Meet Your Candidates for the 2021 YDWA Elections

Lillian Ferraz

What is YDWA? I have my own answer, as do many in our organization. Paul Batalden, when investigating inequity in the UK healthcare system said, “Every system is perfectly designed to get the results that it gets.” I ask, what is YDWA designed to create, and what in our system designed for? We balance between advocacy and being a machine in the political industrial complex, and I believe we need to have a better designed system if we want to create the progressive change we aim for in our platform.

I joined YDWA wanting to be a progressive voice in the politics of Tacoma, WA. I joined the Pierce County Young Democrats, was chair in a month, and raised our membership from 3 to 15 diverse members, and a board of 8. I turned over leadership to the next chair, and went to UW Seattle for my Master’s in Public Administration. During my time there, I kept reflecting on something similar to Batalden, and how systems are designed perfectly for what you get. When I came back, there was another set of turnovers, and I started the chapter again in 2020. Then I joined YDWA board as a VP of Government Affairs, to understand better how our state organization works, and create more coalition behind our advocacy.

Angela Davis, said “In a racist society it is not enough to be a non-racist, it is to be anti-racist.” Just in the last few years, I’ve seen how we’ve focused on solidarity with the native tribes/nations of WA, created a sexual harassment policy that WA and other states now use, and our focus on Eastern Washington voices increases. These are the results I am most proud of, the kind of anti-racist results I want to see become more central to the work we do. The members who drive these efforts are in strong chapters, or are alumni. Members who have so much skill, compassion, and knowledge to share with us all to improve our organization.

I’ve re-started a chapter twice, my profession strategy-building for non-profit institutions, currently Tacoma Community College, and facilitation is my most important skill. My first initiative would be to bring you in, current membership, as well as alumni recent and long past, to facilitate a process of mission and vision building. For how can we know how to design our system, without knowing what results we are aiming for? I would listen to organizations like the People of Color Consultants Coalition that I brought to YDWA conference last year, increase our coalitions with other youth orgs such as Sunrise, and follow the “emergent strategy” practices of adrienne marie brown. To create a YDWA which builds on our existing progress to become anti-racist, builds on our platform, and works towards a more perfect state for young people. One which involves all of us; whether you’re an expert in politics/policy or not. Together, to create the positive, progressive change needed for our own present and future.

Mayra Velazquez

I first joined Washington State politics on a cloudy Saturday in 2018. Like many weekends, I was strolling through Downtown Mount Vernon and would pass the Skagit County Democrats office. I always wanted to go inside but would shy away.

That Saturday was different though, the folks inside the office weren’t the usual boomers they looked about my age and so I mustered up the courage and stepped inside the office. It turned out to be a Young Democrats meeting. I felt immediately welcome, embraced, and empowered by its members.

To me Young Democrats of Washington is an organization that gives us young folk a space to grow as leaders, to learn from others, and gain a footprint in the larger Washington State political sphere through funneling ourselves into other organizations.

Since my first Young Dems meeting I have been Chair of the Skagit Chapter as well as its Vice-Chair, and Director of Communications in the past years.

With the Skagit County Democrats, I am their current Washington State Democratic Central Committee (WSDCC). Within the WSDCC I am in its Rules committee.

As a member of the 40th Legislative District I have sat on the Bylaws committee and recently worked with a team of wonderful people to draft Bylaws that hadn’t been revised in 12 years.

I recently graduated from Skagit Valley college with an Associate’s in Business Administration giving me a background in accounting and budgeting. My belief in being well rounded has led my to begin my journey at Eastern Washington this Fall not as a Business major, but as a Urban And Regional Planning Major to learn in theory and practice how to make cities and towns more equitable in its design and function.

As a veteran the military has had me travel to more countries than the fingers on my both my hands. It has also led me to interact with people in our country from a plethora of backgrounds. Consequently, I am apt at communicating with cultures different than mine and with people that have had different life experiences from mine within our own country.

Wether you guys choose me as your VP of Operations or your National Representative I will excel at either. Having the mentality to excel at what I commit to has led this kid from Compton and Long Beach to be where they are today.

Derrick V Skaug

Hello fellow Young Democrats of Washington,

It is an honor to be considered by YDWA for the Vice President of Membership Engagement position. I have been involved in the Young Democrats since 2008. I strongly believe that it’s not just enough to hold or be elected to a position, you have to do the work and show up to achieve tangible results. This year has been extremely challenging for everyone. I know for chapters and members, just surviving this shitshow of a year was a challenge. Continued involvement in YDWA and different chapters was not guaranteed and I know my chapter has struggled to retain and recruit. A little resume; I was President of the Young Democrats of WSU for two years and also involved in YDWA for several years in 2010-2013. I am a former Pullman City Councilmember and Vice President of ASWSU. I have a degree in Political Science from Washington State University and am currently a Deputy Campaign Manager for a progressive candidate for Spokane City Council, Naghmana Sherazi.

I am currently involved in my local chapter as the Secretary of the Spokane County Young Democrats. I am passionate about social justice, progressive policies, and electing liberal Democrats statewide and in the more conservative areas of the state such as Eastern Washington. If elected I promise to be present, accessible, and accountable. Mental health awareness is very important to me and I fully acknowledge I have had severe mental health struggles since 2013, I am glad to say that I have found stability despite the stigma attached to seeking professional help. I have no shame in admitting I am a type 1 bi-polar, suicide attempt survivor and want to ensure that YDs feel supported if they struggle with mental health.

I believe strongly that expanding our membership is vital to the success of YDWA as a whole. Working with membership directors to support chapters and establishing new chapters would be a large priority of mine. If you have any questions, concerns or comments please reach out to me.

Matthew R. Lang

I want to express gratitude to you for taking the time to read my statement, and hope it finds you well. I am writing now from Duwamish and Co-Salish Land, running to be your VP of Government Affairs.

2020 was a year of unbelievable turmoil, and 2021 has brought its own challenges as we open up seeking our latest “normal.” Young people throughout Washington have faced many of the heaviest burdens of the economic crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic created. Our work as an organization is critical to ensuring that the voices of young people throughout the state are heard as we look to recovery.

I am an educator first and foremost. I will lend that lens to foster the continued growth of our community, bringing my experience to the table as we seek to move forward together.

Through my work as the Legislative Director of the King County Young Democrats and as the Lead Organizer of the Transit Riders Union, I organized dozens of lobbying meetings during session. In collaboration with statewide coalitions we pushed for, and won a Capital Gains Tax and Working Family Tax Credit, Just Cause Evictions and Right to Counsel for renters, and the HEAL Act among many other vital pieces of legislation.

I held this office in the 2019-2020 year and learned many lessons I’ve reflected on since my departure. In my hopeful return to the role of VP of Government Affairs, I strive to:

1. Build upon the work of the Legislative Workgroup that outgoing VP Lillian Ferraz has assembled, and grow upon that foundation.
2. Make education a hallmark of the office by organizing legislative action workshops and building systems, ensuring that the work we do next cycle is sustainable and effective long after my tenure.
3. Bring my relationships with organizations and legislators throughout the state with me so that we are collaborating and organizing in effective ways to meet our collective goals.

I look forward to working with Young Democrats across the state in meeting our goals, and I hope that I earn your vote today.

Best,
Matthew R. Lang

Mike DeVine

Hello! I’m Mike DeVine and I’ve been a part of YDWA for over four years now. I’ve served as Technology Director twice, Vice President of Operations once, Nerd Caucus chair twice, and now I hope to earn the privilege of serving as your inaugural Vice President of Technology. Seeing the creation of our new Technology Department at last year’s Convention was something of a personal milestone- and if elected, I will try my best to set a gold standard for this new role.

To staff our Tech Department, I plan to appoint a Webmaster for our website, a Data Director to manage our organization’s data, and a Cybersecurity Director to keep that data safe and our members protected. I hope to build on Communications VP Gwen Beebe’s excellent new Airtable infrastructure from this past year, and implement two-factor authentication and org-wide password management. Last but not least, I hope to document every single thing our department does, to future-proof our tech and processes.

Thank you for your consideration, and I hope I can count on your support!

Dan Tran

Hello everyone! My name is Dan Tran and I am excited to run for Vice President of Technology for the Young Democrats of Washington. I’m previously the Political Director for the King County Young Democrats and currently work as a Software Engineer. The past year has shown how important it is that we as an organization utilize technology to make our operations more accessible. We at YDWA have a huge opportunity to explore new avenues and capabilities to utilize modern technology to reach out to even more people and connect with their needs.

We know that many young people have been left behind in politics and engagement, but remote testifying and other opportunities have made it easier than ever for young people to engage in politics. I want to continue that trend of increasing accessibility to politics. I plan to work with the board to evaluate new services that can create opportunities to connect YDWA with more young people. Technology should empower all of us and I plan to ensure that we at YDWA are technologically proficient and make politics more accessible and equitable.

I have a lot of experience working on and with the frontier of technological solutions. A programmer by day, I am ready to assist the board and its members of any technical operations and procedures. I’m super excited to continue to be involved in YDWA and I hope to have your support! Thank you for your consideration.

Gwen Beebe

Hey all! I live in Southwest Washington, I use she/her pronouns, I’m a data analyst and consultant in the homelessness services sector, and I’m a parent (normally I wouldn’t lead with that, but lately I’m all about normalizing parenting in places we’re less accustomed to seeing it—that very much includes YDWA!). I’ve previously served as a YD county chapter chair, was the YDWA VP of communications for 20-21, and spent the last year and a half on the NARAL PAC board. I’m excited to run for national committeeperson to reinforce our cross-country relationships, advocate for YDWA as an organization on the national level, and continue strengthening our knowledge of best practices. If elected, I will continue to work on the tech side of YDWA operations and offer any support needed to our tech and ops VPs—I have not given up on a universal member roster and text alerts for bills you care about! Some of those things we want to implement cost money, though, so it’s important that you know that as national committeeperson I will be self-funding any and all required travel. Feel free to reach out to me on Facebook or Slack (yes, we have a Slack channel!) with any questions at all. Talk to you soon!

Shayna Daitch

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our world. In these uncertain times, YDWA deserves experienced leadership. Having previously been a national committee representative, I’m ready to get the job done on day one.

My approach to leadership is inspired by former First Lady Michelle Obama. She said, “when you’ve worked hard, done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”

Many people have held that door open for me; I want to do it for you. As your national committee rep, I will create opportunities for YDWA members to learn and thrive, bring resources to our chapters, and provide quality representation for you on the national level.

Can I count on you to vote for me? My cell is 405-708-9810 if you’d like to chat/text so I can earn your vote.

Bio: Shayna Daitch got her start in politics in middle school, volunteering with her single mother on a local judicial race. As a former student activist at the University of Oklahoma, Shayna successfully lobbied to amend the campus non-discrimination policy to include much-needed protections for LGBTQ students and organized rallies to block personhood legislation. Since then, she’s served as a campaign staffer for Barack Obama, Senator Claire McCaskill, and many municipal races. She was a program manager for Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s in-house consulting firm, leading campaigns to stop anti-choice legislation and elect Democrats to targeted federal offices. She also worked as District Director for Councilmember Debora Juarez —the first Native American on the Seattle City Council.

Shayna has held several leadership roles in Democratic politics, including as Secretary of the Young Democrats of America, Midwest Representative to the DNC Youth Council, National Committeewoman (Young Democrats of Oklahoma), and as the Communications Director for the 43rd District Democrats. She is a PCO and was an elected Washington Delegate to the 2016 and 2020 Democratic National Conventions.

Shayna lives in Seattle’s U District. She makes political jewelry, likes Baby Yoda, and hopes to have a corgi someday.

Nathaniel Block

I am seeking your support to be our next representative to the Washington State Democratic Central Committee (WSDCC). I believe that my experience and what I will work with all of you to accomplish over the next two years makes me the ideal individual for this position.

I have served in a variety of roles both locally, statewide, and nationally:

• Two terms on WSDCC, never having missed a meeting
• Current National Parliamentarian for the Young Democrats of America
• Only Appointed Representative to the DNC’s Youth Committee for the 17 Western States and Territories
• Current Board Member of Skagit County YDs and former board member of King County YDs

If elected I hope to accomplish the following:

• Create an official Youth Caucus on the State Committee
• Hold regular meetings with YDs on the State Committee to work together to accomplish our goals
• Work with Local Party Organizations to elect more YDs to the State Committee

If elected I will work to make sure that prior to voting on any major decision that I will reach out to as many YDs as I can statewide to see what matters to them and how they want me to vote as their representative. I will make use of our Slack channel and social media channels to reach out to YDs statewide. It is important to me that I represent you and your interests. This is something I did in my previous service on the WSDCC and I will continue to do.

I hope that you will join our fellow YDs from every corner of the State from Kitsap to Spokane to Skagit and King in supporting me for WSDCC Representative. If you have any questions or want to talk further please feel free to text or call me at (360)610-7272 or email me at nathaniel.r.block@gmail.com at anytime.

Waylon Menzia

Hello! My name is Waylon and I am a passionate Young Democrat in Auburn. I have a passion for progressive change in Washington and want to have a chance to help this organization do just that. Currently, I am the newly created Social Justice Caucus’ Chair. I care about ACTUAL change, which is not always seen in spaces like these, I hope to play a role in fixing that. I want to make sure this organization is representative of our state and the diverse population we have. I do the work that needs to get done and then some. I am the Chair of the Auburn Junior City Council, the Auburn Transportation Advisory Board, and the Auburn School District Wellness Committee. I also founded two organizations based on progressive change and started my own business centered around equitable consulting. I do everything that I can to make sure that the spaces I am in are equitable and inclusive. I am NOT quiet. Thank you and please, consider me when you vote! Progress is power!

Cody Lonning

I still wear the tennis shoes I wore campaigning for Obama in 2008 (and 2012), and I’m running for Eastern Regional Director because I think Democrats can win anywhere and everywhere if we commit to patient organizing, charitable listening, a grassroots electoral strategy, and a worker-centered platform coupled with a race-class fusion message. I think we can win on progressive solutions, like Medicare for All and worker cooperatives, even in rural places.

I grew up farming hay and wheat near Cheney before studying history at Walla Walla University and law at the University of California, Berkeley, where I was part of a team who advised the Secretary of Energy on renewable energy issues. I practiced law for three years before clerking for a federal judge. Before that, I worked for the National Geographic writing and producing interviews with workers harvesting oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. Currently, I teach history and politics at Eastern Washington University.

This is an “all hands on deck” moment because this phase of political reorientation represents an opportunity for the Democratic Party to solidify its connection to energized youth and to build a working-class consensus around common bonds.

Everyone wants the same things: a safe place to raise a family, clean water and air, accessible and high-quality health care, compassionate enforcement of just laws, less poverty, more self-determination, and a fulfilling vocation that pays a living wage.

I’m running for Eastern Regional Director because I don’t think Democrats should concede any race or debate.

Mike Pond

Hello YDWA, my name is Mike Pond, and I’m interested in serving you on the Executive Board.

Born, raised, and educated here in the Pacific Northwest, I have a breadth of knowledge of the Washington political landscape. I am a strong candidate for the YDWA Board because of my strengths in communication, relationships with state leaders, and overall involvement within our YDWA organization/ community. Assisting with several political campaigns throughout the past nine years, from beginning to end, I have planned and executed many high yielding fundraisers, and large scale community engagement events. I am extremely familiar with campaign strategy, social media best practices, and have carefully crafted and implemented effective marketing and communication plans. In addition to my unique experiences, I also possess a tremendous amount of patience, trustworthiness, ethics, communication skills, and respect and compassion for everyone. I believe I am an excellent fit for the YDWA Board, bring strong energy to the table, and will build a sustainable, grassroots, progressive activism network of young people to move us past this difficult period of time we have all been living through.

Thank you for your consideration, and ask for your VOTE!

Elected Experience:
Young Democrats of Clark County, Chair (20-21)/ Vice Chair (16,18).
YDWA Southern Regional Director (18). YDWA Queer Caucus Chair (18).
Precinct 673 Committee Officer. 49th LD State Committeeman (15-18).
WWU Associated Students Board of Directors, Vice President for Student Life (09-10).

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Western Washington University (11).
Associates of Arts, Clark College (08).
Leadership Clark County Graduate (15).

Professional Experience:
Marketing Specialist, ADCO Printing & Graphics (18-Present).
Clark College, Communications Specialist (19-20).
Nine years of local political campaign coordination.
United Food and Commercial Workers Union, (UFCW) Local 555.

Community Service:
Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout (05).
Queer Youth Resource Center, Board Member.
17 & 20 Gorge C. Marshall Public Leadership Award, Nominee.
Member of: Vancouver Neighborhood Alliance, Vancouver USA Pride, NAACP, LULAC, Indivisible Greater Vancouver, Labor Round Table.
Volunteer for: Walk’N Knock, Parks Foundation of Clark, Friends of Trees, Friends of the Elder Justice Center, Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood VOTES, Hello Vancouver!

Waylon Menzia

Hello! My name is Waylon and I am a passionate Young Democrat in Auburn. I have a passion for progressive change in Washington and want to have a chance to help this organization do just that. Currently, I am the newly created Social Justice Caucus’ Chair. I care about ACTUAL change, which is not always seen in spaces like these, I hope to play a role in fixing that. I want to make sure this organization is representative of our state and the diverse population we have. I do the work that needs to get done and then some. I am the Chair of the Auburn Junior City Council, the Auburn Transportation Advisory Board, and the Auburn School District Wellness Committee. I also founded two organizations based on progressive change and started my own business centered around equitable consulting. I do everything that I can to make sure that the spaces I am in are equitable and inclusive. I am NOT quiet. Thank you and please, consider me when you vote! Progress is power!

Natalie Rucksdashel

Hello! My name is Natalie Rucksdashel, and I am running to be the next Western Region Director for the Young Democrats of Washington. Being a political science major and a two-year member of the Young Democrats of Western Washington University, I would love to get more involved in statewide politics and to participate in the YDWA organization. Being the next Western Region Director is a job that would require attention to detail and a strong interest for working with other chapters, both of which are things I can achieve if elected. While I have never held a position on a YDWA board before, I believe that I could pick up the job quickly, devoting time every week to working for YDWA. I hope you will consider voting for me as your next Western Region Director; thank you for your consideration.

We Want You!

Your voice, your values, and your experiences are powerful tools. You don’t have to have previous political experience to make a difference! Immediately after concluding our Virtual Elections, our new Vice Presidents will start seeking Directors to fill out their Departments. Keep checking back on our website or social media for more info!

Join us for Virtual Events!

Whether we are training the local community to use vital democracy-saving tools or just getting together for a game of Jackbox, you’ll find it on our events page.

Start a Caucus!

Whether you’re passionate about a cause or want to engage Young Democrats with similar interests, starting a caucus is a great way to take collective action! A caucus is a group of YDWA members united to promote an agreed-upon cause. Caucuses re-charter every year, starting right after elections.

For more info, click here.