AYD Executive Board Elections
Join us for AYD Executive Board Elections on Tuesday, November 15th in the Arlington Central Library Auditorium!
The meeting will begin at 6:30pm with a vote on the two resolutions below and then elections will begin at 7pm.
All candidates submitted their application by Sunday, November 13th at 11:59 PM. Here are the candidate statements:
President: Tenley O'Hara
"My name is Tenley O’Hara and I have been proud to serve as Arlington Young Dems President this past year. I’m excited to announce that I plan to seek re-election.
I joined the AYD Executive Board in 2018 as Digital Director and served in that role for two years before I was elected AYD Secretary for the 2021 Executive Board. In my capacity as Secretary, I authored the weekly AYD newsletter, kept the AYD Executive Board meeting minutes, and was chair of the AYD Communications Committee. I helped promote and did my best to attend as many general body meetings, social hours, committee meetings, caucus chair meetings, joint events, and fundraisers as I could. I wanted to get to know our community and be aware of everything happening in our organization in order to effectively communicate it to our membership and effectively lead our Communications Team. These skills helped me greatly in my transition to president of Arlington Young Dems.
This past year, we have accomplished a great deal as an organization, and we were able to do so because I had the opportunity to direct and work with the 2022 Executive Board, our caucus chairs, and our membership to organize, host, and attend a wide array of forums, happy hours, fundraisers, volunteer events, marches, and campaign events. We continued our commitment to supporting diverse communities by aiding and supporting the coordination of events for the Arlington Dems Black Caucus, Latino Caucus, AAPI Caucus, Women's Caucus, and Interfaith Caucus. We had one of the largest delegations at this year’s VAYD Convention, had several members win elections to the VAYD Board and their caucuses, and were recognized for our 2021 campaign efforts. We passed a wide range of resolution, from support for abortion rights to support for missing middle housing. Finally, we helped Democratic candidates Don Beyer, Matt de Ferranti, and Bethany Sutton win their elections in Arlington, Abigail Spanberger win in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, Jennifer Wexton win in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, and even had a chance to aid John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro in their wins for Senate and Governor races in Pennsylvania. We helped play a part in staving off the Red Wave that was anticipated for the 2022 Midterms.
With the skills and the institutional knowledge, I’ve gained over the past four years, and with the help of the rest of the incoming 2023 AYD Executive Board, I will do my best to continue to foster a social and inclusive space for all our members. I will also continue to work to increase diverse voices by highlighting these communities and meeting them where they are. Finally, I will work to build up our resources and membership in the efforts to protect and win Democratic seats at the local, state, and federal level in 2023, and to prepare to defend the White House in 2024."
Vice President: Kenya Pennington
"I’m Kenya Pennington, and I want to be the next Vice President of Arlington Young Democrats (AYD).
I joined AYD last year a few days after January 6. As I sat horrified on my sofa, listening to the sirens and doomscrolling on Twitter for any bit of information to explain why this happened, I felt helpless, to be frank. Posting political memes on Instagram and commiserating in group chats was not enough for me – I needed to be doing something, anything. After attending my first general membership meeting for AYD, I applied (and was selected) to be the Immigration, Justice, Civil Rights, and Liberties caucus chair. Throughout 2021, I attended caucus meetings; monthly social events; and facilitated the 2021 Black History Month panel. At the end of 2021, I was named “Newcomer of the Year” and elected Community Service Director for 2022.
Service to this community is what guides me. This past year as Community Service Director, I partnered with local organizations that serve Arlington residents with disabilities and protested the overturn of Roe v. Wade. I also coordinated a school supply drive for two Arlington public schools and planned fundraising events for this election cycle. While I am thrilled by how successful the midterm elections were, we cannot become complacent regarding the needs of Arlington voters. If chosen as Vice President, I will encourage the AYD Executive Board to continue promoting inclusive policies that benefit all Arlingtonians. As Vice President, I will prioritize “tangible change” – or change we can feel and see – and hope to foster a more compassionate community.
It would be my honor to be the next Vice President of this organization."
Treasurer: Phil Kattato
"I am running for a record 5th term for the position of Treasurer to continue to advance the goals of Arlington Young Democrats, and on a larger scale, the Virginia Democratic Party. If I am elected treasurer, I pledge to carry out my responsibilities faithfully and with the diligence and ethics expected of me. I understand that failure to carry out my role could result in violation of state and federal election laws that could severely damage the integrity and operation of our organization. I request your support for this role and I won't let you down."
Secretary: Yint Hmu
"I am running for re-election for the position of Secretary. The Secretary handles all communications. And communications is one of the most important positions in an organization. In AYD, the Secretary informs and mobilizes our members on events and campaign opportunities. As a digital communications professional, I am excited to continue to put my skills to work as Secretary of AYD."
Membership Director: Daniel Gray
"I have been on the AYD membership team for the last two years and served as membership director in 2022. I have really enjoyed working with the rest of the executive board and am excited for the opportunity to continue doing so in 2023. I believe we should expand our outreach efforts in 2023 to try and reach as much of Arlington as possible."
Community Service Director: Sarah (SK) Kurian
"My innate desire to always want the best for Arlington is why I would be the best Community Service Director for AYD. As someone who not only grew up here but was deeply exposed to the holes in our system and community from a young age, I know the spaces where we can use improvement or support from others. With my experience as a grassroots university organizer and numerous leadership roles at GMU, I come to AYD with a passion for helping people, an ability to implement impactful action, and a plan for how we can work together to create positive change.
We have to acknowledge the elephant in the room: while Arlington is considered one of the most privileged areas to live in the U.S. there is a large class gap between the people who live here. Our black, brown, and immigrant communities have been holding the foundation of Arlington together, while the wealthiest inhabitants continue to reap the benefits of our “stable” structure. We have hundreds of people who struggle with affordable housing, food stamps, and a path to higher education.
So, here’s the plan:
- We’re going to work at homeless shelters and build donation boxes
- We’re going to maintain our parks and green spaces with waste clean ups
- We’re going to host domestic violence and abuse training sessions
- (my favorite) We’re going to create an AYD college scholarship fund and award it to dedicated and deserving APS student(s) (# of students tbd)
This plan is tentative because while this might be something that I want to do, I want to listen and work with my fellow leaders to make sure we’re providing the best and most impactful service for our communities. Please let me know if you have any comments, questions or concerns and thank you for your consideration."
Campaigns Director: Duncan Barron
"My name is Duncan Barron, and I'm proud to throw my hat in the ring as a contender to lead the AYD's campaign efforts headed into the 2023 cycle. With control of the Commonwealth's legislature hanging in the balance, I couldn't think of a better way to put my decade's worth of experience to work than taking on the mantel of Campaigns Director. Our efforts on the ground in '22 were exceptional, and I aim to further hone the competitive AYD machine by:
- Working closely with the Treasurer to build out a list for a calltime program, and a donor matrix we can use to raise for candidates across the state.
- Work with the Exec. Board/Secretary to create a routine campaigns bulletin for the regular email list: include updated events in every newsletter, and incentivize the use of the ArlDems Resume Bank
- Further use the AYD website as an up-to-the-minute resource for campaigns activity, creating a hub for volunteers and YDs to plug in to the statewide network
- And use my perspective, most recently informed by my work at the DCCC, to direct overall strategy.
I would sincerely appreciate your vote, and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Thank You!"
Diversity & Inclusion Director: Mark Perlman
"I have been in AYD since 2019; since then, I have been a reliable meeting attendee and campaigner, canvassing, text banking, and phone banking voters of many different backgrounds to help get Democrats up and down the ballot elected. I was campaigner of the year in 2020 and 2021.
This year I was the chair of the Health, Education, and Disability Advocacy Caucus. We reached out the Planned Parenthood and then held organized trainings in anticipation of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. Then, we wrote and had a resolution passed affirming AYD’s support for abortion rights and to encourage the Democratic Party to stay focused on the issue.
I am running for the Diversity & Inclusion Director (D&I) of AYD for 2023. My experience listening to people of many different backgrounds and doing outreach as a Caucus Chair will be utilized as D&I Director. I place a high value on listening to voices of people of different backgrounds and learning about intersectionality. I am looking forward to putting in the work of listening and doing outreach as D&I Director."
Political Director: Tony Striner
"For the last year, I have served as the Co-Chair of the Housing, Environment and Infrastructure Caucus. And what a year it has been. Our caucus has been busy advocating for social change in our County. Seven resolutions ranging from electrifying Arlington’s bus fleet, to expanding housing options for Arlingtonians, to protecting the lives of our neighbors through gun reform.
Our caucus had several meetings throughout the year that consolidated our message and ambitions as a group. Our caucus members formed strong relationships with local chapters of some of the most influential political organizations in the nation. The NAACP, Sierra Club, VOICE and many others. Our members volunteered with affordable housing groups such as APAH and we wove Arlington Young Democrats into the debate around Missing Middle Housing.
This issue has been one of the most contentious the County has faced in years, and our caucus has been on the front lines, organizing for the passage of revolutionary zoning laws that will make our communities more affordable, livable and inclusive. Our caucus helped organize an event attended by nearly one hundred people to support these changes for a better Arlington. The fight is still on for these changes, and we are still there, showing our support.
If elected as Political Director, I will bring the same energy and enthusiasm that turned Arlington Young Democrats into an advocacy group to all of the issues that our caucuses cover. And together, we will move Arlington forward, one issue at a time."
Democratic Party Representative: Bryant Atkins
"I am Bryant Atkins, running to be your next AYD Democratic Party Representative. Over the past year, I have connected with various members of the Arlington Democrats. As the vice-chair of the ArlDems Disability Caucus, I have formed productive partnerships with ArlDems leadership and other party activists.
We have seen since the 2016 elections it takes young people from all backgrounds to maintain our party's influence and power in all levels of government. However, navigating these structures and determining your fit can be challenging. As your next party rep, I hope to bolster our relationship with ArlDems, VAYD, DPVA, and other Democratic organizations working to create the next generation of Democratic Party leadership.
In addition to bolstering our relationship, I will work to seek out opportunities for those of our members who want to become more involved in our party but are unsure where to begin. From organizing training events to identifying partnerships and even providing support for those who seek to run for positions outside of AYD, I will be here to support your Democratic Party journey in any way I can.
I hope to have your support as we rebound from the prior years and work to build a more collaborative party."
