Europe, Middle East, & Africa (EMEA) Non-Country Committee (Non-CC) Candidate Information
The EMEA Region Non-Country Committee Voting Representative will serve alongside the more than 250 other voting representatives from DA's country committees to discuss and vote on DA business – such as Resolutions, Platform, and International Officer leadership elections at global meetings.
This initiative was spearheaded to ensure that all members of Democrats Abroad have representation and a voice in our global organization. The role of Non-CC Voting Representative is an exciting development for the growth of Democrats Abroad (officially named DPCA) and the enfranchisement of DA members who currently do not have representation in the DPCA body.
Please review the candidate statements below before voting for your regional representative.
Candidate Discussion Forum
The public Candidate Forum Google Group is open for Candidates and Voters from Non-CC countries who would like to get to know their candidates better.
https://groups.google.com/a/democratsabroad.org/g/noncc-candidate-forum-2023
Anyone is invited to view the discussion, but only eligible Non-CC voters can be added to the Forum to post questions by selecting the "Ask to join Group" button at the top of the page. (If you do not see the button, send an email request to: [email protected]
Voting and Election Meeting
Balloting will be held via an electronic Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) ballot (with a PDF ballot available upon request) between:
March 10th to 22nd – closing at Midnight voter’s local time
The EMEA Region ballot link was provided in the direct e-mail sent March 10 to all eligible Non-CC Voting members with the subject: Meet Your Voting Rep Candidates and Vote! Note: You must provide your Full Name and the special Voting ID number included to be able to cast a vote. Reminder emails with your personal voting information and ballot link will be sent between now and March 22nd.
The EMEA Election Reporting Meeting will be held:
Saturday, March 25, 2023 8:00am EDT/ 13:00 CET
On WebEx with the following link:
https://democratsabroad.webex.com/democratsabroad/e.php?MTID=m3fec82f74bf6f746a6f7401176230def
Meeting Password = nonccelect
If you have any questions or difficulties regarding the voting process, please contact the Nominations and Elections Committee (NCC-NEC) at: [email protected]
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EMEA Candidates for Non-CC Voting Representative
Daniel Robrish
North Macedonia
Although I am new to Democrats Abroad and I expect to leave North Macedonia after my Peace Corps service ends in December of 2024, I can bring a fresh perspective and enthusiasm to this role.
My background includes 24 years as a professional journalist, including 10 years as editor of a small-town newspaper in south-central Pennsylvania. I started The Elizabethtown Advocate from scratch and earned a reputation in the conservative community as someone who reported the news fairly and objectively while writing progressive editorials. Among other things, I wrote editorials supporting legal recognition of same-sex marriage, marijuana legalization and an end to cash bail. After 10 years there, I decided it was time to move on, so I applied to the Peace Corps.
My main priority as a DPCA voting representative would be to foster more transnational committees. Right now, I feel like I have no local connection to Democrats Abroad, and I suspect that’s a common feeling among DA members in non-CC countries. We don’t have enough people in North Macedonia for a country committee, but we might have enough in the various Balkan nations outside Greece to make a transnational committee.
I am grateful to DA members for their thoughtful consideration of my candidacy.
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Samuel F. Onipede
Nigeria
I am presently resident in Nigeria, where I work with the Central Bank as an Assistant Director, a position that I have held since January 2022. Prior to relocating to Nigeria in December 2014, I was a professor of Economics and Finance at the Strayer University, Charlotte, NC Campus. I also taught in adjunct position for the University of Phoenix and Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte. However, in spite of my professional engagement, since 2007, I have been actively engaged in the local (Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties) Democratic Party’s activities, especially, as involved voters' education and get-out-the-votes drives.
Since I've been in Nigeria, I had always made sure that I vote, especially in every Federal and Statewide election and also encourage every Democratic Party member around me to cast their votes given the necessity to get Progressives into various political offices in order to help advance progressive agenda in the country and in the local communities.
I am passionate in my desire to help grow the Democrats Abroad (DPCA) in the organization’s quest to reach all Democrats in the diaspora, especially, at this critical juncture when the extreme right Conservatives have posed more ideological challenges to progressive ideals in the country.
It is with this realization and a high sense of responsibility that I decided to apply for the position of Non-Country Committee (DPCA) Voting Representative, and I hope that my application would be favorably considered.
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Megan Melissa Jukic
Croatia
Dr. Timothy Snyder recently said in a Ted talk that Democracy is not inevitable – for those of us that cherish Democracy, we must work at it to make it continue into the future. I think I would be a suitable DPCA Voting Representative as I desire to work towards enabling Democracy. I want my children to be able to enjoy living in the type of world that only Democracy can bring.
I began voting at the age of 18 and have always had some sense of how lucky I was as a half African-American, half Caucasian woman to be able to vote. A cursory glance at US History shows until very recently my voice did not count. I want my voice to continue to count and so I must defend Democracy as a construct. I view this opportunity to be a DPCA Voting Representative as a special opportunity to contribute to the Democratic process.
I think I am qualified for this position as I am a good listener and am interested in people, their lives and experiences. I would be happy to listen to others, to see what their concerns are and bring this information to a greater body that can perhaps take some appropriate action. I am also a proud US Citizen and would like to continue to be an active, participating citizen of our society from abroad.
My main priority as a DPCA Voting Representative would be to gather the thoughts and opinions of as many DA members in non-represented areas as possible to ensure their thoughts and needs are heard. My second priority would be to encourage US citizens living abroad to exercise their right to vote and help in any way that I can to make that happen.
Thank you for your consideration.
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Aaron Fishbone
Slovakia
During the 2020 election cycle I served as Global Communications Director for DA. I worked closely with the global leadership, esp that of the other Global teams and Caucuses, as well as CC’s all over the world to define & disseminate our messages and find Americans all over the world & get them to vote. I became intimately familiar with the DA community, how the organization operates, and what it takes to function effectively.
Our success proves that I have the skills, experience and familiarity with DA, campaigning, outreach and voting from Abroad to be effective in the position of Non-CC Voting Rep.
As a husband and father of 2 (4 and 5.5 yrs old) with a job of my own, I live the many pressures and responsibilities that we have. Still we care so much about people back home and America moving in a positive, progressive direction and serving as a force for good in the world that we make time – whatever we can each afford – to participate and GOTV. This is why I am putting myself forward for the position of non-CC voting rep.
Beyond the statutory duties of a DPCA Voting Rep, my priorities would be to organize amongst the other non-CC members in EMEA, to find more Americans in those countries, help them connect with an organ of DA (ie, Global Caucus or Team or State Team), to provide an outlet for their energy. EMEA is huge and so I would really encourage and try to develop the skills of people at the more local levels, and empower and encourage them to go out and organize themselves, in their community and country because this will have a multiplier effect and people feeling vested and valued is critical to their motivation and success.
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Becca Young
Morocco
Prior to this year, people living in countries without a Democrats Abroad country committee haven’t had their voices heard in DA structure or decision-making processes. The election of representatives from this unrepresented group (for example, for the DA members living in 52 of the 54 African countries) is a major step forward for DA inclusivity and equitable representation. I am eager to be part of this development as a representative from the EMEA region.
I have been a member of DA since 2008, with experience as chair of DA-Indonesia and participation in several DA committees at the regional and global level. If elected, I would develop networks of communication between the DA members across the region I represent, so that we as a group can feel more connected, while at the same time bringing the voices of this group to the DA leadership and, more importantly, being the conduit for input in DA decision-making from this previously underrepresented group. In addition, I would work to make sure that DA members in non-CC countries are aware of the many resources available to them through DA, as well as the variety of issues (in addition to GOTV) that DA advocates for. I would open and maintain regular communication channels with the people I represent on how they can participate in the many activities and causes of DA. I wish to be an active representative in DA because I highly value the significance of DA work not just in ballot submission - as crucial as that is - but throughout the entire political cycle, as a way to keep politicians back home accountable and responsive to their constituents who have chosen to live overseas.
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Beverly Baker-Kelly
Oman
I am concerned about the amount of information people are receiving on important issues for Democrats Abroad.
I am well educated in the USA. I care strongly about some issues, but need guidance on other issues.
Priorities: Information of importance to Democrats Abroad - spreading the word.
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Glenn Halperin
Poland
I have been a member of DA since 2002, first in Munich, then the UK, and now in Poland. While work kept me from participating more actively, I have since retired and can spend more time participating in DA activities such as GOTV, phonebanking, perhaps even a caucus or two. I am keenly interested in what is happening politically and culturally in the U.S. I recognize the profound difference and achievements Democrats Abroad has made to the election of Democratic politicians from the presidency to State houses.
In October 2019, I wrote 200 post cards promoting the tight but successful election of Democrat Clinton Jenkins to the Virginia State House, and thus assuring the subsequent ratification of the ERA by Virginia, the last State required for amending the Constitution. Flew to Jamestown, VA, to post the postcards. (Disclosure: I vote in California!)
Through my professional background as a software acquisition and development expert I successfully coordinated the business and legal aspects of software with multiple stakeholders, each with different views and needs. I would utilize that experience and skill in working with Non-CC country members to facilitate integration within DA. A Non-CC representative should ensure effective two way communication between Non-CC members and the rest of DA.
Note: Candidates and Voters must reside in a “Non-CC” country to participate in this election. See lists below: