Candidate Profiles: Matthew Johnson

As a member and participant of Democrats Abroad Argentina, I've watched the Past Chair and present candidate, Mike Skowronek, work to create a dynamic organization that functions to serve the American community in Argentina. From the voter registration drives to events for the 2008 Presidential and Vice Presidential debates, Mike's efforts have contributed to DAA becoming a center point for the American community in Buenos Aires and the provinces of Argentina.

I would like to help. It would be an honor serve as Counsel to DAA and assist with the continuation of these types of efforts.

I am an expat living in Buenos Aires for almost two years now. I do private research here in the area of imaging science related to my background in photonics and opto-electronics.

Prior to Buenos Aires, I worked closely with legal staff from the U.S. private and public sectors. For about 10 years my skills were applied to protecting technology based infrastructure systems as well as the investigation and prosecution of entities misusing those systems.

During my first 13 months in Buenos Aires, my company tasked me with managing a project to survey and evaluate the legal environment in Argentina as it relates to the operation of foreign companies. The team I managed coordinated with a network of attorneys to accomplish this task.

In short, Argentina is a melting pot of laws and legal theories that are as varied as their European origins. In many cases the law is codified to a level of detail that is unfamiliar to the U.S. The smallest and simplest business relationships between individuals and/or companies are manged to a finite degree by laws that can take precedence over contractual relationships.

If elected, I look forward to researching solutions and reaching out to the necessary people to find assistance for DAA when needed. I also look forward to the opportunity to serve the DAA membership and work with other members of the Progressive Ticket (see list below) to continue DAA as an active and vibrant organization.

Cheers,
MJ

The Progressive Ticket:
Chairman: Yanqui Mike Skowronek
Vice- Chair: Deby Novitz
Secretary: Marta Motta
Treasurer: Frank Almeida
Counsel: Matthew Johnson (myself)