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)

Candidate Profiles: Frank Almeida

I am honored to be included for consideration for the position of Treasurer. I wholehearted support "The Progressive Ticket", as well.

I have lived in Argentina since 1999 and have lived through the major financial meltdown of 2001. Catastrophe and crisis usually come hand in hand with opportunity. Back then that crisis was part of the world events that lead me to try something new. Out of that crisis Sugar & Spice was born and it grew to become Argentina´s first truly gourmet cookie brand, single handedly creating the local retail gourmet cookie segment and reaching over 2 million pesos in sales this year.

Before I entered into the world of entreprenuership, I was working in corporate sales of Crown Relocations in Buenos Aires, and before that I ran English conversation classes and helped people create their own unique grad school essays.

Throughout the whole time I have been in Argentina I have also been involved with Fundación Leer, which is a local license of Reading is Fundamental from the United States. I saw first hand just how that group affected change, inspiration and hope in the eyes of the children that recieved their very first, and in many cases the family´s only, book. From that first tear streaked smile of a child hugging her book I was hooked. At first I donated time and when I started my own company I set aside a percentage of sales. We know have grown to be able to support a reading corner.

Democrats Abroad Argentina has also ventured into a crisis of its own. I am confident that we can pull it out of that mire and build upon the succesful work that has already been done. We should never forget how crisis and opportunity go hand in hand. I see living proof of that in every supermarket shelf and every child that recieves a book through Fundación Leer, and I would like to have a hand at making sure Democrats Abroad Argentina has a shot at success as well.

This would be something new for me and I would be honored to serve as your Treasurer.

Candidate Profiles: Marta Motta

Hello, I'm Marta Motta.

I'm honored to run for Secretary of Democrats Abroad Argentina. I appreciate your taking the time to get to know me a little better.


First of all allow me tell you that I fully I support the "Progressive Ticket" of:


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

We are a progressive group devoted to action (there's never a shortage of words, is there?)

Let me to introduce myself.

All my life I've stressed the importance of education and political involvement. I like motivating youth and volunteered in public service to help disadvantaged youths gain the necessary preparation. On a more personal level I am family oriented, I'm a happy Mom and Grandma married to a professional world awarded musician.

I was born in Pergamino, Argentina and I moved with my husband to the US attracted by the ideals that have made America great and to give my kids the opportunity to live in the country of opportunities.

We arrived in LA and adopted our new home country in 1989 and I began to be involved in public service. While in California I worked as Community Representative for the Los Angeles Unified School District. I helped organize parents' centers and worked on their planning and development. I organized the first LAUSD Parent Center, at Mulholland Middle School, in the San Fernando Valley.

I regularly wrote columns for educational magazines and was invited also on a regular basis to talk on radio. On the business side, I worked as the General Manager of the music company "Maga Music".

In 2000 we moved from California and settled in Las Vegas where we finally had the opportunity to put down roots for 5 years. I joined several women's organizations and Latino organizations and worked campaigning with several labor unions.

I served as a Community Organizer in California and Nevada and I campaigned hard for Democrat candidates such as:

* Hilda Solis, Obamaís nominee US Secretary of Labor.
* Shelley Berkley, Congresswoman for Nevada, US House of Representative.
* Dina Titus, US Congresswoman for Nevada, Las Vegas 3rd District.
* Harry Reid, US Senator for Nevada, Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate
* Ruben Kihuen, Assemblyman District 11, Las Vegas, Nevada
* Estella Morales, Former Nevada Hispanic Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair and 2000 DNC Delegate.
* Ruben Zacarias, First Hispanic Superintendent of LA School District

Upon returning to Argentina from Las Vegas I joined Democrats Abroad Argentina. As your Secretary I will bring my organization skills, my energy, my experience and strong political links within the Democratic Party as well. Itís also my deep wish to help integrate American residents in Argentina with Argentineans by offering my knowledge on local issues.

I enjoy staying positive and bringing people together. I believe in collective teamwork and individual responsibility. I learned to work with courtesy under pressure and I am committed to equality, to labor causes and appreciation for education. Iím a hard worker and I feel very inspired and confident that 2009 political challenges are going to be democratically solved by our grassroots positive actions.

Candidate Profiles: Deby Novitz

I have been a community organizer and invloved in politics since I was 17 years old. Once I earned the right to vote I never stopped. I have voted in every election regardless of where I lived. My grandparents instilled in me the right to vote is a privilege and I took that right very seriously.

My generation was the first to vote at 18. I began my activist career by registering my fellow high school students to vote and subsequently college students when I landed there in the fall of 71. It was the only way I felt we could make a difference to end the Vietnam war.

Throughout my life I have worked in every presidential election, senatorial, and on the local level for causes and local politicians that I believed in. I believe that every vote counts. It is the only way to make a difference. The last 20 years I lived in the US I lived in Oakland California.

I worked for the Democratic party helping to coordinate the Latino vote in the Furitvale district. On the community level I worked to keep our neighborhood safe and free of McDonalds. (Oh yes I did, and we won!)

You might say I have been a quilombera ( shit- disturber) my whole life and I don't plan to stop now that I live here. The politics of the United States has an effect on the whole world. Witness the meltdown that has happened with the Bush Administration. Our votes still count! It doesn't matter where we live, we still need to vote.

I believe that Democrats Abroad Argentina can continue to be one of the strongest supporters of the Democratic party outside of the country. I want to help continue that process. I know that if you elect me I will work hard for you. Why? Because that is how I am. I always give 200%. I would be honored to serve as Vice Chair of Democrats of Abroad Argentina. Please support the Progressive Ticket of

Chairman:Mike Skowronek
Vice- Chair: Deby Novitz
Secretary: Marta Motta
Treasurer: Frank Almeida
Counsel: Matthew Johnson

We want to support all the Democrats of Argentina, not just the Democrats who live in Recoleta or Palermo. I don't have the kinds of friends who can produce $400,000
dollar dinners for presidents, I have the kinds of friends who walk
precints, who knock on doors, who have people in their living rooms to
tell you what the candidates are like.

The Progressive Ticket wants the second season of DAA to work to get the Democrats in the rest of Argentina active in our organization. I want to help to make that happen.

OK, what do I do now? I came to Buenos Aires in 2004 after 18 trips from 2000 - 2004. I sold everything in the US. I am full time legal resident here. I have a bed and breakfast for tango dancers in my apartment. I teach English, I do translations....and of course...I dance tango If you really want to know more about me you can read my blog www.tangospam.typepad.com. It was picked as one of the world's 350 best blogs and is now highlighted on Globalpost.com and from time to time on Huffingtonpost.com. I hope Mrs. Sargent my 8th-10th grade English teacher is proud of me.

We need your votes.

I'm Yanqui Mike Skowronek and I'm running for re-election for Chairman of Democrats Abroad Argentina as part of The Progressive Ticket of DAA members devoted to keeping our organization vital and active all year-round.

The Progressive Ticket consists of myself, Deby Novitz, Marta Motta, Frank Almeida, and Matthew Johnson.

Democrats Abroad Argentina is a national organization that gives a real voice to Democrats within the United States Democratic Party. This is what I have fought for since the day we founded DAA more than a year ago...

...The Progresive Ticket is devoted to returning that real voice to you.

Democrats Abroad Argentina is NOT a "Recoleta Democrats Club"; our chartered purpose is to advance the interests of all our supporters residing in Argentina. That means Democrats in all 23 provinces as well as every barrio porteño. Our chartered purpose means that we must advance the interest of Democrats of every description, every race, every sexual orientation, and any financial means...

...The Progressive Ticket is devoted to returning to that task of maintaining and expanding that representation of all Democrats in Argentina.

That is not easy to do in a country that is more than 1/3 the size of the continental US ...and in the 11th largest city in the world.

Getting that tough job done requires activity; it requires action.

The Progressive Ticket's opponents are devotees of keeping DAA small and quiet and headquartered in the finest addresses that Buenos Aires has to offer ...and keeping the rabble out of their living room meetings.

Turning Democrats Abroad Argentina into a Buenos Aires Afternoon Tea Society will make it much easier to manage... but you will lose.

Vote for The Progressive Ticket and keep us united. United for action. United for good deeds. United for building the US Democratic Party in Argentina. United for the expatriate community. United for service to our members.