Join us at 7 pm on March 9, 2021 for the Democrats Abroad Toronto AGM. We will be announcing the result of our 2021 Board elections and taking nominations from the floor for open positions. We will also be celebrating everything we achieved in 2020. Please see the candidate statements below for the various Board member positions we will be electing.
Voting will be taking place electronically, and the Nominations and Election Committee will circulate ballots in advance of the AGM. Keep an eye out in your email for your ballot. RSVP Here for the AGM.
DA Toronto Candidates
The invitation for candidates to submit their names for election to a two-year term on the Democrats Abroad Toronto board has generated an enthusiastic response. This feedback has shown that Toronto members are eager to engage in the work of Building Back Better. Below you will find the candidates’ nomination statements. It is evident that they are a group of smart, committed individuals who will work hard to strengthen U.S. democratic institutions. Any choice that you make will be a wise one.
Ballots will be emailed to all Toronto members prior to the March 9, 2021 AGM. Nominations from the floor will be available only for open positions.
Chair
Dianna English - Female
Democrats Abroad has been a vital community for all of us over the last year. I joined the Toronto Chapter after moving here in 2019, eager to make a meaningful contribution to the 2020 election. After a decade in public service, including at the U.S. Department of State and the Obama White House, I needed to connect to the fight to restore a progressive agenda in the United States. Democrats Abroad Toronto became my home and family in this effort. As a Toronto member and the Communications Officer for Canada, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to contribute and get to know Democrats Abroad members within our Chapter, and across Canada.
The Toronto Chapter has more members than most Country Committees across the globe. Through the challenges of COVID-19, we have been strong sources of support for each other. As we look to 2021/22, I want to continue this spirit, restore in-person gatherings, broaden outreach, and recruit new members with an emphasis on diversity. We will need all of us to secure the gains of this year.
I look forward to getting to know those of you I haven’t yet met, and I’m excited to Build Back Better, Together.
Co-Vice Chair
One of the Co-Vice Chairs must be a different gender than the Chair in accordance with Democrats Abroad Canada bylaws which is informed by the gender parity values of the Democratic Party.
Danielle Stampley - Female
I am the outgoing Chair of Democrats Abroad - Toronto, and I am running for Co-Vice Chair because I want to keep the momentum we built in 2020 going while supporting other Chapter leaders.
In my two years as Chair, I ran meetings, organized and trained volunteers, set up a new fundraising system, planned social events to keep us connected during COVID, and worked hard to keep our members informed. Most importantly, I organized Get Out the Vote efforts like phone banking and postcard writing and our voting center for the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary.
I have attended international Democrats Abroad meetings and have developed a good understanding of the organization's resources and rules. At this point, I want to use what I have learned from my experience to help our Chapter rise to its potential and reach as many voters as possible.
I am a Missouri voter, and I have lived in Toronto for nearly seven years. By day, I am a lawyer. I represent workers and unions in an employment and labour practice. Organization, planning, and leadership are key to my practice and my work with Democrats Abroad. I would very much appreciate your support.
Timothy Ellis – Male
As one of the sitting Co-Vice Chairs, I am proud to have been part of the GOTV efforts by both DA Toronto and DA Canada to unseat President Trump and deliver victory in Georgia. I am running for re-election because, as an organizer and campaigner with experience on two Bernie campaigns, a union organizing drive, local and state senate races, and nationwide advocacy campaigns in both the US and Canada, I am keen to continue to put my skills to work building the grassroots power that Democrats need to win elections and deliver on the bold, ambitious, and progressive agenda that Americans need and deserve.
If re-elected, I will work to build our organizational capacity, get the most out of our technology, and ensure that DA Toronto remains a big tent organization that effectively advocates for our shared values and priorities - both within the party and through continued outreach to the thousands of Americans who call our city home.
I am part of the progressive caucus, the LGBTQ caucus, and a nascent digital security and rights caucus. You can reach me by email with any questions, ideas, or comments.
Secretary
Marni Turner-Serbin
I grew up in Toronto and then lived most of my adult life in New York City, USA starting in 1996. My children were born in the USA and lived there through most of elementary school, until we moved to Toronto in 2020. I was thrilled to become a U.S. citizen in 2010. I voted for President Obama in my first federal election in 2012. I proudly voted for Hilary Clinton in 2016 and for Joe Biden in 2020. I feel very privileged to be a citizen of the USA (and Canada), and I feel it is important to exercise my privilege to participate in state and local/municipal politics as well. Most of my professional career was in the fashion industry and start-ups. I later transitioned to non-profit administration working with many high profile people in politics, entertainment and finance in NYC. I am very happy to be living in Canada currently, but I also feel passionate about keeping my ties to the United States of America. I truly love my country, the USA, and I would like to be able to give back on some level for all it has given to me.
Colleen Mahaffie
I would like to act as the Secretary or Member-at-Large for the Board of Directors of Democrats Abroad Toronto because I feel that I have a lot to give to the organization. I'd love to help move Democrats Abroad forward as we start a new chapter in American history. The resources, news, and political actions that are made available to those of us abroad by this organization continue to be more important than ever.
As Secretary, I would bring my considerable experience in organization, administrative filing and scheduling to the table. I also have experience taking detailed meeting minutes, and enjoy acting as an administrative resource for colleagues. It would be an honour to serve fellow Democrats Abroad in this capacity.
As a communications specialist, I believe that my expertise in writing, design, and organization would be valuable as a Member-at-Large. I enjoy helping out wherever possible and representing Democrats Abroad Toronto in a progressive and positive light. As a Member-at-Large, I would assist with digital outreach and communications, as well as event administration and setup.
Please feel free to peruse my professional experience on my LinkedIn profile.
Treasurer
Reg Charney
I joined the DAC Executive under Adrienne Jones in 2007 and have served in one capacity or another since then. Most recently, I have been the DAC Toronto Chapter Treasurer for 2019-2020. I was also a former Treasurer for DAC Canada before we broke into chapters. This will be the second time I am running for Treasurer.
I welcome any suggestions on how we can improve our financial position since 2021 will be an "off" year, but we need to prepare for the mid-terms in 2022. Historically, we have had low participation in the mid-terms, but the possibility of a Republican resurgence is something we need to prepare for and we will need funding for our outreach and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) in both 2021 and 2022.
Member-at-Large
Candidates are listed first in the order of position and second in the order their nomination was received.
Candidates were asked to include in their candidate statement skills and experience pertinent to the position. Member-at-Large candidates were invited to mention likely areas and projects of focus. Candidates were also informed that they could provide contact information and/or links to websites or profiles.
Shannon Linehan
I have been an active volunteer with the Toronto chapter of Democrats Abroad for the past 1-2 years through leading LGBTQ+ caucus events, participating in Get Out The Vote initiatives, and participating in other special projects. If nominated as a Board member, I would hope to continue with these efforts on a more formalized level, but I am also particularly interested in exploring ways to build community for new members and those recently settling into Canada from the US.
My board experience stems specifically from my position as Volunteer Coordinator for "World Refugee Day in Western New York," a community-wide yearly event and registered non-profit organization. My role required detailed communication and regular engagement with volunteers to ensure a successful event which honored and celebrated newcomer stories in the Buffalo area. I believe that my experience and personable character can support DA Toronto with member engagement.
I am an Upstate New Yorker at heart, a social worker by profession, and vote in Buffalo, NY. Here in Toronto, I work as a Clinical Supervisor at an Employee-Family Assistance Program. My Linked in profile can be located here.
Brooke Scott
My name is Brooke Scott, and I am running for Member-at-Large. For the last four years I have
served on the board as a Member-at-Large for York Region. During my two terms I have attended monthly meetings, volunteered for most of our in-person events, co-chaired the active Toronto Women’s Caucus, organized a volunteer recruitment event and assisted in organizing various GOTV events. I attend the Canada board meetings as the chair of the Women’s Caucus Canada. If I am elected for this next term I will continue to volunteer and organize for Get Out the Vote activities. Thank you for your consideration.
Karin Lippert
10+years DA Toronto member, Co-Vice Chair, organizer of events, press outreach and more! Ready to mobilize Women's Caucus & Women's Vote for 2022-24 elections to secure & grow our majorities in the House and Senate, and Advance Women's Issues. #ERANow
Ann Yarnell
If selected as a Member-at-Large, I would like to focus on encouraging US citizens living abroad to vote in all eligible US elections and also how to streamline the information so that voting does not seem too complicated.
Marni Turner-Serbin
I grew up in Toronto and then lived most of my adult life in New York City, USA starting in 1996. My children were born in the USA and lived there through most of elementary school, until we moved to Toronto in 2020. I was thrilled to become a U.S. citizen in 2010. I voted for President Obama in my first federal election in 2012. I proudly voted for Hilary Clinton in 2016 and for Joe Biden in 2020. I feel very privileged to be a citizen of the USA (and Canada) and I feel it is important to exercise my privilege to participate in state and local/municipal politics as well. Most of my professional career was in the fashion industry and start-ups. I later transitioned to non-profit administration working with many high profile people in politics, entertainment and finance in NYC. I am very happy to be living in Canada currently, but I also feel passionate about keeping my ties to the United States of America. I truly love my country, the USA, and I would like to be able to give back on some level for all it has given to me.
Matt Riggs
My name is Matt, and I’m a Canadian born dual citizen. I always aligned politically as a Democrat but didn’t become one formally until I moved to Texas in 2012. I got the bug for political organizing when I worked on a political campaign based in Austin. Since then, I’ve worked on 3 campaigns including the 2016 presidential campaign in Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh was my last US home, and I’ve been back in Toronto since December 2016.
I’m very interested in American identity; I even made a documentary about it! https://amianamerican.com/
I’ve been to 42 states, visited embassies in Kenya and Cambodia, and interviewed nearly 200 people about what it means to them to be American.
I’ve mostly been a passive member in the online communities of Americans living in Canada, but I’m eager to get active again politically and think that Americans living abroad deserve the chance to be engaged in the political process as much as they can be, and 2020 proved that it doesn't matter where you are - you can help!
And Joe is right that this is a time for unity, but there’s also never been a more important time to double down on democratic values.
Wasif Khan
I lived in four states in the US, Houston Texas, Detroit MI, San Francisco CA and Cleveland OH. Worked for DuPont, Dupont Dow and Dow Chemicals for 30+ years. I am a chemical Engineer. I was extremely active in Obama's election campaign in San Francisco, and raised a huge amount of money and got him elected. I have been living in Canada now for 6 years and am a CEO of my own Merit Specialty Chemicals ( US & Canada Corporations) and am the President of Neomat Distribution ( Quebec Corporation). I also own an art gallery, Indulgences Art Gallery in Toronto. I did work with the New York Democrats in getting Biden elected, and made personal donations. I would like to pay back by being of service, realizing how important it has become to keep democracy alive!
Joann Sochor
I have been a life-long Democrat from Chicago. I have been active in the last election, making calls, regularly participating in Sunday zoom sessions and displaying yard signs. I have experience as an active board member and Treasurer of Houselink, a non-profit that offers supportive housing to about 500 of Toronto's homeless. I have also been civically active as a volunteer for other organizations, including Girl Guides. I have an MBA and work in Compliance at a major financial institution. The most recent election has increased my conviction that a politically active citizenry is crucial to a well-functioning democracy, and I am committed to the work that Democrats Abroad performs.
Colleen Mahaffie
I would like to act as the Secretary or Member-at-Large for the Board of Directors of Democrats Abroad Toronto because I feel that I have a lot to give to the organization. I'd love to help move Democrats Abroad forward as we start a new chapter in American history. The resources, news, and political actions that are made available to those of us abroad by this organization continue to be more important than ever.
As Secretary, I would bring my considerable experience in organization, administrative filing and scheduling to the table. I also have experience taking detailed meeting minutes, and enjoy acting as an administrative resource for colleagues. It would be an honour to serve fellow Democrats Abroad in this capacity.
As a communications specialist, I believe that my expertise in writing, design, and organization would be valuable as a Member-at-Large. I enjoy helping out wherever possible and representing Democrats Abroad Toronto in a progressive and positive light. As a Member-at-Large, I would assist with digital outreach and communications, as well as event administration and setup.
Please feel free to peruse my professional experience on my LinkedIn profile.
Mari Rutka
I've served 2 terms as Secretary and would be happy to continue to be involved with helping to organize activities for this very worthwhile group. There are still many elections ahead of us and we need to make sure we contribute to building the world we would like to see.
Jacqueline Swartz
I am a long-term member of Democrats Abroad and a former Vice-Chair. I have seen the Canadian committee grow, and I am so proud of the work we have done since 2018. During the recent elections, I was an active Call Hub volunteer. I then worked with various groups to make direct calls to voters in Georgia. Going forward, at least during these zoom times, I would like to see more get-togethers - not just to hear a speaker but to socialize. Not just caucus events but ones where everyone is invited. I am willing to help organize such events. I would also like to see us continue the tech help that was so useful. Hats off to those tech advisors who were so patient and helpful. In sum, I think I have something to contribute, and I am asking for your vote.
Yael Glina
As a dual citizen born and raised in Toronto my pride in being American has gone from instilled to embraced to energized.
Returning to Toronto after time spent working in New York further reinforced my need to be active - abroad.
My role as a Director of Social Marketing, Content, Strategy, and Production would allow me to bring my extensive tactical expertise to DAT.
Sustained activism is about more than every two or four years but about identifying key opportunities to build an active community that strives for impact and change.
By refining the social processes in place to be more strategic we may be better able to serve DAT goals, expand messaging and in turn raise awareness and target new audiences.
I would also work to maintain an active presence with members via established events and new programs as well as leveraging important communication channels further.
The ways in which we navigate this time of change will influence the future immeasurably.
I look forward to the opportunity to be part of the positive impact that DAT brings and the community it has established.
Janette McCabe
Over the past two years I have proudly served as a Member-at-Large for the Toronto Chapter and have witnessed firsthand the incredible dedication of our Board to the mission of DA. I was born and raised in Toronto, then spent 23 years of my adult life in the US, becoming an American citizen in 2008 while campaigning for Barack Obama. I am passionate about social justice and believe politics can serve as the vehicle for achieving the lofty goals to which Democrats aspire. That elections can have dire consequences became devastatingly clear these past 4 years and compelled me and millions of others to use our time and talents to literally shape the course of history. My focus was on GOTV and as the Phone Banking Team Leader I was convinced that collectively we could make a difference and indeed we did! Reaching out and engaging even more Americans is vital going forward and I would be honored to serve again in the capacity of Member-at-Large. It's been truly inspiring to work with such a great team and our electoral success is a testament to what is possible when we all come together! My educational background includes a BSc in Nursing and MA in Pol. Science and my professional career covered periods in Obstetrics, Public Health, and most rewarding personally, my work in refugee resettlement.
Shannon Bassett
A dual-citizen (US-Canadian), born in Canada (Ottawa), I spent 20 of my formative adult years living in the US. I am a professor of Architecture at Laurentian University in Sudbury. As an educator, a strong part of my platform is to actively educate Democrats living abroad in Canada on how to be active and how to vote abroad. While in the US, I attended grad school at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, in addition to practicing architecture and teaching for 10 years in Boston. I taught in Tampa, Florida as well as Buffalo New York. It is in Florida that I became a US Citizen, so I would have the right to vote. When sworn in by oath, contingent to being awarded US Citizenship, I promised that as an upstanding citizen that I would always exercise that right to vote. I have been an activist in Women in Architecture all of my adult life, and now serve on the Women’s Caucus in the Democrats Abroad in the Toronto chapter. I would like to work with Democrats Abroad-Toronto to help Democrats in Canada navigating the voting abroad process as I had to do when returning to Canada in 2018.
Member-at-Large – Peel
Matt Riggs
My name is Matt, and I’m a Canadian born dual citizen. I always aligned politically as a Democrat but didn’t become one formally until I moved to Texas in 2012. I got the bug for political organizing when I worked on a political campaign based in Austin. Since then, I’ve worked on 3 campaigns including the 2016 presidential campaign in Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh was my last US home, and I’ve been back in Toronto since December 2016.
I’m very interested in American identity; I even made a documentary about it! https://amianamerican.com/
I’ve been to 42 states, visited embassies in Kenya and Cambodia, and interviewed nearly 200 people about what it means to them to be American.
I’ve mostly been a passive member in the online communities of Americans living in Canada, but I’m eager to get active again politically and think that Americans living abroad deserve the chance to be engaged in the political process as much as they can be, and 2020 proved that it doesn't matter where you are - you can help!
And Joe is right that this is a time for unity, but there’s also never been a more important time to double down on democratic values.
Member-at-Large – York
No candidates
Member-at-Large – Durham
No candidates