Candidate Statements for the 2025 DA France Avignon Leadership Election

Posted by Alejandra Roman
February 25, 2025

National IT/Database Officer, DA France

The DA France Avignon Election Board is pleased to announce the candidates for DAFR Avignon Chapter leadership!

Members of the DA France Avignon Chapter area will receive a ballot by email. Electronic voting will end on March 15 at Midnight.

For questions, please contact the Avignon Election Board at [email protected].

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These are the positions that are up for election. Please see below for the candidate statements.

Chair: The Chair sets the agendas and leads the meetings of the Chapter. They plan and execute the Chapter’s activities, working together with their team. They participate as a voting member of DA France’s National Executive Committee, and are responsible for monthly Chapter reports to the DA France Executive Committee.

Vice Chair: The Vice Chair assists the Chair, and the duties of the Chair may be shared with the Vice Chair.

Secretary: The Secretary maintains the archives of the Chapter, and is in charge of the membership database and information distribution.

Members at Large: The Members at Large are Chapter Executive Committee members who help in various capacities but who don’t have a specific role.

Candidate(s) for Chair

Jack McDermott

I have been Chair of the DA-Avignon Chapter for the last six years and I want to continue for another 2-year term. Why? …To continue the work of engaging and educating American citizens to the bedrock political process of voting. The focus is to build awareness among fellow citizens, wherever they are in the world, that they have the right to register, secure a ballot and vote. More than ever before it’s important that people get involved and participate in the democratic process. Because increasing the vote in each election will determine how we are governed, both at home and abroad.

As American citizens we hold a franchise, the right to vote. In numerous contests, absentee ballots, many from DA members, made a difference. We made progress during the recent election as we grew DA membership and improved our voter support capabilities. We increased voter participation but we need to do more. That is our overall objective; the is my objective. As a former HR Executive with international experience, I believe I have the insight and experience to get things done. I’ve lived over 40 years in Europe: Holland, Switzerland, and now retired in France. I’ve been engaged in the leadership of DA, I know the policies and processes of our Party. 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.

Candidate(s) for Vice Chair

No nominations were received.

Candidate(s) for Secretary

Dennis Shibut

I, Dennis Shibut, am running for the Avignon Chapter Secretary position and ask for your vote in this DA election cycle. I am the current secretary and wish to continue this work for Democrats Abroad around the Avignon region. Previously, I've been the chair of the chapter. I was one of the first members of the Avignon chapter when it began during Bill Clinton's first run for US President. Later when I took office I doubled the size of our chapter by holding regular luncheon events throughout the chapter area, most memorable being one at JFK's press secretary Pierre Salinger's estate venue called La Bastide Rose outside of Isle-sur-Sorgue.

During my time in the DA Avignon leadership, I helped to start the Marseille chapter with my friend Pamela King. Later as the Avignon chapter chair I went to Montpellier to start the current DA chapter there. In more recent times as Secretary of the chapter, I pushed to make Uzes a sub-chapter, giving the 14 active members there official status and making it the first sub-chapter in Democrats Abroad France.

Candidates for Members-at-Large

No nominations were received.