Dear Friend,
Thank you to all who submitted candidate statements for the 2019-2020 Executive Board. This organization is great due to its wonderful members as well as its dedicated leadership. We look forward to seeing what the next Executive Board and membership will bring.
Below are the candidate statements for the AYD members running for the 2019-2020 Executive Board. All candidate statements were submitted by 5 PM EST on 15 November 2019 and all have been verified as dues-paying members. Before we get into the statements, a few reminders:
- You must be a dues paying member of AYD to vote in our elections. Renew your membership and pay your dues here. Should you request dues to be waived for financial hardship, email me at [email protected].
- Elections will take place on Wednesday, 20 November 2019 at 7:00 PM EST at NRECA (4301 Wilson Blvd in Ballston).
- Interested in AYD leadership next year? We still have several appointed positions up for grabs as well as many caucus chair positions available (email to come post-elections).
Thank you and see you on the 20th!
Candidate for PRESIDENT
Dan Matthews: Hello fellow Arlington Young Democrats.
My name is Dan Matthews and I’ve had the pleasure of serving as your 2019 President. When I began nearly a year ago, I set out four goals:
1) Diversify the voices in the room
2) Empower our membership
3) Take back the Virginia legislature
4) Leave a nest-egg for 2020
I’m proud we accomplished most of these goals. Did we take back the legislature? Did we leave a nest-egg for 2020? Can we do more to diversify the voices in the room? Can we empower our members even more? The answer to all of the above is a resounding yes.
Under my leadership in 2019, we held two incredibly successful fundraisers, allowing us the funds we need to succeed. We then went on to knock more doors this year than we did in 2018, and we did it in an off-off-off year election. We’re now in a place financially to take the next step both internally by investing in outreach and membership and externally in the community and beyond.
Going forward, I would like to refocus on four items (you’ll see some recurring themes):
1) Diversity and inclusion
2) Membership empowerment
3) Taking back the White House and Senate
4) Building a healthy organization for the next board
In 2019 we began the process of developing a diversified and empowering organization. In 2020 I would like to double down on this mission. I plan to bring a recommendation to the board to establish a special committee to recruit a more representative Arlington at our meetings. We need to welcome those of all backgrounds into our community.
Next, I will work to establish a special committee on membership training and hold three empowerment sessions that encourage engagement and allow our members the opportunities they deserve to become leaders for the next generation.
As for taking back the White House and the Senate, that starts on day one. We need to defend three house seats in Virginia while also looking elsewhere for where we can make the greatest impact.
Finally, we need to improve the AYD infrastructure such that as of 2021, to ensure that all the internal pieces are in place so future leaders can hit “go” from day one.
We have a lot of work ahead of us, and perhaps the most important year of our democracy. When I ran for election last year, I had no idea what I was getting into. Together with all of you, it’s been quite a ride and I cannot wait to do it again. I value each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart and would not trade this opportunity for the world. I hope to have your vote this Wednesday and that you will join me in the fight of our lives starting January 2020.
I’m fired up and ready to go.
Dan Matthews
Candidate for VICE PRESIDENT
Matt Royer:
Matt Royer for Arlington Young Dems Vice President
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve on this amazing board with and for all of you here at the Arlington Young Democrats over the past 2 years. Together, we have accomplished so much.
As your 2018 Social Media Director, I implemented the first-ever Digital Fundraising program to help us canvass for the Midterms in 2018 when we flipped the House. Through this, AYD was able to raise over $2,500 in the span of a month to fund those efforts.
As your 2019 Campaigns Director, I was able to enact a targeted plan across the Commonwealth. Together, we knocked on 4,781 doors, made 514 calls, sent 86,596 texts, and talked to 76,628 voters throughout Virginia. Because of our efforts, we protected 6 House seats, flipped 2 Senate seats, and flipped 3 House seats while gaining the first Democratic Trifecta in 26 years. As a native Virginian, I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am.
However, we still have a lot ahead of us. Next year is huge for the Democratic movement, and we as Young Dems have an opportunity to shine. I have been working diligently to cement working relationships with elected officials and groups like the NAACP, the NoVA Labor Federation, Moms Demand Action, and other activists to solidify unity between our organizations, so that we can finally declare Virginia as a Democratic stronghold, elect a Democratic President in 2020, and take back the US Senate, while being the most community-oriented and inclusive group that we can be.
I want to continue to work alongside you all, expand upon our past successes, and to help lead us into the future. Sot that is why I, Matt Royer, humbly ask for your vote to be the next Vice President of the Arlington Young Democrats.
Candidates for SECRETARY
Andrew Reighart:
I am running for Secretary because I want to use my experience to improve the operation and transparency of AYD, and because I want to be an agent of change as a voting board member.
As Secretary of the DC Pride Volleyball League, I took high-quality minutes that included flagged action items and spurred the change to make minutes publicly available (see 2018 subfolder) to improve accountability and transparency. I also have pinch hit for our current AYD Secretary a few times over the past year and have received positive feedback about the quality of my work.
Related to the responsibility of sending out AYD’s weekly newsletter, I dispatched weekly email blasts over the past year as a Beyond Arlington Vice Chair. With timely and descriptive communication to our members each week, we were able to recruit volunteers to phonebank and canvass around the Commonwealth to flip the General Assembly blue.
If elected, I will dutifully perform my obligations, and I will use my vote on the board to push for constitutional reform to create more elected positions and refine position responsibilities to reflect operational realities and flatten the organizational structure, generating opportunities for more membership involvement and input. I believe AYD can be a larger, more resilient, and more diverse organization and I will use my voice on the board to achieve those objectives so we can be as strong as possible as we fight to reclaim the White House and Senate in 2020.
Maya Jones: My name is Maya Jones and I would like to run for Secretary. I am a southern native who moved to Arlington after graduating from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and in History. During my time at Wake Forest, I got involved in College Dems and worked to plan events for the 2016 election. I decided to run for Secretary because of my passion for being a change agent. I am a dedicated and passionate person that strives to stay involved with my community I can provide innovative ideas, a diverse background, and structure to the position. Being a young African American woman, I understand the value of providing a voice to the voiceless. I see this as an opportunity to help plan and facilitate effective events. Seeing Virginia’s election results this month reminded me of the impact we were able to make by staying involved. I see Secretary as an opportunity be the change we would like to see in our world and continue the success we witnessed. As we enter into 2020, we will need to embrace diversity, confront adversity, and empower ourselves to work together to maintain the progress we have seen in Virginia and win back the White House. I believe I have the experience necessary to help AYD achieve that goal by providing my organizational and intellectual skills to this position.
Candidate for TREASURER
Phil Kattato: am re-applying for the position of Treasurer because I would like continue to take on serious responsibility to help advance the goals of Arlington Young Democrats, and on a larger scale, the Virginia Democratic Party. If I am re-elected Treasurer, I pledge to carry out my responsibilities faithfully and with the diligence and ethics expected of me. I understand that I am a newer member of this organization and maintaining the position of Treasurer requires that I continue to earn the trust of longtime members. I understand that failure to carry out my role could result in violation of federal election laws that could severely damage the integrity of our organization. I request your support for this role and I won't let you down.
Candidate for COMMUNITY SERVICE DIRECTOR
Phebe Carlson: As a military brat, I learned the value of being part of a supportive community. I grew up volunteering for wounded service members, packing boxes of MREs to be airdropped to troops in Afghanistan, and pitching in wherever my family could. At Virginia Tech, I helped organize fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Center and participated on different committees for large community events.
I joined the Arlington Young Democrats to act in shaping the kind of America I want to live in, part of which is realizing my privilege and using it in a positive capacity. I’m running for Community Service Director because I enjoy volunteering and I'm great at finding unique and fun volunteer events. I want Arlington Young Democrats to continue to mobilize for organizations and communities in our own backyard, an effort I hope to lead.
In 2020, I plan to have monthly accessible and engaging service events in conjunction with passive collections of necessities for donation. I value the opportunity to see the immediate impact of giving your time to help accomplish a greater good. I'd love to see us involved with helping the food insecure with the Arlington Food Assistance Center, public health at our free clinics, and the Ronald McDonald House, just to name a few!
This year on the 2019 board has shown me what we can achieve as an organization. I hope to serve as the next Community Service Director, channeling that passion into returns for our community. Thanks for your consideration!
Candidate for CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
Ian White: This year, Arlington Young Democrats were a powerhouse of volunteers who were key to flipping the Virginia State Legislature. This was a momentous accomplishment, but in 2020 we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. This next election cycle will see important races at the local and national level. We must build on our 2019 successes to keep the House, flip the Senate, and sweep Trump from office with a Democratic mandate. I am running for the position of Campaigns Director because I am passionate about campaigns, and I am ready to lead our efforts next year.
If elected, I would bring event organizational experience from my days in College Residence life, as well as nearly a decade of canvassing and phone banking experience for the Democratic Party; I volunteered on my first campaign when I was 15 years old, and I have not stopped since. In order to ensure that I fulfill my duties to the best of my ability, I will consult with previous campaigns directors and field organizers to implement the most successful strategies, and I will work collaboratively with all other board members so that our operations are a united front. I am delighted to have found a home in this organization since I graduated from college in May, and I would be honored to have your vote to serve Arlington Young Democrats in a higher capacity. I am Ian White, and I humbly ask for your vote for Campaigns Director.
Candidate for OUTREACH DIRECTOR
Sacha Brenac: I am proudly announcing that I will be running for re-election as your Outreach Director for the 2020 AYD Executive Board. During my tenure as Outreach Director for 2019, AYD has gone through a lot of positive transformations and much-needed actions on issues such as labor engagement and the Green New Deal.
Under my tenure and with the support of the Executive Board, issue-based caucuses are feeling more engaged. Some caucuses led major meetings and events centered around advocacy and policy action, acting as a bottom-up force for change in Arlington. Our Caucus Chairs have proven that they can be leaders in AYD - I want to continue in this direction, and incorporate Caucus Chairs further in the executive and decision-making processes of AYD.
In 2019, we tackled issues critical to the progressive movement. The Green New Deal Forum, held at the height of national discussion around climate change action, was a massive success. Our priorities have never been clearer on the Climate Change Crisis, and with a new majority in Richmond, we know exactly what to demand of our elected legislators.
I wish to continue on this successful track:
- More incorporation of Caucus leadership into decision-making processes.
- More forums to focus our priorities and apply pressure on our elected officials to push for real progress.
- More outreach to communities in Arlington and the greater Northern Virginia, especially labor groups, minority groups, and other allies on the political left.
- Most importantly: build an infrastructure to WIN in November and power into the 2020s as champions.
Thank you and I hope to earn your vote!
Candidates for MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
Izzie Taveras: My name is Izzie Taveras and I am running to be your Arlington Young Democrats Membership Director for 2020. I am eager to increase our membership numbers and foster more diversity within our ranks. I’m a strong believer that the makeup of our organization should reflect that of Arlington’s Democratic electorate. Arlington is an extremely diverse county and the Arlington Young Democrats would greatly benefit from the addition of new voices and ideas that reflects such diversity.
As Membership Director, I will seek to increase our organization’s diversity in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, among other factors. Seeking diversification within our organizations begins with measuring and monitoring our current demographic composition, identifying our strengths and weaknesses, and identifying any possible implicit biases that may be preventing the successful recruitment of members of a particular demographic. Once this information is gathered and identified, I will work with other members of our executive board to identify strategies and tactics that will help us increase our membership numbers and diversity within. As a campaign staffer, I have a very diverse network and knowledge of community events and organizations that I can tap into to help our efforts. My experience has also provided me with institutional knowledge on how to work efficiently with a team, and use social media and earned media, among other strategies to achieve an organization’s goals.
I look forward to all of our accomplishments in 2020 and, I humbly ask for your vote as our membership director.
Dan Goldberg: Hello all, I would like to be the next membership director.
Outgoing was never a word I'd use to describe myself when I was growing up. I was quiet, shy, overweight, and had long hair. Feeling like an outsider compelled me to bring my peers into whatever activity we were doing. At the time, that meant on the baseball field by having a catch with others who were on the sideline and looked lost. Eventually I realized I found energy in interacting with others. Being an outgoing person only strengthened my urge to make sure my peers felt included. It allowed me to run for and be selected president of the imaging science club at RIT my senior year, where I thrived.
Spending 5 years in Arlington slowly but surely made me realize how important being political is. The Arlington Young Democrats' welcoming, passionate energy pulled me in this year. I've felt a sense of community that was missing in other groups I've joined. A large part of that is how friendly the board members are. Each meeting I appreciated being included in both the conversion and the after party.
I believe my joy for including others, desire for a welcoming community, and outgoing personality make me well equiped to hold the AYD's membership Director role. In that role I will make sure everyone who attends an AYD event feels welcomed and feels part of the amazing community we've built.
Candidates for DEMOCRATIC PARTY REP
Michael Hemminger: I’m running for the position of Democratic Party Representative. I would like to pursue this role to champion the mission of young democrats across the county. So much of our own future relies on the decisions that others are making for us.
Now more than ever, young voices must no longer be seen as the voice of the future, but the voice of right here and right now. We have incredible talent in YD, and we must ensure our voice is heard at the table. If elected, I hope to elevate, recognize and mentor aspiring young leaders from all walks of life that want to learn more about county politics. I will also bring back useful party information in an understandable manner to our members.
As the current membership co-chair of the Arlington Dems, it has been my true pleasure serving the community and democratic party of Arlington as a voting member of the steering committee. I have attended many steering meetings this year and have developed key partnerships, alliances and deep relationships. I have had the opportunity to learn the intricate details of what makes Arlington so successful.
I believe that it is those experiences that have provided me with the needed skillset to celebrate young voices and initiatives next year. I hope to strengthen the ties between Young Dems and the Arlington Dems and bring greater unity as we go after 2020 full speed ahead.
I hope I can count on your support. I will not let you down!
Adam Chaikof: I’m running for Party Rep. because I have the necessary experience and vision to help the Arlington Young Democrats (AYD) ensure a Democratic victory in 2020! As a member of AYD, I successfully revived the once moribund Commerce, Labor, Technology, and Finance Caucus by forging close ties with local unions and passing multiple resolutions on important labor issues such as repealing VA’s so-called “right-to-work” law.
As Party Rep, I will use this experience to build a stronger relationship with the Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC) and an efficient resolution process. I also pledge to accomplish the following goals. First, I’ll immediately reach out to ACDC to schedule regular open strategy meetings between now and Election Day 2020. These meetings will bring together the leadership of ACDC, AYD, and possibly other local progressive organizations to set goals for events, voter outreach, and ensure that we are all on the same page going into the 2020 election.
Second, I will work to organize periodic “AYD Open Houses” where we will invite members of ACDC and other local progressive organizations to learn more about what AYD has recently accomplished and what we plan to do going forward. These open houses will not only help us maintain close relations with ACDC, but they will also be excellent opportunities to solicit donations for AYD.
In short, I promise to bring the same passion and dedication to this position that I brought to the Commerce, Labor, Technology, and Finance Caucus!
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