President – Gordon Simonett
Born in Trinidad, West Indies, Gordon moved to Michigan at the age of 8 and quickly learned what cold weather was all about. Gordon graduated from American University in 2004, earning his BA in Government. While at AU, Gordon was elected Treasurer of the AU College Democrats, and served as Speaker of the AU Student General Assembly. Following graduation, Gordon worked as a Legislative Assistant to DC Shadow Senator Paul Strauss. Gordon also was an active member of his local Young Democrat chapter in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he served as Treasurer; in 2006, he was awarded the chapter’s Young Democrat of the Year award. Gordon has been a member of the Arlington Young Democrats since December 2007. @gordonsimonett
Vice President – Lauren Hall
A native eastern Long Islander, Lauren moved to Arlington in 2002 after graduating from Cornell University, where she studied environmental technology and economics and was VP of Events for her senior class. While working in environmental consulting and public affairs by day, she leveraged her extracurricular interest in event planning into organizing support for the Virginia Democratic Party and has been active with the Arlington Democrats since 2004’s Presidential Primary. Lauren has yet to Tweet, but stay tuned. @arlingtonpolitico
Secretary – Shannon Straw
Shannon currently serves as the Secretary for the Arlington Young Dem and an Outreach and Visability Vice-Chair for the Arlington Democrats. She has served on multiple campaigns, including: on the Religious Affairs team for Obama for America, as deputy campaign manager for Fred Johnson for Congress in Michigan, and, most recently, as Media Relations Coordinator for Mike Signer’s lieutenant governor campaign. Shannon is a graduate from Hope College in Holland, MI, with a degree in political science and history. @shannonstraw
Treasurer – Shani Harmon
Shani moved to Arlington after graduating from Yale University with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in environmental policy. Shani became involved in AYD in 2008, helping with the Arlington Joint Campaign watch parties. A native of Colorado, Shani enjoys the outdoors, spending her free time hiking, rock climbing, and rafting.
Democratic Party Representative – Kim Klinger
Kim moved to Arlington in 2001. Kim is a graduate of Leadership Arlington, a member of the Alexandria-Arlington School Readiness Council, an Arlington Kiwanian, a volunteer EMT/Firefighter, the Assistant Director of Recruiting and Membership for Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department, and the Treasurer of her Homeowner’s Association. She has a degree in Health Services Administration and also holds certifications in Program Management, Personal/Athletic training, and Emergency Medical Services. Kim utilizes her facilitation and organizational skills to drive various initiatives which promote health services, education, and political engagement in underserved areas. Kim currently works professionally in the development and execution of healthcare standards, policy, and information exchanges.
Finance Chair – Brian Straw
Brian, Finance Director for the Arlington Young Democrats and Precinct Operations Vice-Chair for the Arlington County Democratic Committee, is an Arlington native. He graduated from Hope College in May 2008 and worked as a Field Organizer with Obama for America through November 2008. Since that time, he has been working as a polling analyst with the Benenson Strategy Group. Twitter: @BrianDStraw
Membership Chair – Keshia Swan
**We are currently recruiting someone to help with membership. Please email president@arlingtonyoungdems.org if you are interested.**
Keshia is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and believes there is nothing better than Kentucky Bourbon, Churchill Downs in Spring, and Louisville Cardinal Basketball…with the exception of Democratic politics. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville and a veteran of several national political campaigns. A resident of Arlington since 2007, she has been a member of AYD since 2008 as well as an active member of the Junior League of Washington. In her spare time she enjoys reading, wishing she were a runner, and watching 80’s movies like Back to the Future and Ghostbusters. She tweets @Keshia_Swan
Political Director – Ben Lingeman
Ben has lived in Northern Virginia since 2008, when he worked for the campaigns to elect President Obama and Senator Warner in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax County. After the Obama/Warner campaign, Ben joined Terry McAuliffe’s gubernatorial campaign, serving as his Northern Virginia Political Director. Ben works in Washington for Ricchetti, Incorporated. Before moving to the Washington, DC area, he spent a year pursuing a Master’s of Science in higher education administration and Florida State. Ben graduated with a Bachelor’s of Art in French from Miami University in 2007, and served as Student Body Vice President during the 06-7 academic year. Ben has been involved, either professionally or as a volunteer, on numerous political campaigns including the campaigns to elect Terry McAuliffe for Governor of Virginia, President Barack Obama, Senator Mark Warner, Congressmen Gerry Connolly and Jim Moran, State Sen. Dave Marsden and Del. Scott Surovell. Most recently, Ben led the Arlington Young Democrats’ effort to elect Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn in Fairfax County – a clostely contest election with a victory margin of only 37 votes! Come out with the Arlington Young Democrats for future grassroots action! @benlingeman
Parliamentarian – Vacant
Outreach Director – Angela Guzman
Publicity Director – Shaun Edwards
As Publicity Director, Shaun disseminates information on the AYD and its activities to media organizations, as well as publicizes AYD events and fundraising efforts. Shaun served as the AYD African American Caucus Chair in 2009. She is originally from Roanoke, VA and is a 2008 graduate of Washington and Lee University with a B.A.C. in Political Science. @ShaunFEdwards
Community Service Director – Mary Kate Francis
Mary Kate is originally from New York, and has come to call Virginia home following her college years in Washington, D.C. Mary Kate has been an active volunteer for many years, and participated in Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed community service fraternity at American University from 2004-2007. Mary Kate works in advocacy communications for a renewable energy trade association in Washington, D.C. In her spare time, Mary Kate enjoys running, reading, and baking.
Field/OFA Liaison – Kip Malinosky
Kip is the Field Director for AYD & Precinct Operations Chair for ACDC. Originally he is from Springfield, IL, the homes of Obama and Lincoln, and has been in Arlington since 2004. When not campaigning or community organizing, he teaches 8th graders about Civics and Economics. @kipmalinosky
New Media Director – Jamie B. Lockhart
Jamie hails from Midlothian, VA and attended James Madison University where she obtained a B.A. in Political Science (2008). As New Media Director, Jamie maintains the AYD website, Facebook, and Twitter page (@ArlingtonYDs). During the day, she serves as a Legislative Assistant for Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). Her hobbies include vegetarian cooking, running, all things health and nutrition, and twittering about Virginia politics. @jlock
Deputy Director for Youth Outreach – Alexandra Ritchie
Growing up in Latin America and Europe as a Foreign Service brat in the days before Web 1.0, Alexandra came to appreciate a variety of different cultures and the benefits of having a tight-knit community. Now that she’s been Stateside since 1998, she’s grown more accustomed to and passionate about state and local government issues. She received both her Bachelor of Journalism (2002) and her Master of Public Affairs (2005) from The University of Texas at Austin. Between degree programs she worked first in the Governor’s Office on Border Affairs and then as Press Secretary/Legislative Aide to State Sen. John Carona. Although now a Federal employee who works in DC, Alexandra welcomes the opportunity to get involved in the great county where she has been a resident since 2005, Arlington! As Deputy Director for Youth Outreach Alexandra hopes to cement Arlington Young Democrats’ reputation as an inclusive, fun, and strategically-focused organization that can also tap the talent, energy, and ideas of our high school and college peers. Send e-mail to: youth@arlingtonyoungdems.org
Immediate Past President – Sarah Godlewski
Sarah has been a member of AYD since 2004 when she moved to Arlington from Fairfax, VA. Since 2004, Sarah has served as the Director of Outreach and ACDC Vice Chair of Precinct Operations. A native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Sarah moved to Virginia to pursue a degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution from George Mason University. While at George Mason, Sarah was elected Student Body President. Sarah is a recent graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and serves on the Board of Directors for the Arlington Academy of Hope. Sarah works as an organizational design consultant for a major consulting firm and is an adjunct instructor at George Mason University. She is an avid Green Bay Packer fan who loves cheese curds and brats.
