We're pleased to share the statements from the candidates for our DA Madrid 2025-2027 Executive Committee. If you're a member of DA Madrid, you will receive your ballot via email the week of March 4th or you can vote in-person at our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, March 16th. Please RSVP here for that meeting (Zoom option also available): https://www.democratsabroad.org/luciajperezcrespohernanzaiz/madrid_chapter_chair_elections_2025-agm_meeting
DA Madrid Chair (1 candidate)
Maggie Zelonis
Personal Statement
I’m Maggie Zelonis, and I'm excited to be running for Chair of DA Madrid. I've had the honor of serving as Vice-Chair for the past four years (two terms). Termed out, I'm now running for Chair to strengthen our community, expand our reach, and maximize our impact in the critical elections ahead. I grew up (and vote) in Indiana and have been engaged in Democratic politics since high school, when I knocked on doors for President Obama to help turn Indiana blue for the first time in 44 years. After studying Anthropology and Environmental Studies at Bryn Mawr College and working in Washington, DC—including an internship at the White House Council on Environmental Quality—I moved to Madrid in 2015 and now work in fundraising at Women's Link Worldwide, a feminist human rights organization.
Over the past four years, I’ve worked with the DA Madrid team to help grow our membership and lead strong voter registration and Get Out the Vote efforts. But with democracy on the line in the US, we can’t slow down. We need to fight back against authoritarianism and extremism, protect our rights, and mobilize Americans abroad to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. As Chair, I’ll work to build on our successes and design a strategy to engage more Americans in Madrid. My plan is to focus on strengthening our community and ensuring our members have the tools needed to take action on the issues we care about. As we look ahead to the 2026 midterms, I’m committed to making sure we do all that we can to take back the House and Senate. I hope to earn your support and continue working together to make a difference. Thank you!
Regarding diversity, how do you see your candidacy as contributing to the diversity of the executive leadership team?
As a younger woman, I bring a perspective that reflects a key part of our community—students, auxiliares de conversación, many digital nomads, and other young Americans living in Madrid—who are often politically engaged but underrepresented in our work. I’m committed to amplifying diverse voices and making Democrats Abroad a welcoming space for all. Professionally, I work on women’s rights, and will ensure that gender equality remains central to DA's programming and advocacy. I also look forward to continuing to support the incredible work of our caucus groups, such as the very active LGBTQ+ Caucus in Madrid, to ensure our events and outreach reflect the full diversity of our community. I look forward to supporting new leaders, fostering collaboration, and making sure everyone feels empowered to take action.
DA Madrid Vice-Chair (1 candidate)
William A. "Willie" Kotas
Personal Statement
I am an Ohio native but a longtime expat throughout Europe and Latin America. Post-college, I served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and later as a marketing executive and management consultant in the Netherlands, England, Spain, Chile, Peru, Germany, and Brazil. I now work part time as a career coach for expats and an MBA admissions consultant, but also dedicate lots of time chasing balls on tennis, padel, and pickleball courts, softball fields, and ping pong tables. My passions include travel, liberal politics, the color purple, spicy food, Cleveland sports teams, and supermarkets (specifically Mercadona).
I decided to run for this position because I feel a strong urge to work to oppose the newly elected administration and champion a different path. This role will give me the opportunity to connect with likeminded people. It is also important that we, as informal ambassadors at the grassroots level, impress upon locals in Spain that Americans can be inclusive, humble, and hospitable---all values that I live.
I have been a serial alumni club president for Northwestern University and its Kellogg School of Management (in Peru, Florida, Brazil, and currently in Spain). In 2011, I was honored as Kellogg’s worldwide alumni volunteer of the year at a gala dinner held at (embarrassingly now) the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago. I also organize the Brazilian dinners carried out for InterNations in Madrid and serve as the player-manager of a local softball team, the Madrid Armadillos. If interested in learning way more than you need to know about me, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/wkotas/
Regarding diversity, how do you see your candidacy as contributing to the diversity of the executive leadership team?
While working abroad, I have always hired professionals with the objective of empowering under-represented groups. While it is hard to hide my male gender and Polish-Hungarian DNA, I am not an ethnocentric American but rather one who has integrated well in diverse cultures over the 30-plus years I have spent abroad. I also hold Brazilian citizenship and speak both Spanish and Portuguese.
DA Madrid Secretary (1 candidate)
Susan Lefler
Personal Statement
I am retired and have been living in Spain for the last 6 years. I vote in Tennessee but have lived in both Nebraska and Texas. I have served as secretary for DA Madrid for the last two years and would like to continue to do so to add continuity to our new group as well as continue to amplify our voices as democrats abroad here in Madrid.
Regarding diversity, how do you see your candidacy as contributing to the diversity of the executive leadership team?
By providing continuity to the new group.
DA Madrid Communications Director (1 candidate)
Timothy Ginter
Personal Statement
My name is Timothy Ginter, and I am excited to submit my candidacy for Communications Director for Democrats Abroad Madrid. Originally from Austin, Texas, I have lived in Madrid for six years after studying Political Science with a focus in International Relations at Saint Louis University-Madrid. Since graduating in 2023, I have worked in communications, and I am deeply passionate about crafting messages that inspire political engagement.
I am running for this role because I am horrified by the direction Donald Trump is taking the United States. His policies and rhetoric are harming countless communities, including the LGBTQ+ community—of which I am a proud member. As a gay American living in Spain with my Venezuelan partner, I have seen firsthand the consequences of reactionary politics, particularly the devastating impact on trans rights. I strongly believe that words have power, and I want to use mine to mobilize Democrats abroad to take action, vote, and fight for a better future.
Through this position, I would work to strengthen our outreach, ensuring that every Democrat in Madrid knows how they can contribute to change. I am eager to bring my communications expertise and political passion to this role, helping to build a more engaged and active community.
I would be honored to serve as Communications Director, and I hope to earn your support. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Regarding diversity, how do you see your candidacy as contributing to the diversity of the executive leadership team?
As a gay American living in a foreign country with my Venezuelan partner, I believe my candidacy brings a unique and valuable perspective to the executive leadership team. Navigating life as part of the LGBTQ+ community, especially in the current political climate, has given me firsthand insight into the challenges marginalized groups face. The fight for equality is personal to me, and I am deeply committed to ensuring that Democrats Abroad continues to be an inclusive and welcoming space for all.
Living in Spain for the past six years has also broadened my worldview, allowing me to see American politics from an international perspective. I understand the concerns of U.S. citizens living abroad and how political decisions at home impact expatriates. Additionally, being in a multicultural relationship with my Venezuelan partner has strengthened my awareness of global issues, particularly regarding immigration, human rights, and democracy. These experiences allow me to approach political messaging with nuance and inclusivity, ensuring that our communications resonate with diverse audiences.
If elected, I will work to amplify voices from all backgrounds, ensuring our outreach reflects the diversity of the Democrats Abroad community. Representation matters, and I am committed to fostering a leadership team that embraces different perspectives to strengthen our collective mission.
DA Madrid Events Coordinator (1 candidate)
Sean Dempsey
Personal Statement
As a seasoned project manager with a background in event planning, community building, and democratic electoral politics, I am excited to apply for the Events Coordinator position on the board of DA Madrid.
I moved to Spain five years ago to reunite with my longtime partner from Seville. I left behind a career in D.C., where I worked for my hometown U.S. Congressman from Iowa City. There, I organized and managed a variety of political events, from town halls to legislative roundtables. In my current role at Pathways International, a leading NGO in the global migration space, I have further developed my expertise in event planning and community building, successfully coordinating international conferences, workshops, and meetings convening government officials to address critical issues in global migration.
Living abroad during this incredibly chaotic and, frankly, depressing moment in U.S. politics has been challenging and at times isolating. I was in Spain during both of Trump’s victories in 2016 and 2024, and it was hard to be so far away and surrounded by people who did not share the same understanding of what the U.S. was about to go through. These experiences have only reinforced my belief in the importance of creating opportunities for meaningful connections and fostering a sense of community among Democrats Abroad members.
I am confident that my experience, combined with my dedication to our shared values, makes me a strong candidate for the Events Coordinator position. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to our chapter's mission and help organize events that inspire and unite our community.
Thank you for considering my nomination.
Regarding diversity, how do you see your candidacy as contributing to the diversity of the executive leadership team?
In my role at Pathways International, I work alongside refugees and people with lived experiences of displacement. I try to learn from and uplift their voices, ensuring they are valued not only for their experiences but also for the skills and opinions they bring to the job. This commitment to inclusivity and respect for diverse perspectives is central to my work and would be a cornerstone of my contributions to the executive leadership team.
I come from a blended interacial family and am the son of two gay men, which has given me a deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and families. Growing up in this environment has instilled in me a strong sense of empathy, inclusivity, and the importance of advocating for equal rights and representation. Additionally, my intercultural marriage has provided me with firsthand experience in navigating and appreciating cultural differences.
As a younger professional trying to make it abroad, I understand the challenges and opportunities faced by young people today. I’m hopeful that my experiences have equipped me with the ability to connect with and inspire younger members of Democrats Abroad, ensuring their voices are represented and their concerns addressed.