Candidate Statements

Scott Stroud 

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, I have been in the Toulouse area for over 37 years, arriving on a Fulbright scholarship 1987.  I’m the father of two Franco-Americans, and have worked at the Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile for many years as an English teacher.  I first joined the DA Toulouse Executive Committee in 2007 and have occupied various positions on the ExCom, including Chapter Chair.  Since I can no longer continue to be chair, I am running for Chapter Secretary.  I already have the experience needed for using the DA database and messaging tools, which will be useful as we move forward with our new executive committee.   

Over the years I have helped organize various events at the local and national levels.  I am on the DA France Media Team and have had the opportunity to engage with the local press to explain where DA stand on the issues. 

 Democrats Abroad has an important role to play in uniting, educating and motivating American citizens on issues that affect our lives and those of future generations in the U.S. and around the world.  This role is even more important now at this crucial time in America’s history.  

It is an honor for me to offer my time and energy as Chapter Secretary.

Candidate(s) for Treasurer

No nominations were received.

Candidates for Members-at-Large (listed in alphabetical order) 

Maria Clemow

I was born in Washington DC but spent much of my childhood in Ireland.  I returned to the US for high school and college and registered as a Democrat when eligible to vote in 1964. I joined the Civil Rights March in August 1963 and had the privilege of hearing Martin Luther Jr. give his famous "I have a Dream" speech.  After graduating from Bryn Mawr College in 1965 ,  I returned to Ireland to do a post-graduate degree in history and literature and then moved to Paris.

In the 1970s my husband and I, with a small group, set up a commune in Wales to develop alternative technologies and lifestyle.  In 1978, we returned to France and settled in the Gers, where our son was born.  We restored an old farmhouse where I still live, alternating between it and an apartment in Toulouse.

I joined Democrats Abroad Toulouse in 2003, was Member-at-Large from 2009 to2011, Vice-Chair from 2011 to 2013 and have been a Member-at-Large since then. I would like to continue to contribute in any way I can to help in any way I can, particularly now when we need all the help we can get, to move things in a more positive direction, so I am running again for Member-at-Large.

Beatrice Monthioux

I was born in Haiti and moved to the United States (New England) as a teenager.  I've lived on the Eastern seaboard from Upstate New York to Virginia before settling in Delaware where I vote. I moved to Toulouse 25 years ago and am the mother of two French-American sons.

Currently, I am Subject Matter Expert in Quality and Proximity Manager at Airbus Beyond, a training organization that specializes in learning solutions for the aviation and space industry.  A graduate of the University of Virginia (MS Chemical Engineer) and the University of Delaware (MBA) my career began over thirty years ago at DuPont de Nemours in New Jersey where I held various engineering and Consultant-Quality roles.

I have been a member of the Toulouse Chapter of Democrats Abroad for 15 years and became more active in 2016.  I was elected Member-at-Large of the DAF-Toulouse Chapter four years ago and in that capacity have attended Executive committee meetings, helped planned Toulouse Chapter meetings, supported voter drives and voter postcard mail-in events sponsored by the Chapter to encourage Americans abroad to register to vote and vote in special, mid-term, national and all U.S. elections for which they are eligible.

It has been both an honor and pleasure to be a Member-at-Large of the Democrats Abroad Toulouse chapter.  Democrats Abroad provides valuable information about voter registration as well as opportunities to network and exchange on key issues all year-long.  American politics have serious and lasting impact on world affairs.  As Americans living abroad we owe it to ourselves and our compatriots to add our unique perspective to the national discourse. The need for Freedom and democracy at home and around the globe has never been greater, I look forward to supporting more outreach efforts and community events.

Suzette Tanis-Plant 

An American with Parisian great grandparents, I come from a family with a long-standing dedication to the Democratic Party. I grew up on the East Coast, and my American voting address is Albany, New York. With dual nationality, I also vote in France.

I have lived in France since 1976, mainly in the Parisian area where I worked for the French National Institute of Agricultural Research. Prior to that, I lived in the outskirts of Bordeaux and worked for the Bordeaux Bar Association. In 2016, I retired to Toulouse, the hometown of my husband’s extended family.

The outcome of the 2016 presidential election drove me to participate in party-based action, and in 2017 I was elected to the Executive Committee of Democrats Abroad-Toulouse as a member-at-large. I have continued to serve in that position since then. The outcome of the 2024 election has reinforced my commitment to the Democratic Party.

Over the last eight years, in one way or another, I organized events such as The Women’s March, the March for the Environment, the Covid 19 vigil, and the anti-gun public outcry, in addition to get-together activities such as our Thanksgiving dinners. Most importantly, I have taken part in Get Out the Vote, the party’s voter registration program. For example, for the 2000 Biden-Harris elections I wrote hundreds of postcards to encourage people to vote, and for the November 2022 Mid-Term Elections, I helped in the organization of the dinner celebrating Democratic Party wins. For the 2024 Presidential elections, I organized several postcard writing parties and again wrote hundreds of postcards to encourage our members to put their ballot in the mail. On a regular basis, I keep the Democrats Abroad Facebook page up to date and engaging. In the fall of 2024, I also oversaw the program for our first university-student intern, putting to good ends the 100 hours she worked with us to get out the vote. 

Being a member-at-large fits well my availability as there are periods of time when I travel to The States where my sons, daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren live.

As a renewed member-at-large of Democrats Abroad Toulouse, I would continue in much the same way as in the last eight years, getting out the vote and transmitting in numerous ways the values of the Democratic Party.

Judith Winchester-Ware

Life-long democrat, I grew up In East Tennessee, vote in Michigan and have North Carolina in my heart.  I have lived in Europe since the 1990’s.  Gaining an international perspective through decades of living abroad in both France and Germany has provided me with on-going opportunities to compare political and social systems, to learn from their complexities, and to shape my vision of a healthy society.  Staying engaged with US politics from abroad is important, and I cherish the opportunity that DA Abroad offers to continue “the good fight” to building a better future with participation for all, to move society towards a more inclusive vision of America, to build a system that is fair for everyone, and to work to elect Democrats who will uphold these values.  It is more important than ever before to remain engaged and to speak out.

In Toulouse since 2004, I teach English in the French national education system.  Member-at-Large for several years now, I am proud of the impact our organization has and the community it supports.  I look forward to continuing to participate in the future.  I am committed to doing my part because democracy can never be taken for granted.  It requires the participation of committed individuals who come together and organize.