Kansai Chapter Ballots will be in your email shortly! Ballots are due by midnight June 11th, 2021.

Below are the candidate statements for those running.

If you are interested in running for one of the positions that are currently available to write-in candiddates, please email us at [email protected] and we'll let our voters know that you'd like to be a write-in.

Thanks for your interest!

 

Chair:

David Graves

I would like to nominate myself for the position of Chair of the Kansai Branch of Democrats Abroad. 

Although Joe Biden won the previous election, Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016, and the current large number of Trump acolytes, work as stark reminders that voter registration remains vitally important for Democrats. 

As Chair, I will work tirelessly to ensure that as many Democrats as possible get registered to vote in the Kansai area. The previous election showed the importance getting out the vote and I look forward to the challenge of achieving that goal. I humbly ask that you consider me for this position.  I am confident I will do an excellent job. 

Sincerely, 

David Graves

 

Vice Chair:

Write-in Nominee, Lauren Mann

I’m Lauren. I’ve lived in Osaka for while but I didn’t know about Democrats Abroad Japan until a couple years ago and I started getting more involved. 

As a person from Texas watching events unfold it’s become really stark how much we have to fight for democracy. 

We need all the help we can get. I think there are a lot of people in the Kansai area who might not know about Democrats Abroad or registering to vote from overseas.

As Vice Chair I’ll do my best to assist the Chair in reaching these people and help get out the vote for 2022 and 2024. 

Thank you! 

 

Secretary: 

Write-In Nominee, Raymond Palmer

First got to know the group in one of Margo's [former vice chair] book clubs, and I've been popping up here and there at other events since. Been here two years now and enjoying it. Would like to get more involved locally as well, and I figured this is a great way to do that. I talk a lot but good at business stuff like note taking and negotiations. Please refer to Raymond from Everybody loves Raymond for a character reference. Thanks.

Treasurer:

Write-in nominee, Michael Allen Walker

Michael Walker was born in the State of Maine to an American father and Mexican mother.

He grew up in a conservative and mostly Christian household, before moving to Japan (Kobe) in 2008. Upon gaining more international perspectives and growing as a person he changed his conservative views he adopted from his parents and joined the Democratic Party to make America a better place for all Americans. Now 13 years later he hopes to support Democrats Abroad Japan in their pursuits to support his fellow democrats here in Japan.