Meet the new Executive Committee Members representing Aix Marseille for the new term (2021/2022)

thanks to Peter Gillepsie for the photographics!

2021 MARSEILLE CHAPTER ELECTION CANDIDATES

The nominations period for the 2021 Marseille Chapter Elections has now closed. Please find below statements for the candidates standing for election.

The Election and Annual General Meeting for the Marseille Chapter of DA France will take place on March 13th at 2PM. Candidates will give speeches prior to the close of voting and tabulation, and results will be announced. RSVP here. Early voting via electronic ballot is available to all members of the Marseille Chapter region — members should look for an email containing a link to this ballot.

You must be a member of the Marseille Chapter in order to vote. New members are welcome but must join by Friday March 12th. To join: www.democratsabroad.org/join. You must be a US citizen 18 years of age or older by Nov. 2, 2021. Questions? Email the Marseille Election Board [email protected]

If you are a member of the Marseille Chapter and do not receive a link to the online ballot but would like one, please contact the Marseille Election Board [email protected] 

CHAPTER CHAIR CANDIDATE

SUSAN FITOUSSI

Previous ExCom Positions: Chairperson/ Secretary/Member at Large 

Based in: MARSEILLE

I was born and raised in Los Angeles California. 

I left the USA when I was 24 and have lived abroad since.

I have been living in Marseille since 1994

I believe in Universal Health Care – Equal Rights – Gun Control – Black Lives Matter - Environmental Consciousness 

The Democratic Party represents the values I believe in

I have been a member of our chapter since it was created in 2008

I became ‘Chair’ of our chapter in 2019. 

Over the past 2 years I have been very active in DA France and DA Global and DA Caucus Events.

GOTV 2020 was certainly the highlight! 

Helping US Citizens register to vote is a gratifying and important thing to do.

We have a great team and I hope to continue working together to organize events that will bring our community together and keep the US Blue!

VICE CHAIR CANDIDATE

PETER GILLESPIE

I am a "people person" and communicator, and a third-culture-kid (TCK) from  before the term became popular. I was born and raised in the tropics (São Paulo, Brazil). I spent 25 years in New Orleans where I am registered to vote. I met my French wife in New Orleans. In 1995 we moved our four children and our livelihood to Aix en Provence, France where we have lived since. I am inclined toward progressive public advocacy and am keenly interested in Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street as transformative movements. I am a member of the DA Global Black Caucus and the worldwide Progressive Caucus, and have been a member of the Marseille Chapter of DA since 2009. I look forward to supporting Chapter outreach in the context of DA France activities.

VICE CHAIR CANDIDATE

JOHN ESTEBAN RODRIGUEZ                                 

My roots as a working-class, LGBTQ immigrant of color growing up in rural Georgia profoundly shaped my politics and desire to fight for a more egalitarian United States and world. I understood inequality and injustice because of the way it structured my own trajectory: I started working at age 15, indebted myself to pay my way through college, and until the age of 25, when I came to France, I never had stable health insurance. 

I have been involved in political activism in Democrats Abroad because I now know that, as the richest country in the world, the U.S. can strive to flatten out inequality, bolster social programs, and tackle the environmental crisis that is already devastating the country. I am running for Marseille Chapter Vice Chair to make Democrats Abroad a more dynamic, energetic and accountable organization to the progressive cause. We need more progressive voices.

SECRETARY CANDIDATE

MARNIE DELANEY

I am excited to have the opportunity to run for Secretary of the Marseille/Aix Chapter of Democrats Abroad.  

I have lived in the small village of Lorgues for just over two years, coming here from San Francisco after retiring.  I spent my working years in marketing/advertising and subsequently in teaching art to children.  I’ve been politically involved since the 1960’s with a particular interest in women’s rights issues but always with an interest, opinion and inclination to help on a wide range of other challenges. Since joining Democrats Abroad I have organized events & materials for the Global Women’s Caucus (The Suffrage Centennial last August,  our March celebration of Women’s History Month and launching the new Violence Against Women Action Team).. I also did what I could to assist the Global Communications Team leading up to the 2020 election.

It would be my honor to bring what energy and skills I can to this Chapter.  

TREASURER CANDIDATE

AARON AMBEAU 

Early last year, I discovered the existence of Democrats Abroad and immediately wanted to connect my new life in France to my passion for politics back home. Coming from a politically active family of Democrats in Louisiana, I grew up campaigning, attending political events, and waiting for results on election night.

When I met my husband in 2001, I had no idea I would be living in France 20 years later, teaching English and seeking an opportunity to help my party overseas. My years as an adolescent psychotherapist in schools and psychiatric settings have made me particularly adept at working to find common ground among diverse groups of people. There is much we can do to support our newly elected administration, create community, and welcome newcomers who seek like-minded expats. I hope to have your support; and I look forward to meeting and working with “all of y’all."

MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

PHILIP J. BREEDEN

After serving my country as a U.S. diplomat for almost 30 years, I moved to Aix-enProvence in 2014 where I teach and help administer the American College of the Mediterranean/Institute for American Universities. 

This experience, and my previous post as Consul General in Marseille, led me to get involved with the Marseille Chapter of Democrats abroad.  Under the leadership of Chair Susan Fitoussi I’ve been honored to serve as Member-at-Large and as a Democrats Abroad France media spokesperson during the 2020 Presidential election.  

I was proud to help ensure the vote abroad was counted, especially that of first time student voters.  Our votes were an important reason we have new leadership in Washington.  Our task now is to help the Biden Administration succeed, giving voice to the many Americans living abroad.  As we all know, democracy is not a spectator sport!

It is in this spirit that I offer my candidacy as Member at Large.

MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

HEATHER C. ETCHEVERS

A dual U.S. and French citizen, mother of two who now also vote, I grew up as Gen X in Massachusetts. After a Wellesley B.A., I earned a joint Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and (today’s) Sorbonne Université became a tenured biomedical scientist and team leader with the INSERM (French National Institutes of Health) at Aix-Marseille Université. Residence abroad for 27 years has brought me unique perspective on policies concerning STEM, reproductive/health, cultural and many other issues pertaining to U.S. domestic and foreign policy. An engaged rare disease advocate, organizer of the Marseille March for Science in 2017, my responsibility is to aid the election of Democrats in the U.S., encouraging all rational citizens to remember that they remain a majority in the U.S. and need not succumb to conspiracy or wishful thinking. Our party must implement testable, effective ideas from the diversely talented people who make us proud to be Democrats.

MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

JUSTIN HEIFETZ

I'm Justin Heifetz and after a decade working as a journalist in Asia, I've relocated to Marseille with my French husband Laurent. Here, I'll continue reporting news freelance for the American media I've been working for, including VICE, CNN and many others. I'm running for member at large because our efforts as democrats are of incredible and arguably unprecedented importance after the past four years. I'll serve DA well because of the skills I've gained over the years as a journalist: I'm quick, organized, I don't back down and I know how to get the word out. Feel free to read more about me at my website justinheifetz.com or email me at [email protected]

MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

JOEL LUBOFF     

I’m Joel Luboff, and I have been a member of Democrats Abroad France for over 25 years.  For the past two years, I have served as Vice Chair of the Marseille – Aix Chapter.

We are all proud of our contributions to the gains last year of Democrats.  Perhaps in part because of our success, we can anticipate ever fiercer attempts to suppress mail-in voting in the coming mid-terms.  We all have to do our part to make sure that the voice of Democrats ex-pat continues to be heard.

I would like to continue my work with the Executive Committee as a Member at Large.

MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

KAREN WILDAU

I offer myself as a candidate for member at large.  I have served as treasurer and member at large on the committee since 2013, after retiring from law practice here to Aix in 2010. My first job was with a great California congressman in DC in 1968. I later served as a McGovern delegate at the l972 convention as the token white woman under thirty in a predominantly Black district.  How things have changed, happily.  I have never lost my interest in politics and I would like to continue to contribute to positive change. I spent many hours this past year phonebanking to get out the vote and in voter protection work helping expats solve  problems so their votes would be counted. Now, with our “houses divided”, it is even more important that our overseas voices are counted and I want to continue to help.