The DC Young Republicans are proud to announce our list of candidates for DCYR Executive Board. Elections will be held soon- stay tuned for more information.

The official candidates, in order of position on the ballot:

Chairman - Katie Todd, Michael Moroney
National Committeeman - Andrew Lee, David Barnes
National Committeewoman - Laura Chambers
Executive Vice-Chair - Neri Ann Martinez, Andrew Huff, Samuel Moore
VC of Finance - Dustin Deberry
Vice-Chair of Membership - Katie Poedtke, Cassandra Baker
Vice-Chair of Communications - James Christophersen
Vice-Chair of Events - Jen Stello

As per the DCYR constitution, you can conduct your own write-in campaign for any position. We have included one such write-in candidate here who will not be appearing on the ballot officially. Other committee positions will be assigned after the election, so if you’re interested in getting involved with any area of the DCYRs, feel free to let us know at one of our meetings and we will be happy to plug you in.

Chair

Katie Todd

DC Young Republicans have the opportunity to make a major difference in 2012 and I believe I am the right person to serve as Chairman during this effort. Through deployments, DCYRs can help Republican candidates throughout the nation get elected. With our passion, determination and youth voice, we bring a unique element to elections – as long as we have the numbers to make a difference.

As Vice Chairman of Events, I’ve employed creative ways of attracting young conservatives to the DCYRs, and it will take this type of effort and more to continue to increase our membership and, thus, our influence. Together, we can make a difference in 2012. Please reach out with questions and I hope to count on your support for Chairman!

 Michael Moroney

I’m running for Chair of the DC Young Republicans because I have the experience, relationships, and passion to make DCYRs a major player in the 2012 election. With the RNC unlikely to fund deployments this year, I believe that DCYR and YRNF deployments are the key to taking out Obama, and I’m the only candidate running who has campaign experience and is qualified to lead a national effort.

While events and happy hours are important to attract new members, I plan to eat, sleep and breathe GOTV. I also want to see DCYRs become more inclusive and curb its reputation for being cliquish and exclusive.

Together, with a lot of hard work, we can help Republicans take back the Senate and the White House.

National Committeeman

Andrew Lee

I currently serve as DCYRs Vice-Chair of Membership, where I have recruited new members and streamlined the process. In college, I became wrapped up in Obamamania, until I realized liberalism and dependence on government is not the answer, and I have been a strong Republican ever since. I came to reject the ideology of big-government and have spent the last three years fighting on behalf of members like you.

I’ve worked on the Hill and in charter schools for conservative causes. If we lose the youth vote by two-thirds as we did in 2008, Obama will be reelected. I will fight on your behalf at the national level to ensure that deployments and youth remain a priority. I will be proud to be your Committeeman.

David Barnes

I’m running to be our new National Committeeman because I want to make sure the DCYRs do everything we can to help win the 2012 elections. A strong get-out-the-vote effort will be crucial in November, and we’ll need to build upon the great deploy

ments done in previous election cycles. If elected, I plan to make sure we focus our efforts on picking the right districts to travel to so that we maximize our scarce resources.

On a personal level, I’ve been an active DCYR for the past three years and otherwise held leadership roles in several other young professional groups focusing on the liberty movement. I’m a lifelong libertarian conservative who’s worked at The Heritage Foundation and the Republican National Committee.

National Committeeman Write in Candidate: Stephen Jackson

Hi, my name is Stephen Jackson, and I’m running as a write-in candidate for National Committeeman. Write-in campaigns aren’t conventional, but neither are the DCYRs! We’re a unique, forward-thinking organization making waves across the nation because of our energy, diversity, and welcoming environment. Coming together as like-minded individuals, we believe in working positively to spread Republican ideals to make DC – and our nation – a better place.

Working as Coalitions Director, I’ve fostered relationships with other DC-based organizations, a skill vital to succeed as NCM. Now I’m ready to nationally represent the DCYRs. I’ll put the time, effort, and sweat-equity into growing our group while also ensuring we remain outstanding in service and commitment.

My name isn’t on the ballot, so don’t forget your pen!

National Committeewoman

Laura Chambers

No campaign statement issued.

Executive Vice-Chair

Neri Ann Martinez

No campaign statement issued.

Andrew Huff

I am running for Executive Vice Chair because I have the personal drive, leadership skills, management experience, and key relationships that will take the DC Young Republicans to the next level in the ever-critical 2012 election year.

With Election Day being only a little over 8 months away, I am prepared to do what it takes now to ensure we have the manpower to operate successful deployments and phone-banks leading up to November. I will be on Capitol Hill recruiting new members daily, and will also be raising funds from 3rd party organizations which will enable us to finance widely-attended events before the Fall. I recently joined the staff of a House committee, and for the last two years lobbied for small investment funds.

Samuel Moore

As your current DCYR National Committeeman, former DCYR Vice-Chair of Membership and member of the D.C. Republican Committee I’ve worked with local and national bodies to build and broaden our capacity, to make our organization a more effective deployment force while maintaining our unique and influential role both in local and national politics.

As always, this year’s election is the most important ever, it will require my skills and experience to help guide our agenda and to help facilitate our efforts in winning back the Senate, White House, and even a seat in the Wilson Building.

I’m not the establishment, but I am experienced and I look forward to working with each of you to take the D.C. Young Republicans to the next level.

VC of Finance

Dustin Deberry

No campaign statement issued.

Vice-Chair of Membership

Katie Poedtke

I’m running for Vice Chair of Membership because I know that growing and maintaining a strong membership base is critical to our organization’s ability have an impact in our community, and in our nation, leading up to the most important election of our lifetimes. We’ve got quite a range of conservative, Republican, libertarian, and otherwise freedom-loving young professionals in our ranks, but we all find common ground in concern for where our country is headed, and there are more and more like us out there waking up to that reality every day. They just need to be reached. I can do that, I’m ready to do that, and I am thrilled by the prospect of being able to do that in a more official and strategic way as VC of Membership.

Cassandra Baker

I’m running for Vice Chair of Membership because I would bring a sense of friendliness and approachability to the position as well as a rich background in recruitment and membership growth. As part of my job, I recruit interns and employees everyday. Due to my involvement in Greek Life in college and grassroots campaigning here in D.C., I know how to bring people into our fold and — more crucially — ensure their retention.

People join DCYRs for the unique connections they make — connections with high-profile speakers, national campaigns, and (most importantly!) each other. As Membership Chair, I’d work closely with both our Vice Chairman and our Events Chair to ensure opportunities for new and old members to make these connections and continue DCYRs’ tenure as one of the most vibrant YRNF chapters in our Nation. I look forward to working with you and the rest of the Executive Board in 2012!

Vice-Chair of Communications

James Christophersen

Not necessarily every opportunity which arises appears attractive, manageable, or worthwhile at first. However the last four months bombarding the DCYR’s with puns, events, announcements, and opportunities through the “Scene” Newsletter I have found my experience working with the DCYR Communications team to be both instructive and rewarding. Working closely with our current Vice-Chair of Communications, Kimberly Hudson; I have already learned the basic responsibilities of the post, and built on the platform she established by expanding the size of our team.

Professionally I work as Executive Director of Judicial Action Group, a small non-profit organization whose size lends extensive communications responsibilities to my job description. I hope to continue applying these skills as a volunteer in a vital election year full of opportunities for the DCYRs to be noticed, and to make a difference.

Vice-Chair of Events

Jen Stello

While serving under three different Events Committee Vice Chairs as an active member of the DC Young Republicans, I have gained the knowledge and experience to continue our strong tradition of exciting and fun events. I believe in the importance of having a well-rounded organization which includes many aspects of the events committee from invigorating meetings and fun happy hours to profitable fundraisers and myriad volunteer opportunities.

If elected I would look to expand our fundraising and volunteering efforts as well as maintain the high quality of events to which we’ve become accustom. Thank you for considering me and I look forward to working with you and for you in 2012!