Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 6-28-18

Local
Florida Democratic Party Expands Staff For 2018 Election
Recently, the Florida Dem- ocratic Party hired several new members to its staff. The party’s goal is to increase its field operations to reach vot- ers across the state.
In addition to the 8 posi- tions filled, the party intends to hire several others to serve as organizers prior to the Au- gust Primary Election.
Terrie Rizzo, Florida Democratic Party Chairperson said, “It’s going to take a com- mitted, experienced, and mo- tivated staff of Democrats to help us take back Florida after nearly 20-year Republican rule, and we are building a team who is ready to do just that.
Steven Jackson will fill the role of Coordinated Direc- tor. Originally from the Mid- west, Jackson came to Florida in 2012 as a part of President Barack Obama’s re-election cam- paign.
He has worked on local, state, and national campaigns in Florida and several other states.
Amir Avin will serve as
STEVEN JACKSON
MS. SIERRA FAREED
AMIR AVIN
MS. ELENA McCULLOUGH
MS. LISA FISHMAN
MS. JAMI HUDSON
Campaign.
ALI AKIN KURNAZ
ADI RAMA- CHANDRAN
tary vets with PTSD and other service-related injuries.
Ali Akin Kurnaz
is the new Digital Manager. A strategist at the intersection of digital organizing and movement-building, Kurnaz was formerly Communications Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida (CAIR Florida), Com- munications Director at Florida Young Democrats, a Deputy Campaign Manager, and Legislative Aide.
Ms. Sierra Fareed
will serve as the Finance Asso- ciate. Ms. Fareed is a Tampa native. She graduated from Florida A & M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Politi- cal Science and a Juris Doctor- ate degree. She worked as a field organizer during the 2016 election and comes to the party after working as a substi- tute teacher in Hillsborough County public schools.
Ms. Elena McCullough
was chosen to serve as the Community Engagement Di- rector Region 2. Ms. McCul- lough is a native of the Dominican Republic.
She served in the United States Coast Guard for 24
years, retiring as Lieutenant. Ms. McCullough earned a B. S. degree in Psychology and ran for the Florida House
in 2010.
She also served as a surro-
gate for President Obama in his 2012 campaign and has worked for Democratic candi- dates throughout Florida since 2008.
Ms. Jami Hudson
was chosen to serve as the Community Engagement Di- rector Region 8. As a longtime resident of Southwest Florida, Ms. Hudson grew up in Min- nesota and now resides in North Fort Myers.
Through her involvement in numerous campaigns, she discovered her passion for voter engagement and com- munity organizing.
Adi Ramachandran is the Deputy Data & Analytics Director. He joins the Florida Democratic Party as Deputy Data Director after two cycles as a field organizer: for Hillary Clinton and the Ne- vada Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 2016, and then the Virginia Democratic Coor- dinated Campaign in 2017.
the Statewide Field Director. He began his career in politics in Alachua County, working on local campaigns during his time as a student at the Uni- versity of Florida.
After managing a success- ful mayoral campaign in con- junction with the FDP’s Municipal Victory Project, Avin has served as Deputy Communications Director for the Florida Democratic Party and, most recently, as Cam- paign Manager for a competi- tive Florida Congressional
Ms. Lisa Fishman
was chosen to fill the position of Finance Operations Direc- tor. Ms. Fishman brings an extensive background in building long-term sustain- able fundraising programs. Most recently, she created and managed part of AIPAC’s na- tional development program from their Washington, D.C. headquarters.
She is a proud UCLA Bruin and a yoga teacher with partic- ular interest in teaching mili-
PAGE 2-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018