2014-2015 GW College Democrats Candidacy Statements
PRESIDENT
Connor Schmidt
Hey everyone, my name is Connor Schmidt, I’m a sophomore from Massachusetts majoring in political science. I’m running to be next year’s College Dems president because I want to get more people involved in our organization. Working as the Communications Director this year and Executive Assistant last year, I’ve seen the great things the CDs can do – from organizing awesome debates to really making a difference in important elections. But I have always been upset that E-Boards seems too separated from the membership. I want people to feel proud of being in the Dems, and actually play a part in decision making and event planning. That’s why I came up with the Freshman and Photo Committees this year, so that more people could help out the board and get experience running the org. As President, I would create more committees so that members can have actual input on a wide variety of issues we deal with. This is going to be an important year for our country and our organization. As the largest and most active chapter of College Dems in the country, it is important that we do everything we can to help elect progressive candidates and advance the President’s agenda. That means more campaign trips and more issue-based advocacy. The leadership needs to be capable of getting people excited to be involved yet organized and disciplined enough to keep E-Board working efficiently. As Communications Director, I have experience bringing members out to events and as Executive Assistant, I learned the internal logistics. I have also worked for the White House and Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey’s Senate campaigns. The Dems have made me really love GW, and together we can be a more effective and inclusive organization. Check out www.Facebook.com/ConnorForDemsPresident for more!
Atticus Francken
Fellow Democrats, My name is Atticus Francken, and I am running for President of the George Washington University College Democrats. I am currently a sophomore studying math and economics. For the past year, it has been an honor to serve as Treasurer of the GW College Democrats. Being a part of the largest student organization on campus has certainly made my GW experience much more enriching. The potential to expand our membership and outreach given by our unique campus setting, and the ability to extend this organization to more people is why I am running for President. This year is one that will be centered on the 2014 midterm elections. Along with being a larger part of the GW community, a significant portion of our efforts must be on helping the Democratic Party succeed in November. With my experience working multiple election cycles as staff, I believe I would provide the right kind of leadership the GW Dems need to be fully engaged in 2014. As President, I promise to promote a cohesive and team oriented environment in order to most effectively accomplish the goals of the organization. I strongly believe that an overarching display of inclusiveness should define the College Democrats not only because it reflects upon the values of our party, but is simply the best way to run an organization. This inclusiveness should also be extended to our immediate surroundings, especially alumni and external supporters who have a shared goal to see the GW College Democrats succeed.
VICE PRESIDENT
Amelia Williams
Hi everyone! My name is Amelia Williams. I’m a sophomore majoring in Political Communication and I am running for Vice President of the GW College Democrats. Hailing from the great progressive state of Minnesota, I came to DC to fulfill a lifelong passion for politics. In addition to our love for pop, lakes, and Target, Minnesotans love politicians who listen to the needs and concerns of their constituents—and that is why I am running for Vice President. As this year’s Assistant Membership Director, I’ve learned that it is vital to know exactly what College Dems members want out of the organization. This year, I planned the traditional Dems events, like the Welcome Back BBQ and Winter Gala, but I also helped create new traditions, like the first-ever Thanksgiving Potluck. The drive to continue the org’s legacy and the experience to know how to improve its future are qualities that the Vice President should possess. As VP, I promise to give members more input into how the organization operates, informing each person of how they can contribute to make the GW College Democrats live up to its potential. With the House and the Senate up for grabs in 2014, I hope to help the organization thrive in this busy year by holding campaign trips for exciting and highly contested elections, like Kentucky and Georgia’s Senate races. I also promise to work closely with other student orgs on campus, pooling our resources and connections to bring more big-name and influential speakers to campus. These past two years as a part of the College Democrats have given me the enthusiasm and knowledge necessary to make this organization even better, and I hope I have your vote on April 2nd!
McKinley Kant
Hello, my name is McKinley Kant and I am running for vice president of CDs. I’m a sophomore political communication major from Madison, Wisconsin who has been involved in Democratic politics since canvassing for President Obama as an eighth grader. I ended up interning for his campaign in 2012 before coming to GW. As a freshman, I was fortunate to work for Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) for two semesters. Currently I serve as Deputy Speakers Coordinator for the DC Federation of College Democrats, working to recruit great speakers for their events. I am also a member of the WRGW News team. I am running to be vice president because I want CDs to be the best chapter it can be. With the midterm elections fast approaching, it will be important for our entire chapter to work as hard as possible to ensure Democratic candidates are supported. My favorite CDs experiences have been campaign trips. One thing CDs could work toward is building more relationships with other Democratic organizations within the DC community. Ultimately, our goal as a chapter is to contribute our passion and energy to something meaningful. If chosen to serve as your vice president, I’d be honored to use my skills and experience to help our chapter live up to that goal.
FINANCE
Spencer Perry
Hello GW Dems! My name is Spencer Perry. I am a freshman studying Economics and Public Policy within the Columbian College and I am very excited to be running to become the GW College Democrats Treasurer. I have been a strong advocate for the Democratic Party since high school when I ran a statewide campaign in California to be elected Youth Governor. During my time in office I increased female representation to double its original numbers in elected youth office, I ran a fundraising campaign to bring over $1,000,000 to democrats, and I passed a resolution to allow men who engage in same-sex relations to be permitted to donate blood. Since moving to Washington in May, I interned for New York Senator Gillibrand, during which time I drafted strategies to whip for higher education and LGBT legislation within congress. I have also since served at the Democratic National Committee where I learned how to recruit donors, formulate a budget, and maintain a fiscally sound organization. During this past Summer I had the opportunity to support my family as we fought to overturn California’s Proposition 8. Speaking on the Supreme Court steps and for the Human Rights Campaign gave me an understanding of advocacy that I hope to use in this office. These experiences have given me the tools to not only fulfill the office of Treasurer for GW College Democrats, but they have also given me the knowledge to be a decisive and professional Executive Board member. As Treasurer, I hope to maintain a balance between social events that build our member base and educational programming that strengthens our cause. Please vote for me, Spencer Perry, to be your next GW College Democrats Treasurer.
MEMBERSHIP
Molly Ingalls
My name is Molly Ingalls, and I hope to be your next Membership Director. I believe that I have the right experience and vision for the job, and I hope to win your vote. I have always been passionate about upholding Democratic values, and my close friends will tell you that my enthusiasm is contagious. At GW, College Democrats has been like a family to me – a place where I always felt welcome. Through College Democrats, I was able to make a difference in campaigns in New Jersey and Virginia and see some incredible speakers and debates. But what kept me coming back, again and again, were the amazing friends I made and the sense of community I felt here. But when I looked around, I realized that most of our membership base wasn’t having the same experience. Even though we’re the largest student organization at GW, very few people consistently come to events. This is a serious problem, and I believe that the Membership Director is in the best position to solve it. As Membership Director, I will leverage my extensive experience toward one goal: building the most active, engaged membership of any student organization at GW. As a fellow, staff member and volunteer on various political campaigns, I have experience planning major events and recruiting volunteers. In addition, I am currently Vice President of Membership for NAMI on Campus, a new student organization, and a member of the planning committee for Noche de Cultura, a major social event sponsored by the Organization of Latino American Students. Finally, as a member of the Freshman Committee, I have seen firsthand how this group works and built relationships with our members. Thank you so much for considering me, and I’m excited to work with you next year!
Christine Farzan
Hello, my name is Christine Farzan and I’m running for the position of Membership Director of the College Democrats. As College Democrats, our main goal should be to help strengthen the Democratic Party and to help Democratic leaders be elected into office. I believe that the best way to do this is to create an inviting and fun community for our members. I think that I’m the strongest candidate for the job because I have experience in planning large events, I’m very creative and I genuinely enjoy connecting with other people. As an intern on the Terry McAuliffe campaign for governor of Virginia, I learned a lot about communication and about how to encourage people to support a candidate. I believe that I could use these skills to encourage the incoming freshmen to join the College Democrats and to get current members to participate in events. A major responsibility of the Membership Director is to make everyone feel welcome, which coincidentally was one of my responsibilities with our volunteers on the McAuliffe campaign. Currently, I’m serving as the Executive Assistant on this year’s executive board. This position has taught me a lot about how to plan a College Democrats event and how the executive board functions as a whole. I would certainly bring this experience to the position of Membership Director if I were elected. Additionally, I have a lot of ideas for future events and also plan on continuing events such as the beginning of the year and the end of the year barbeques, the gala, and the thanksgiving potluck. I’m also interested in hearing from members about events they are interested in having. Lastly, I’d like voters to remember that a vote for Farzan is a vote for fun!
COMMUNICATIONS
Alex Barbieri
Hey guys! My name is Alex Barbieri and I am running to be the next Communications Director for the GW College Democrats. I’m originally from Houston, TX (#TurnTexasBlue) and am majoring in Political Science and minoring in Organizational Sciences. Currently, I am the Chair of the Student Dining Board and Vice President of PR for IFC. I interned for Congressman Joaquin Castro and I am currently working for BlueLabs – a data and analytics firm formed out of the Obama re-election analytics team. As Communications Director, my goal will be to increase the CD’s presence on social media and other forums. I would begin by working with the Tech Director to make videos of our events – from campaign trips, to phone banks, and guest speakers – for better outreach. Good PR means being at the right place at the right time – which is unreasonable for one person to do. Using committees is effective because it allows for the general body more involved. I would continue and expand the use of committees because in the long run, it will make our organization stronger. With this year being an election year, the work that we do could help the Democrats keep the Senate and gain seats in the House. This is why I would identify important races, as decided by our parent organizations and general body, and give frequent updates via social media. Engaging with the Democrat community online is one of the best ways that we can make a difference right from our Residence Halls. The last thing I would do is work with the E-board to hold panel discussions with CD’s alumni to connect our members with former GW CD’s who are now working for Democratic causes across the country. Thank you and I hope you vote Alex for Communications Director!
John Weber
My name is John Weber, and I’m running to be your next Communications Director. I’ve had the pleasure to serve on the GW College Democrats executive board over the past year. I currently serve as Campaign Director, and last semester I served as Freshman Representative. I’m originally from Atlanta, GA, and I’m studying political communication in the School of Media and Public Affairs. As Campaign Director, I oversee all of the College Democrats’ efforts to support Democratic candidates around the country. This has given me the opportunity to understand how this organization runs and what it needs to thrive. I’ve also spent the last five months working as a communications intern on the Jack Evans mayoral campaign. In that position, I’m responsible for preparing the campaign’s social media strategy each week, reaching out to reporters, and posting to the campaign blog. I’m excited to bring that experience to the College Democrats as Communications Director. This is an incredible organization that has managed to bring together some of the most politically active students in the country. Over the past year with the College Democrats, I’ve met rising party stars, canvassed in New Jersey, and phone banked at the DNC. But, most importantly I’ve made so many great friends. If given the chance, I look forward to continuing to serve this organization that has already given me so much.
Connor Shank
My name is Connor Shank. I am proud, and excited to announce my candidacy for Communications Chair of the George Washington University College Democrats. The Democratic message is a unique one. It takes seriously, the prospects of the common good. It is a message that promotes fundamental notions of equality, and one that seeks to build a community of all humanity. It is a message that I not only identify with, but one that resonates with countless other young democrats across our nation. That power of the Democratic message is a reason why I am running for Communications Chair today. Whether I was gaining key leadership experience as a member of the College Dems. Freshman Committee, advocating tirelessly for Democratic candidates during campaign season, or proudly attending the many robust Democratic events GW Dems hosts on campus, I have always been proud to be a young democrat. I have the leadership, the experience, and the commitment that will set me apart as a candidate. I am prepared now more than ever to further the Democratic message. I am committed to ensuring that the spirit of the Democratic message is kept alive, And that the community WE build together as Democrats makes the world a better place. Join Me!
POLITICAL AFFAIRS
Devon Davenport
My name is Devon Davenport and I am running to be the Political Affairs Director for the GW Democrats for the 2014-2015 year. I am currently a freshman in the School of Business, concentrating in Business, Economics and Public Policy. My life this year has been all about getting involved in Democratic politics on campus and beyond. I started out as a member of the freshman committee, and I am now the Freshman Representative for the Mount Vernon Campus. First semester I interned for the McAuliffe campaign, and this semester I am interning for the Evans campaign for DC Mayor and am the Field Director for GW for Jack Evans. I am qualified for the position of Political Affairs Director in particular because I have experience interacting with both students at GW and professionals off campus. I have led the freshman committee during the second semester of this year, with the goal of welcoming more freshmen into the organization. We are currently in the works of planning an event specifically for freshmen and reaching out to encourage regular involvement by freshmen. My experience being on e-board already has given me exposure to the responsibilities of the Political Affairs Director and how the e-board works together. My internships have given me the additional experience to understand how to manage the campaigning and programming efforts of our chapter. This upcoming year is a big election year, and I cannot wait to experience it with the GW Democrats. As Political Affairs Director I will organize the debates on campus, but I will also work with the Campaign Director to organize campaign trips this fall and with the Programming Director to bring exciting speakers to campus. As Political Affairs Director I will work for every member to get the chance to experience a #OnlyatGW moment.
Jacob Burman
Hey! My name is Jacob Burman and I am running for Director of Political Affairs. I am currently studying political science with a focus in public policy, minor in economics, and minor in sustainability, and am from Los Angeles, California. I know many of you may not have gotten to see me this semester as I have been busy interning for Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA), volunteering with the White House, and getting certified as an EMT, but I hope to use these experiences to be an even better with political affairs next year! Ever since my dad took me to the February 15, 2003 anti-war protests (which turned out to be attended by record-setting 6-10 million people worldwide!) against going to war with Iraq, I knew I wanted to get involved with progressive politics. Of course since then I have gained a better understanding of politics, but the passion to help others remains the same. In addition to all the work this semester, I have had the honor of working in local politics and campaigns in Los Angeles, with Gillibrand for Senate, and with the Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. I hope to use these great experiences to better plan our political events and actions. This is going to be an important year, especially with Congressional midterms coming up. If elected, I promise to plan events to ensure we do everything we can to help get good Democrats elected, bring new ideas to the table and always be receptive to the ideas of others, have events that every member to come to, and help ensure we remain the best chapter of College Democrats in the country! Thanks for spending the time reading this and I hope I have your vote!
Victoria Goncalves
My name is Victoria Goncalves, I’m a freshman studying political science from Miami, Florida. I would like to run for the position of Political Affairs Director of the GW College Democrats because I believe that my passion and experience in grassroots organizing would be very beneficial to the organization. As a fellow for Organizing for America I fell in love with grassroots organizing, with the idea that we can affect change by connecting with people and building communities to increase participation in the democratic process. After the president’s reelection in 2012, I got involved with my local Democratic Party which gave me amazing opportunities to learn the structure of political organizations and work on 4 local campaigns. During that time, I developed a deep passion for campaigns and even decided that I would like to pursue a career in campaigns. I believe that I have the experience, drive and passion to assure that the GW Dems have an unstoppable volunteer force that will have vast and memorable impacts on crucial campaigns during the upcoming election cycle.
Bryan Doherty
Hey everyone, my name is Bryan Doherty and I’m running for Political Affairs Director of GW College Democrats. I’m a rising sophomore from Baltimore, Maryland. Like you, I am a long-time, devoted progressive. I’m running for Political Affairs Director because I want to continue to provide College Dems with incredible debates, campaign trips, and other political events that help us hone in our political message and core ideals. These events are at the foundation of this student organization and I want to make sure that they receive the focus that they deserve. I worked on the Obama for America grassroots campaign in my hometown in 2012, in one of the most conservative districts in Maryland to help the President secure his victory in the “old-line” state. I believe that my ability to organize and my ability to work closely with other people will serve me well if elected to this position. I want to make it a priority to not only uphold the excellent level of events that College Dems consistently has, but also to improve each and every event wherever possible. We should increase the involvement our general membership has in the decision-making process of our events. The events we host help steer where our organization is heading, so it is imperative that each member of the College Dems have input in the conversation. I look forward to the opportunity to transition into a more impacting role in the best chapter of College Dems in the country. Thank you very much and I hope that I can count on your vote. If elected, I will work day in and day out to help make our organization stronger, more transparent, and most importantly help ensure the College Dems is doing everything possible to engage with our fellow students.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Kate Bell
Hi everybody! My name is Kate Bell and I am a freshman majoring in political science and sociology! I am proud and excited to announce my candidacy for Director of Community Service. For me, community service has always been a way of connecting with others in a meaningful way. Because an important goal of the College Democrats is to give back to the community, I could not be more enthusiastic at the chance of being the board member that makes this possible! While serving as the college democrats’ freshman representative for the Foggy Bottom Campus, I have taken the initiative to plan new events and work with the freshman committee to increase attendance and enthusiasm! Even though I have been at GW for less than a year, I’ve become incredibly involved in our community. Before I even started classes I participated in GW’s Community Building Community (CBC) program, where my fellow incoming freshman and I were sent to service work sites around the DC area. This experience got me so excited about service at GW that I applied and was just recently accepted as a guide for this summer! After CBC was over, I immediately rushed, pledged, and was initiated into the co-ed community service fraternity on campus, Alpha Phi Omega. In APO I am currently a chair on the inter chapter relations and leadership development team, where I work with other chapters in the area to plan fun events, both service and fellowship related. I am also proud to be involved with the Alternative Breaks Program. Through these organizations, I am positive that my experience qualifies me to serve as the director of community service in this great college democrats’ organization. I hope I can count on your vote on April 2nd!