The nomination period for the Avignon Chapter elections is now closed. Members of the Avignon Chapter will receive a ballot by email, and electronic voting will end on March 13 at 3pm CET.
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The Election Board is pleased to announce the candidates!
Jack McDermott – Candidate for Chair
I have been Chair of the DA-Avignon Chapter for the last four years and I want to continue for another 2-year term. Why? …To finish the job …To encourage people to get involved and vote. Because it’s so important to ensure our Democratic candidates win, as their success will determine how we are governed, both at home and abroad.
As American citizens, we hold a franchise: the right to vote, from wherever we may be. In numerous contests, absentee ballots—many from DA members—made a difference. We made progress during the recent Midterms; Democrats won despite many experts’ predictions! And we also grew DA membership and improved our voter support capabilities. But we need to do more. We need to achieve a new ‘Blue Wave’ in 2024! As a former HR Executive with international experience, I believe I have the insight and experience to get things done. I’ve lived nearly 40 years in Europe: Holland, Switzerland, and now retired in France. I’ve listened, I’ve learned, and I want to contribute. I ask for your support to continue as Chair of the DA-Avignon Chapter.
Denis Shibut - Candidate for Chapter Secretary
I am a founding member of the Avignon chapter and have ten years of chapter leadership experience: two consecutive terms as Chair (2012-16); two terms as Vice-chair (2016-20), and one term as Secretary (2020-22).
I’ve resided in Avignon for more than 30 years, enjoying the cafés and cycling. Professionally, I’m a physicist for the environment and worked for NASA (Skylab Mission) and taught physics at the university level. Here in France, I continue to give regular presentations at Strasbourg University and other schools on green living and renewable energy and am an Ambassador for Enercoop, France’s best-rated renewable energy utility.
During my tenures, our membership has tripled through my efforts for regular luncheon events, and during the presidential and congressional campaigns our ballot arrivals scored an 80 percent success rate, a high point for DA France. Our chapter’s 4-step process for this success is now standard practice for DA worldwide.
Another initiative during my tenure was to start an Avignon sub-chapter in Uzes, the first in France. Four years ago, I also started a new DA chapter in Montpellier, where there are now over 154 members.
I ask for your vote.
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All members of the Avignon Chapter may vote in the leadership elections. The elections will be decided by a plurality of votes (the candidate who gets the most votes in the election wins). DA France does not accept proxy votes. The ballot includes a space for write-in candidates for all positions.
New members are welcome to join and vote.
To join: www.democratsabroad.org/join. You must be a US citizen 18 years of age or older by Nov. 7, 2023. New members may join until the day before the election.
Questions? Please contact the Avignon Chapter Election Board at:
Thank you for voting!