Meet the Candidates
Below are the candidates for each Executive Committee position and a short personal statement.
Chair
👤 Keith Brannum
📖 Full Candidate Statement: I am running for Chair of Democrats Abroad Türkiye to continue the party and community building we have done over the last 2 years, and get ready to take back the Congress in 2026. I have been a Democratic Party political strategist and campaign worker over the last 10 years, helping candidates and elected officials fight for the values that we care about. As Country Team Lead in 2024, I worked with fellow leaders here to re-establish this committee so that Americans in Türkiye have a voice globally and at the ballot box in the US. While I spent time re-engaging current members of DA, I look forward to helping reach out to Americans in other parts of Türkiye that are underrepresented in our committee and working to get our committee the resources it needs to reach Americans everywhere. Finally, I look forward to working with our volunteers and engaged members to build a sustainable and growing organization of voter assistants, committee organizers, and other leaders who build community here. By doing so, we can pass down a strong committee to future DA members that continues to advance our Get Out The Vote and advocacy mission abroad. I look forward to earning your vote.
Vice-Chair
👤 Hope Mandel
📖 Full Candidate Statement: Hi! I’m Hope Mandel and I am running for Vice Chair of Democrats Abroad Türkiye. Given the current political climate in the U.S., we all must do our part to safeguard democracy. I believe I would be an asset to the Executive Committee due to my experience as a leader in the Istanbul expat community. I was honored to be named the inaugural “Member of the Year” by Professional Women of Istanbul (PAWI) in 2021 due to my “hands-on approach to leadership in building and sustaining valuable communities among Istanbul's expat population. When there is a need, Hope steps up and fills it, putting her career data analyst/corporate trainer/organizational skills to excellent use.” As Istanbul Europe Chair for DA Türkiye last year, my ability to recruit within my expat network contributed to the growth of the organization. Membership in Istanbul Europe increased from 210 to 245 active members, while I also worked to clean up the database by removing inactive and members no longer eligible. With the support of the DA Türkiye Chair, the Istanbul Asia Chair, and my precinct leaders, I helped organize:
- Various “Get Out The Vote” events in support of the Global Presidential Primary and the general election.
- A hugely successful Independence Day Picnic.
- A Voter Appreciation Party at the home of one of our members.
- A debate watch party.
- An election night Zoom watch party.
- A Post-Election Party.
So far this year, I have been involved in drafting the bylaws for our new country committee and assisting in planning our upcoming Annual Meeting. Along with my Istanbul Asia Chair, we held a well-attended 2025 kickoff meeting on Feb. 27.
I would be honored to serve as your Vice Chair and continue growing our community and impact in 2025!
Secretary
👤 Esin Murat
📖 Full Candidate Statement: I was encouraged by Nuray to run at the Kickoff Meetings at Keith’s place after being told that Democrats Abroad wanted more youth representation. At 25, I guess I fit the bill! I have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and currently work in digital forensics and investigations, to assist law enforcement. That speaks to my strong sense of justice, and to me, a democratic society is an extension of a just society. I’m an organized person by nature, and I'm always looking for ways to improve efficiency in both my workflow and my environment. If someone else wants the role, I’d be happy to yield, but I believe I’d be a good fit and would approach the job reliably and effectively. Always happy to step up and help out!
Treasurer
👤Nuray Tasangil
📖 Full Candidate Statement: I am excited to apply for the Treasurer position at Democrats Abroad Türkiye, where I have been volunteering for over a year.
As the Chapter Leader for the DA Istanbul's Asian Side, I have organized many in-person community-building events and ran a successful Global Presidential Primary (GPP) event. For the 2024 General Election, I led the National Voter Assistance Program, helping U.S. voters in Turkiye register to vote through weekly online events and personal outreach. As Team Leader, I worked closely with DA Türkiye leadership and volunteers to expand voter engagement.
Beyond my volunteer work, I have experience in business and nonprofit leadership, with a background in international business, trade, and strategic operations. These experiences have given me strong project management, reporting, and organizational skills. While this position does not involve direct financial management, these skills will enable me to handle future responsibilities efficiently and transparently, ensuring compliance and accountability.
I volunteer with Democrats Abroad Türkiye because I am committed to protecting democratic values and resisting populist agendas that threaten fair and inclusive government. A key focus of my work has been reaching out to Turkish Americans in Türkiye who may not be aware of their right to vote in U.S. elections and encouraging them to get involved in our network. Expanding our community and increasing voter participation is critical to strengthening democracy.
I look forward to the opportunity to continue my service in this new role.
Members-at-Large (Two Positions)
1. 👤Susan King
📖 Full Candidate Statement: My name is Susan King, and I am a proud Democratic who has been living and voting from abroad for over 30 years. I taught in international schools in Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, and Turkey. My Canadian husband and I fell in love with Turkey and retired here almost ten years ago. I have been a member of Democratic Abroad for more than ten years, but mostly through the Canadian Democrats Abroad. My main qualifications for running for Member at Large is that I have the time, and I am willing to do whatever the officers tell me needs to be done.
2. 👤Isil Dogay Jones
📖 Full Candidate Statement: My name is Isil Dogay Jones. I have been a US Citizen since September 2008. I lived in DFW, TX between 2002-2008. I was married to an American and studied at UT Arlington. I have been a member of the Turkish American Association of North Texas (TURANT) and the Turkish Student Association University of Texas at Arlington while living in Texas. I am a single mother. I have voted in every election since 2008. I have been volunteering for DA Turkiye since November 2023. I have participated in DA Turkiye events in Istanbul. I am running for Member-At-Large. I want to contribute to DA Turkiye such as organizing events, creating and working on new projects, and reaching the Turkish-American community in Istanbul. As a native Turkish speaker, I can communicate with first-time voters living in Istanbul and introduce them to the Democrat Party. I can create projects with my teammates and also organize events. I want to volunteer for DA Turkiye as a mother. Whether they live in the USA or other countries, I want a bright future for our children.
Your participation is crucial in shaping the leadership and direction of DA Türkiye. If you have any questions regarding the election process, candidate eligibility, or voting procedures, please contact the Nominations & Elections Committee at [email protected].
We appreciate your engagement and look forward to your participation in this important election.
Best regards,
Democrats Abroad Türkiye – Nominations & Elections Committee (NEC)
Stephanie Reaume, Mario Vargas, Monika Jędrzejczyk