arizonan).  He was born and raised in California and worked his way through college at Harvard and law school at the University of California.  Andrei has served on the City of Phoenix Commission on Housing and Neighborhoods and the board of the Arizona League of Conservation Voters. 

He is a noted American historian whose bestselling book The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour told of Harry Truman, the occupation of Germany, the beginning of the Cold War, and the role of one pilot from Southern Arizona in changing the course of history.

For over seven years, Andrei has also been an officer in the United States Navy reserve.

MISSOURI - SUSAN MONTEE ...to Nov. 2011

[elected Dec. 4, 2010; resigned to run for Lt. Gov.]
[ed. note: Auditor Susan Montee was defeated in Nov. 2010 re-election bid] Susan Montee was sworn in as Missouri’s 35th state auditor in January 2007. She won her election with more votes and by a wider margin than any previous state auditor. Susan emphasized her experience as a certified public accountant and county auditor and subsequently became the first state auditor in Missouri history who is both a CPA and attorney. Susan was the first statewide official elected from Buchanan County, in Northwest Missouri, in over 125 years.

UTAH - WAYNE HOLLAND, JR.  ...to July 2011

Wayne Holland Jr. is an International Staff Representative for the United Steelworkers of America. The Staff Representative is the chief negotiator for collective bargaining, counsel in arbitration proceedings, and coordinator for legislative and political activities. Previously, he worked for the Utah AFL-CIO in community labor relations raising over $1 million per year for community, charitable and health services organizations. He was also the treasurer of his local union at Kennecott where he worked. He has taken numerous leaves of absence over the years to work on political campaigns since 1980. His most recent experience was with the 2004 Kerry Presidential campaign in the western battleground states Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado.

In 2005, Wayne was elected as the Chairman of the Utah State Democratic Party. He was re-elected in 2007 and again in 2009. He also serves on the Democratic National Committee and was elected by his fellow state party chairs to the Executive Committee of the Association of State Democratic Chairs.

During Wayne’s tenure as Chair, the Utah Democratic Party has more than doubled its budget per election cycle from the historical norm of the past twenty years. He has been successful with candidate recruitment fielding the largest slates of candidates in the past twenty years. There has been high turnover in the legislature with a complete change in leadership and nearly two-thirds (63%) of all Democratic legislators first being elected to their current seat during Wayne’s term of office. Females now account for half of the Democratic legislators, Hispanic representation has tripled, and there have been as many as three Gay/Lesbian members of the Utah Democratic legislative caucus. Democrats added four new members to the State House during the past two election cycles, and defeated the sitting Speaker of the House in 2008. Barack Obama was the first Democratic Presidential candidate to win Salt Lake County in 44 years. Congressman Jim Matheson and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon have enjoyed their highest election margins ever. Democrats took control of the Salt Lake County Council for the first time since its creation in 2000. And, the State Party has helped in non-partisan municipal elections throughout the state with our most notable success being the election of State House Democratic Leader Ralph Becker as the Mayor of Salt Lake City in 2007. Democrats also helped defeat a well-funded school voucher proposal on the ballot in 2007.

Wayne grew up in Magna, Utah. He comes from a strong labor and Democratic Party tradition and is a third generation copper miner. His father, Wayne Holland Sr., was the Subdistrict Director of the United Steelworkers. Given this background, he started working on his first campaign for Gov. Cal Rampton's re-election in 1968 and walked with Wayne Owens in 1972 for Congress. He has been the labor liaison to a number of elected officials.

Wayne has also been active in the community as the President, Vice President, public relations director, and coach of the Hunter/Magna Little League teams for twelve years. Wayne is the father of two boys, Justin and Nick, and the grandfather of two Kaden and Karlee. Justin is a fourth generation copper miner. Nick is currently working with labor on political education. Wayne is married to Katie Thompson.

OKLAHOMA - TODD GOODMAN  ...to May 2011

A lifelong member of the Democratic Party, Todd Goodman will work as state chair to help fulfill the promise of a fairer world and a more hopeful future for all Oklahomans.

Todd was raised in Oklahoma City, spending much time in his childhood at the family farm in Shawnee.  Todd learned the value of Democratic activism from his parents, Jimmy and Debby Goodman.  The Goodmans were active in the McGovern campaign early in their marriage, and passed along their Democratic values - including the importance of volunteerism - to their children, Todd and Tia.  Todd has joined his family in volunteering on many campaigns, and Democratic politics was always a favorite topic at the dinner table.

Todd was educated at Drew University in Madison, NJ and began his career in medical equipment sales.  Building on his success in that field, Todd became Chief Operating Officer for a medical device startup in New York and helped patent a device now used in open heart surgeries worldwide.  He went on to manage a multimillion-dollar sales territory for Johnson & Johnson - until his love for Oklahoma and for Democratic politics brought him back home.

Since returning to Oklahoma, Todd has worked for I.N.D.N.'s List and State Senator Andrew Rice. Since 2007, he has been working for the Oklahoma Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee, where he has served as Field Director, Voter File Manager, and Communications Director.  Since August 2008, he has served as acting Executive Director.

Todd has gone through formal training in political activism and management by Wellstone Action, I.N.D.N.’s List, DFA , and Twenty-First Century Democrats.

In addition to dedicating his time and energy to the Democratic Party, Todd has continued to shape his community by volunteering for several organizations.  He currently sits on the Caddo Nation’s Housing Board, and is a proud and active member of his tribe.  Todd is also a member of the Planning Committee for “Red Tie Night,” the premier fundraising event for the Oklahoma Aids Care Fund.  Todd continues to volunteer for Loaves and Fishes, Habitat for Humanity, Regional Food Bank, and is an active member of the Paseo Neighborhood Association.

MARYLAND - PETER O'MALLEY  ...to May 2011

[elected March 5, 2011, resigned in May 2011 to become Chief of Staff to Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake]
Co-founder and principal partner of GovStat, LLC.

Mr. O'Malley spearheaded the establishment of Baltimore City's acclaimed CitiStat program. As Special Assistant for CitiStat, he oversaw every aspect of its implementation from selecting appropriate personnel and identifying key indicators to designing a Stat room and determining the structure and tone of the meetings.

Mr. O'Malley's focus is on mapping analysis, meeting presentation and recruitment. He has a solid understanding of operations and spends time in the field in order to understand problems and fashion solutions.

Prior to serving in the Mayor's Office as Special Assistant for CitiStat, Mr. O'Malley managed many successful campaigns including the 1999 campaign of his brother, Martin, who garnered 53% in a crowded Democratic primary and 91% in the General election.

Mr. O'Malley is a graduate of The Catholic University of America and the University of Baltimore School of Law. He is a member of the Maryland Bar and resides in Baltimore City.

SOUTH CAROLINA - CAROL FOWLER  ...to May 1, 2011

Carol Fowler has been SC Democratic Party Chair since late April of 2007.  She had served as Second Vice Chair since 1988 and has been a member of the Democratic National Committee since 1989.  She represents the Southern Regional Caucus on the DNC Executive Committee and is a member and former Co-Chair of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee.  Carol is a former Richland County Democratic Party chair.

The SC native is a graduate of Columbia College. She is on the boards of directors of the Domestic Abuse Center and the Cooperative Ministry and is a member of Washington Street United Methodist Church. Carol has been married for 2 years to Don Fowler and has 2 children, 2 stepchildren, and 2 grandchildren.

NEVADA - SAM LIEBERMAN  ...to March 26, 2011

[started Feb. 2008 following resignation of Jill Derby; elected to two-year term on March 28, 2009] A Nevada resident since 1980, Sam has been active in the Nevada State Democratic Party since 1986 as an activist, volunteer, staff member, donor, and elected leader.  He has worked in the federal offices of Congresswoman Shelley Berkley and Senator Harry Reid, and on numerous campaigns and outreach projects.

COLORADO - PATRICIA WAAK  ...to March 5, 2011

Patricia (Pat) Waak is the Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. She also is a member of the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee and the Association of State Democratic Chairs.

Pat's political credentials are long and numerous dating back to her first campaign in 1964. She has worked on Presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representative and Gubernatorial campaigns. Those credentials include serving as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Sargent Shriver's 1976 presidential campaign. She was appointed by President Carter to the U.S. Agency for International Development during his administration. And she has volunteered for every Democratic Presidential campaign over the past 44 years.

Pat spent 17 years at the National Audubon Society where she headed the Population and Habitat campaign. Her management experience includes several years as Assistant Director for the Center for Population and Family Health at Columbia University. Pat also was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil.

Pat served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the 1994 U.N. International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and was the U.S. Focal Point for the 1999 ICPD plus Five Conference in The Hague, Netherlands. For eleven years, she chaired the population and environment technical committee for the Commission on Environmental Strategies and Planning (CESP) of the World Conservation Union-IUCN. She is the executive producer of video films including the award winning "Finding the Balance" and is the author of a number of publications, including her two book: "Planet Awakening" and "My Bones are Red."

Pat was first elected on March, 5, 2005 as Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. During her tenure, Colorado has maintained its Democratic majorities in the State House and Senate, add a U.S. House of Representatives seat in CD7, elected a Democratic Governor and state treasurer. She is dedicated to building on the momentum of the Democratic Party throughout the state.

KANSAS - LAWRENCE C. GATES  ...to Feb. 2011

[Chairman Gates was elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2005, 2007 and 2009] Lawrence Charles Gates, the oldest of five children, was born to Ralph and Mary Gates on November 5, 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska. At age 11, Larry took on a paper route that he continued until taking on other part- and full-time jobs throughout high school including working as a janitor, dishwasher, busboy, umpire and lumber yard laborer. He learned from his working-class parents, who often held more than one job at a time, that nohing in life was free and you had to work hard each and every day to achieve your goals. Those values have served Larry well as an adult, a father and a successful businessman.

Larry also learned from his parents the importance of giving back –even when you didn’t have much to give. When Larry was young, his parents took in a cousin following the death of both of his parents and raised him as their “sixth child” in their small home.  Although they didn’t have much, everyone contributed to the family’s prosperity and love and respect abounded in the Gates’ home.

Following high school graduation in Omaha, Larry enrolled in the University of Kansas (KU) in 1966 and paid his way through college working various part- and full-time jobs, ultimately receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1972. Upon graduation, he immediately began his law school training and received his juris doctorate in 1974 from KU.

Larry also served in the Kansas Air National Guard and was honorably discharged with the rank of Technical Sergeant in 1976.

Larry and Jeanne Gates were married on July 2, 1977 and together they raised two children, Mary Katherine (Katie) and Joseph Lawrence. Their daughter Katie is an attorney at Shook, Hardy & Bacon and is married to Dan Calderon, also an attorney. Their son Joe is the General Manager at the LaQuinta Inn & Suites in Overland Park. Joe and his wife, Natalie Teahan, have three young children.

Larry has been a respected businessman for over 25 years. He has created hundreds of jobs working in the hotel and banking industry and other development opportunities. Larry is currently a principal owner and partner of the Rockgate group of companies, which owns and operates several hotels across the country. Rockgate supports hundreds of jobs each year.

Understanding that “doing the right thing” will always be good for business, Rockgate offers its employees health insurance coverage. Larry is especially proud of his employees’ hard work and ongoing dedication to their jobs and their customers, especially during the last couple of years which have been difficult for the hotel industry

In addition to his business ventures, Larry is also a partner in the law firm Gates, Shields and Ferguson, P.A. Larry’s legal work focuses on economic development, real estate transactions and general business consultation.

Larry is a Master Emeritus of the Kansas Inn of Court, a member of the Kansas Bar Association and the Kansas Association for Justice, as well as a member of the Johnson County Bar Association and a Fellow in the Johnson County Bar Association Foundation.

Early on in his legal career, Larry was asked by two parents to draw a conservatorship for their 18 year-old son Jimmy who was severely mentally and physically challenged. The parents worried for their son’s future and feared he would be institutionalized since there were no services available to adults with special needs like Jimmy. This interaction prompted Larry’s involvement and commitment to helping individuals with disabilities over the last 30-plus years. He helped start and continues to serve on the board of Community Living Opportunities (CLO) and has been involved in the planning and construction of several homes to serve these challenged men and women who often don’t have a voice in the community. CLO now serves 191 adults in a variety of living arrangements in Johnson, Douglas, Allen and Neosho counties.

As a devout lifelong Catholic, Larry has also given tremendously to his faith community in Kansas. Currently he is Chairman of the Bishop Miege Foundation, the fundraising and advisory arm of the high school. During his tenure, Bishop Miege has been able to renovate the entire old school, build a new stadium and acquired an existing junior high school adjacent to the campus. Larry has also served on the Johnson County Catholic High School Board and was a leader in the Archbishop’s $50 million capital campaign.

Larry is a member of Curé of Ars Church in Johnson County and Redemptorist in Kansas City, Missouri. Their charitable giving is predominantly directed at helping the poor through such organizations as Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, City Rescue Mission, City Union Mission and Operation Breakthrough.

For the last seven years, Larry has served as the Democratic Party Chairman in Kansas. During his tenure, membership in the party grew seven percent in the last four years, reaching out to individuals all across the political spectrum who sought positive change in all levels of government in Kansas. Larry’s broad-based approach has caused a number of prominent Republicans to switch parties and become Democrats and many democratic candidates have enjoyed widespread support from Kansas Republicans and Independents alike.

Larry has served on a number of bank boards and is currently the Chair of the Overland Park/Shawnee Advisory Board to US Bank.

Larry and Jeanne Gates currently reside in Overland Park, Kansas.

IDAHO - KEITH ROARK  ...to Feb. 2011

[elected Jan. 4, 2008] Born April 10, 1949, Salt Lake City Utah. B.A., University of Utah 1974; J.D. University of Utah College of Law 1977; U.S. Army 1969-1971. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Blaine County, Idaho, 1977-1978. Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney, 1979-1985. Founder and senior partner, The Roark Law Firm, Twin Falls and Hailey, 1985 to present; Mayor, City of Hailey 1990-1993. Past President, Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys' Association; past member, Board of Directors, National District Attorneys' Association; former Chairman, Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Council. Member, American Bar Association; Idaho State Bar Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys; Idaho Trial Lawyers Association; American Trial Lawyers' Association; Idaho Supreme Court Civil Rules Committee; Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, United States District Court for District of Idaho; American Inns of Court.

Mr. Roark has more than twenty-five years experience in civil and criminal defense litigation, personal injury and wrongful death litigation, construction litigation, domestic relations litigation, local and state government law and commercial litigation. Mr. Roark has received the highest possible rating (AV) from the national lawyer ratings firm, Martindale-Hubbell. He has personally tried over two hundred jury trials and argued appellate issues to the Idaho Court of Appeals, Idaho Supreme Court and United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is licensed to practice before all state and federal courts of Idaho and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

ed. Also Democratic candidate for Idaho State Attorney General in 2002.