February 11, 2025

2025-27 Candidate Statements - Victoria and the Islands


Lynne Severance – Chair Acclaimed

I am volunteering for the office of Chapter Chair and believe I am well qualified to fulfill the requirements of this position. I have served our chapter as Acting Secretary from 2022-2023 and as Secretary-Treasurer from 2023-present, so I understand many of the administrative aspects of DA. During the 2024 election cycle I assisted our current Chair in several Get Out the Vote initiatives, including advertising at local movie theatres and canvassing at UVIC. I believe it is important for our members to stay connected, and with that in mind I organize many of the social meetups and election watch events that our chapter has held over the past three years.

My work experience is in accounting and healthcare finance, and I hold dual professional accounting designations, a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA-CGA-retired) in Canada, and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-retired) in Washington State. Upon moving to Victoria in 2008 I worked for the BC Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority.

I decided to volunteer for Democrats Abroad after the events of January 6, 2021, and it is my way of taking some action to resist current political trends in the US. Even though the results of the 2024 elections were not what any of us wanted, I am hopeful that by keeping our chapter viable we can continue to make our voices heard. The margins in the House are razor thin. There are opportunities to flip the House in the upcoming special elections of 2025 and midterms of 2026. I want our focus to be to Get Out the Vote in these elections and to continue social events that will keep our members engaged.


James Ham – Vice Chair

I've been a DAVI board member since 2018 and agree to stand for reelection. I feel that now more than ever we need to fight back to re-establish democracy in our country and make America sane again.


Miriam Chong - Membership Secretary Acclaimed

I am a teacher and musician in Washington State and Victoria, B.C. I believe in education, hard work, community-building and responsible citizenship. I admire the efforts of Pete Seeger, Jimmy Carter, and others who lived their principles and led by example. My husband, James Ham, has been involved with DAVI since 2018 and I have enjoyed meeting and working with DAVI members over the years. I have word processing and database management skills and I recognize it is time to do my part and give my time to a cause I believe in. I am currently Acting Membership Secretary and will run for the position of Membership Secretary to participate in a team that is striving to hold our political systems accountable to cooperative values, moral responsibilities and acknowledgement of the Earth as a natural system larger than humanity alone.


Melanie Wade, Ed.D. – Social Media Coordinator

Since moving to the greater Victoria area in November 2018, I have been involved in several endeavours. As a retired educator, I have applied my skills to serving as an instructional assistant for Camosun College. This has evolved into an on call online position post Covid-19. Currently, I also serve on the executive board for CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women) Victoria for whom, among other roles, I have managed the website and social media.
As a resident of the San Francisco Bay area prior to my relocation, I served as principal for adult continuing education until my retirement. In addition, I volunteered (and continue to serve) as website/social media manager for Canadian Women’s Club of the San Francisco Bay Area. Furthermore, I served on the executive board for AAUW (American Association of University Women) Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek including as website/social media manager and past president. Previously, I was a resident of southern California where I was employed in both public education and in educational sales and support in the private sector.
A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, I welcome the opportunity to continue to serve DAVI as Social Media Coordinator, which I have done since 2021. I appreciate both the social connections and personal growth that this position has to offer. I remain intensely interested in Democratic politics and how public policy affects both countries.

Bob Broughton - Member at Large Acclaimed

Long-time Democrat and activist in Democrats Abroad, primarily in Mexico, where I attended several of their AGM's. Have been doing extensive phone banking since 2012, especially in 2024. Blogger and contributor to Substack: https://broughton.substack.com. Read in particular the article "What went wrong in the 2024 U.S. election". Enthusiastic supporter of Abigail Spanberger for Governor of Virginia this year.


Susan Watt - Member at Large Acclaimed

I was born and raised in New York and began my political campaign work as an 8-year-old child, sealing and stamping envelopes for Al Lowenstein for Congress. I have lived in Victoria, for over 42 years, during which time I would always find a way to get involved with GOTV calls for Democratic candidates in each US election. I spent my parenting life very involved in the education of my children. Two-time President of our Co-Op preschool, Co-Chairing The ‘Making Tomorrow’ Educational Conferences (for 3 years), on the executive of elementary/middle schools for 14 years and President of High School PACs for 8 years. I was also a Board Member (twice) of VCPAC. In 2013, I was asked to join the Board of Directors of Congregation Emanu-El, where I sat as a Member At Large for 4 years, resigning only because of my campaign commitments.

Upon “graduation” of my youngest child, I quickly moved into heavy involvement with the Green Party of BC (as well as Canada). In 2012, I joined the campaign staff to elect Andrew Weaver as the first BCGP MLA, as the campaign Event Coordinator, working closely with the Fundraising Co-Ordinator. This opportunity gave me an eye-opening experience to the inner workings of politics. I worked part-time as a constituent assistant in the Office of Andrew Weaver, in addition to becoming a voluntary Medical Advocate. In 2017, for the campaign to re- elect Andrew, I took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator, managing approximately 200 volunteers, ranging in age from 11 to 85. I encouraged and was privileged to have the opportunity to engage, train and mentor a large number of University student volunteers. In addition, I was still assisting with events and direct fundraising. Each campaign (and in-between), I was very active on Call Hub, so am quite familiar and comfortable on that platform. From 2013 - 2020, I also served as the President of the Oak Bay Gordon Head Riding Association for the BCGP. I decided to move from that commitment to DAVI, in order to do whatever I could to help elect Joe Biden and other Democrats. In 2024, I spent an average of 5 hours, 7 days a week for 5 1/2 weeks, making calls to assist the Democratic candidates win the election. Now more than ever, I continue to see the need for consistent, active participation in making sure Democrats are elected up and down the ballot in order to secure our democracy. I would like to continue my involvement and work with the other amazing members I’ve met volunteering with DAVI. If re-elected as a Member at Large, I would love to continue working with the amazing, dedicated Board members in any areas I feel I can contribute. Thank you for your consideration.


Patricia Kostek - Member-at-Large

• Dual citizen from Pennsylvania (Scranton area)
• Active in Democrats Abroad-DAVI for the past 16 years
• Lifelong Democrat from a family of passionate Democrats
Previous DA - Victoria Board positions held:
• Acting Chair
• Vice Chair
• Acting Vice Chair
• Member-at Large

Service to DAVI Community - Assisted in the organization of and implementation of:
• Obama Inauguration at Swan’s Pub
• Fourth of July Activities, multiple years
• Pub meet-ups for Election Nights, Primary nights and general socializing
• Thanksgiving dinners at local church halls
• Tax Seminars
• Movie night
• Get out the Vote
• Registration at area public libraries
• Information booth at civic events (Pride Parade, etc)
• Media Advertising voter registration events (editing and devising Ad script)
Community Service:
• Board member Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra (1994-2015)
• Board member, American Federation of Musicians, AFM/CFM Local 247, Victoria and the Islands (2018-present)
While at the University of Victoria (1989-2018) I held the following leadership positions:
• Acting Director of the School of Music
• Acting Chair of the Theatre Department
• Acting Associate Dean of Fine Arts
During the 2020 Presidential election, I came to the stark realization that the Democracy known by all Americans before the election of Donald Trump in 2016 is in extreme jeopardy. The fact that on January 6, 2021 there could be a riot and violent attack against the 117th US Congress while in session at the US Capitol and that the Speaker of the House position became “a hold for ransom” position with the constant tradeoffs and deals being struck, has strengthened my resolve to do everything I can to support Democrats and democratic principles. If elected, I will continue to work in support of Democrats Abroad initiatives to get out the vote in midterm elections of 2026 and the presidential election 2028.