2019 GCDP Board Candidates

Chair

Nicole Ward Quick

Guilford County Dems,

Thank you for trusting me as your Chair for the past 2 years! During that time, I have

Worked with board members to increase organized precincts;
Increased fundraising;
Established a Progressive Caucus;
Developed an ongoing internship program with NC A&T University;
Identified and addressed voter protection issues;
Negotiated a new lease for GCDP headquarters and a short-term lease for High Point;
Established an Issues Committee which hosts films and action-oriented events
Formed a GCDP book club.

There is still work to do though, and with your vote, I look forward to diving into it!

For more information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-315cD7pxHqbyTgXeANmIoRK9GitDodEpW-rGXeLDlY/edit?usp=sharing

First Vice Chair

Tyler Beall

To advance the needs of our community, Tyler Beall is running for First Vice of the Guilford County Democratic Party. Through professional and civic experience, Tyler has been engaging and inspiring his community, challenging every individual to empower others and build a stronger tomorrow. For Tyler, this starts with a determined, progressive vision for the role of First Vice Chair, and to solidify a focus on candidate training. By working with precincts, we can develop local leaders, transforming the political process to embrace grassroots. Please vote for Tyler, and together we can build a future worth leaving behind for others.

Joshua “Fox” Brown

I’ve enjoyed serving as Vice-Chair for High Point, and now I ask for your vote to become 1st Vice-Chair so that I can continue supporting efforts to Organize Precincts across our County, help recruit new and hopefully younger, more diverse leadership for open Party positions, and support Democratic Candidates for public office.

I’ve served as
– Precinct Chair
– SEC Member
– Council of Review Member
– State Judicial Board Chairman (NCDP Progressive Caucus)

I’m an advocate of fairness, inclusion, and accessiblity. I believe in a Democratic Party that constantly evolves into a better champion for the People!

www.Facebook.com/VoteForFox

Maurice Warren

A proven results-driven leader for NC Democrats, my expertise, background, and vision provide our party with a future full of positive synergy and success. I am a US Air Force and Vietnam Vet of 23 years. My training has afforded me the pleasure of chairing G05 for over 12 years. I’ve worked on numerous campaigns: President Obama, Sen. Gladys Robinson, Rep. Brad Miller for US 13 and, most recently, Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers and D.A. Avery Crump. I attended A+T College, USAF, and U.S. Air Force Flight Academy in Texas. I pride myself as a Great Grass Roots Worker!

Second Vice Chair

Adrienne Spinner

Adrienne is a mom of two girls, business-owner, and community activist. She is an event coordinator for Guilford Education Alliance, and board member on the North Carolina Governor’s Council for Women. She is a strong advocate for public education, common-sense gun safety laws, criminal justice reform, women’s and LGBTQ rights, immigrants/refugees, and a diverse and inclusive community. As the current second vice-chair, Adrienne has conducted training sessions on voter registration, canvassing, and community outreach. She will continue working to educate and empower voters; using a respectful and organized approach that prioritizes diplomacy, passion, and integrity.

Third Vice Chair

Elijah Jacob Mears

Elijah Mears is a Greensboro resident and active Democrat. He served two terms as the Director of Communications for the UNCG College Democrats and is currently First Vice Chair of the 13^th District and LGBT+ Caucus Chair for the Young Democrats of North Carolina. Additionally, he has done web design work for the College Democrats of North Carolina, Mary Rulli for NC House, and the 13^th District Democrats, and has served the Guilford Democrats by designing invitations and programs for the 2018 Unity Dinner. He hopes to bring energy, commitment, and new ideas to the role of Third Vice Chair.

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook: @ElijahJMears
Website: elijahjmears.com

Secretary

Iamoni McClellan

My name is Iamoni McClellan and I am a Political Science Pre Law major at UNCG. I am a hard working individual who loves to represent what I believe in a fight for it. I have worked in the political field plenty of times and have just received my third internship offer with “LEAD Girls of NC.” I am willing to put my foot forward and take a chance to represent and work GCDP once again, but at a higher position. My schedule is also very flexible. I wish to become Attorney General one day so this would be a great start for me. I hope to have the opportunity to become Secretary for GCDP.

Treasurer

Leslie Holder Martin

I currently serve as Rural Vice Chair of the GCDP. During my term I have increased the number of organized precincts, expanded access to voter information to precinct volunteers, and organized numerous events, trainings, and GOTV activities.

Now, I’d like to focus on strengthening GCDP’s financial outlook, which includes:

Establishing a budget
Creating actionable financial reporting
Increasing GCDP’s fundraising capabilities

Previous Party Experience:

GCDP Rural Vice Chair
RCDP 1st Vice Chair
6th Congressional District 3rd Vice Chair
NCDP Platform and Resolution Committee
NCDP SEC Member

Greensboro Vice Chair

Pete Shaw

Dear Fellow Democrats,

This past year as Guilford County Vice Chair:

Organized 26 precincts (some formed clusters), where most used my suggested model of having monthly meetings at restaurants with politicians as speakers, which I arranged.
Worked with 12 precincts dealing with issues such as recruitment with phone banking and canvassing.
Partnered with Indivisible Guilford County organizing unorganized precincts.
Participated in a “Next Steps” program for precinct officers.
Helped set up numerous candidate forums.
Logistics captain for “Break the Majority”
Was a poll greeter, certified poll observer, and runner on Election Day.

Did I earn your vote?! – Pete Shaw

High Point Vice Chair

Beverly Bard

My name is Beverly Bard and I will be honored to continue serving on the Guilford County Democratic Party’s Board of Officers. Here are some details about me:

2017-current GCDP Secretary
2017-current Issues Committee Chair
2013-2017 GCDP High Point Vice Chair/Precinct Organizer
2012 Fellow Intern for President Obama’s Campaign

Democrats are the most wonderful people I know, who are trying their best to make our country better. I can’t think of anything better to do than to be a part of this.

I want to continue serving. Thank you for your vote!

Lawrence “Larry” Cormier

Progressive Democratic principles commitment.
Organized my precinct. 2016 voted 3 Democrats to every 4 Republicans; 2018, less than 1.1 to 1.
Poll greeted , over 100 hours.
President of Progressive Caucus.
Canvassed, and helped other precincts organize.
Presented resolution to Greensboro City Council to support, and recommend to the NCGA that they ratify the ERA. Passed!

Goals:

Get all HP precincts organized
Work with other chairs for training precinct chairs and voters
Show up!
Work to get HP City Council Democratic candidates

I hope I have earned your trust, and will strive to keep it.

lcormier@triad.rr.com

Rural Vice-Chair

Linda L. Archer

I moved to North Carolina almost 4 years ago. I have been an active democrat wherever I have lived, working on both local and national campaigns. I have organized my very red, rural precinct for the last two years. I know the difficulties of finding a central place to meet, far flung addresses and the wide disparity of lifestyles represented in rural precincts. I would never have been able to organize my precinct without help from Leslie and I want to make sure that help is offered to others.

State Executive Committee

Margaret Bordeaux Arbuckle, Ph.D.

Margaret Arbuckle, Ph.D., is former Guilford County Commissioner and the former executive director of the Guilford Education Alliance. She was the 2013 Woman of the Year of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and served as a founding board member of the Guilford County Partnership for Children and as associate director of the Center for Youth, Family and Community Partnerships at UNCG. Currently, she is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Cone Health Foundation. She has long served as an advocate for children and the community and has been an active leader and volunteer in the Democratic Party.

Linda L. Archer

Heather Blackburn

I have been honored to serve as a faithful representative for Guilford County on our State Executive Committee since 2017. During my term, I have attended or sent a proxy for every SEC meeting.I have experience serving as a Poll Observer for numerous Precincts in our County during Early Voting and Election Day. I also currently serve as a Precinct Committee Member for H12 in High Point.

I ask for your vote to be re-elected to our SEC so I can continue to help represent our County and advocate for our Party to be the Party of the People!

Tara Blomquist

I have been successfully organizing my precinct since 2000. I was the web manager of the PDNC blog and wrote a monthly newsletter and created the convention postcards for the organization for several years.

More recently I have worked with Indivisible Guilford County, canvasing, phone banking and protesting against the Republican attempt to end Obamacare. I am now the Movie Committee Chair for the organization. I am a Progressive Caucus Member as well as a Democratic Women Member.

I am a retired artist and I have the time to devote to SEC meetings and will never miss one without first securing a proxy in my place.

Joshua “Fox” Brown

I’ve enjoyed serving as Vice-Chair for High Point, and now I ask for your vote for SEC so that I can continue supporting efforts to Organize Precincts across our County, help recruit new and hopefully younger, more diverse leadership for open Party positions, and support Democratic Candidates for public office.

I’ve served as
– Precinct Chair
– SEC Member
– Council of Review Member
– State Judicial Board Chairman (NCDP Progressive Caucus)

I’m an advocate of fairness, inclusion, and accessiblity. I believe in a Democratic Party that constantly evolves into a better champion for the People!

www.Facebook.com/VoteForFox

Lawrence “Larry” Cormier

Progressive Democratic principles commitment.
Organized my precinct. 2016 voted 3 Democrats to every 4 Republicans; 2018, less than 1.1 to 1.
Poll greeted , over 100 hours.
President of Progressive Caucus.
Canvassed, and helped other precincts organize.
Presented resolution to Greensboro City Council to support, and recommend to the NCGA that they ratify the ERA. Passed!

Goals:

Get all HP precincts organized
Work with other chairs for training precinct chairs and voters
Show up!
Work to get HP City Council Democratic candidates

I hope I have earned your trust, and will strive to keep it.

lcormier@triad.rr.com

David Dalton

Delegates and friends,

A unified Guilford Delegation with purpose will find partners and supporters from the other Counties. Together we can make a difference in Raleigh and Greensboro. I would appreciate it if you will return me to the SEC for another term.

Experience

Active in my precinct
Democratic Party State Executive Committee
Triad for Bernie 2020, Organizational Committee
NC Progressives, Facebook Discussion Page Moderator
Treasurer of the Gary Kenton for Council campaign Committee
Advisor to the Sylvine Hill for Council campaign
Democracy Greensboro, Steering Committee
League of Women Voters, Social Justice Roundtable Steering Committee
Organizer and Executive Director of Piedmont Progressive Action, a 501(c)4, PAC.
National President, AFGE, National Council of HUD Locals, AFL-CIO

Education. A graduate of Miami-Dade Community College and Florida State University. BA in Philosophy and Intl. Affairs.

B.J. Gerald-Covington

I’m B. J. Gerald-Covington and I will be running for a position on the State Executive Committee at our County Convention on March 30, 2019.

Elect An Experience Democratic:

Former President of Democratic Women
Former Greensboro Vice Chair
Guilford County Star for Democratic Women
G30 Precinct Chair
Deputy Vice Chair – 5^th Region Democratic Women – 9 Counties

Served in the Community and State on various Boards:

Commission on Aging – Guilford County
Joy A. Shabazz Ctr. (Disabled Persons – 6 Counties)
Nursing Home Advisor Board
Vice Chair Executive Board – Greensboro Transit

A Vote for me, will be a vote of Trust and Respect for the entire Guilford County Community.

Chris Gallagher Ekstedt

I am 71 years old, a resident of High Point and a lifelong Democrat. I retired from a 26 year career at Volvo Trucks as a business systems analyst in 2014.

I organized my precinct H20B in 2017 and serve now as a delegate from that precinct. I have served as a proxy at most SEC meetings since 2017. I was very active in volunteering in Democratic candidate campaigns in 2016 and 2018 (Break the Majority) and as a poll greeter and poll observer in 2018.

Thanks!

Mark Gibb

I am the founder of Gibbs Hundred Brewing on State Street in Greensboro. I’ve been in Greensboro ten years. I’ve been active in Democratic politics since 1991 when, as a fellow veteran, I was inspired to volunteer for the campaign of Bob Kerrey. I currently serve as the Vice Chair of precinct G17. I am eager to help make a difference in the coming critical contests over redistricting and recapturing the Presidency. I would be honored to serve the state party in this capacity. Thank you.

Cameron Hopper

My name is Cameron Hopper, and I hope to serve on the State Executive Committee. I have a strong interest in public service and commitment to advocating forward thinking ideas. While I do lack experience, last May I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in political science. I believe my education informs a strong foundational understanding of the workings and responsibilites of the SEC. It would be an honor to serve Guilford County after it so graciously welcomed me five years ago.

Edward Bruce Keohohou

I am asking for your vote of confidence, as I seek another term as a Delegate to the North Carolina State Democratic Executive Committee.

Election for Guilford County Democratic Officers and State Executive Committee, will be held on Saturday, March 30th, at the Embassy Suites (near PTI Airport).

Please refer to the North Carolina Democratic Party-Plan of Organization (PoO), for requirements and qualifications for seeking nomination.

I urge any and all DEMOCRATS to attend this convention. As we prepare for the future of our Nation.

Aloha e’pumehana.

Elijah Jacob Mears

Kathryn Golden Morris

I would like to serve another term on the SEC. I am from Greensboro’s G47 Precinct in the Glenwood neighborhood where I grew up. I am currently serving as Secretary/ Treasurer of our precinct. Ours is one of the most diverse neighborhoods and precincts in Guilford County and there is indeed room for all at the Democratic table. We celebrate new ideas along with experience.

Together we can make things happen but we must make ourselves available. I believe to whom much is given, much is required. It is time to give back.

David Southworth

I am 68 years old, a lifelong resident of Greensboro and a lifelong Democrat. I have recently retired from a career as a factory sale rep. I am a Veteran of the US Army (thanks to the draft), and a 1976 graduate of UNCG – Business & Economics.

I am serving my 2nd consecutive term as Vice Chair of Precinct G27 and have been an active volunteer for many years; more, now that I am retired.

I was privileged to serve as a representative to the SEC these last two years, and, most importantly, attended all the meetings.

Thanks.