The Westchester-Playa Democratic Club's Annual Election will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7:00pm via Zoom (link provided with registration).
Please register for the meeting so that we can ensure you are cleared to vote if eligible and to receive the meeting link!
A list of the nominations received by our Nominating Committee by the October 8, 2021 deadline is below. The Nominating Committee is no longer accepting nominations online. If you are interested in joining the board, nominations will be accepted from the floor at the Annual Election Meeting on November 18, 2021. (Please note: Nominees from the floor must be present at the virtual meeting).
Meet the 2022 Board Candidates
EXECUTIVE BOARD CANDIDATES
President: Mark Ozzello
Mark Ozzello is a senior counsel with Capstone Law, where he leads one of the firm’s employment litigation teams. He is a nationally recognized and respected consumer and employment attorney who has litigated those issues throughout the country. Mark has always been at the forefront of consumer rights, sitting on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California and regularly appearing as a featured speaker on consumer rights issues nationwide.
Mark is a former partner of Arias Ozzello & Gignac. In his capacity as a litigator, he has obtained results for his clients in excess of $300 million dollars. Mark has also achieved consistent success in the California Courts of Appeal, and several judicial opinions regularly cite to his matters as authority for class certification issues. He has also argued appellate issues in several Circuit Courts of Appeals with great success. Mark attended Pepperdine University School of Law where he was an Editor to the Law Review, publishing several articles during his tenure in that capacity. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.
Mark has always strived to be an integral part of local communities. He has established educational scholarship programs at several charitable organizations, including El Centro De Amistad in Los Angeles and St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School in Thoreau, New Mexico, and presides over a legal clinic in Los Angeles which provides pro bono legal assistance to non-English speaking individuals. Mark is admitted to practice in California and before the United States District Court for the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern Districts of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth and Ninth Circuits.
1st Vice President: Corinne Castro
Corinne Castro has been serving the WPDC as a Board Member in the position of Treasurer for the past three years. Corinne is a real estate agent in Los Angeles, a volunteer mediator with the LA City Attorney's office, and a collaborator in the CVC (Community Vision Conversations), a restorative justice program. Corinne lives in LA with her boyfriend and her dog, enjoys long weekends in Palm Springs and spending time with her daughter.
2nd Vice President: Liz Kane
Elizabeth “Liz” Kane is a lifelong California Democrat and resident of Westchester since 2009. During her day job, she supports 13 schools in LAUSD, in the community of Watts, as an Instructional Coordinator. Her role as an educator and administrator provides her with a unique set of skills to communicate effectively and coordinate multiple projects at the same time. Liz is involved in the community as a volunteer with Girl Scouts, Grass Roots Neighbors, and the Buy Nothing Community Project. As a 12 year resident of Westchester, she is also a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain, and an active community participant in the Westchester-Playa Neighborhood Council committee and board meetings. Liz’s passion for activism led her to found Westside Activists with other local activists and she continues to fight for Democratic issues in local, statewide, and national elections.
Treasurer: Onofrio "Vince" Bertolini
I am an architect and a member of theclubsince 2006. I have held manycluboffices including 1st Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer (for four years) and Issues Committee Chair. I have been active in the Democratic Party since 1965. I have also been active in local and county offices in Bergen County, New Jersey. I was the National President for the Society of American Registered Architects in addition to spending time serving as the Southern California and New Jersey Chapter President. I am active in local organizations in the San Fernando Valley and Westchester.
Recording Secretary: Natalie Dial
I’m a fourth-generation resident, advocate, and enthusiast of Westchester—currently working as a public health scientist, but also opening a restaurant and urban garden in the Westchester triangle late 2022. I was lucky to serve on the WPDC board as a member-at-large this past year, and took on the role of Recording Secretary in June 2021. I’m passionate about community equity, education, and evidence-based policy, and hope to continue learning from and contributing to WPDC’s mission.
Corresponding Secretary: Susan Robinson
Susan Robinson is a life-long Democrat, has been a resident of Westchester-Playa for 30+ years, and has been an active member of the WP DemClubsince 2016. Susan brings decades of Board experience, serving non-profits at many Executive Board levels. Susan is hoping to be instrumental in helping the WP DemClubmeet some important goals: sustainability and growth, succession planning, and board culture. And as Corresponding Secretary, Susan would like to help manage communications both within and from The Board and The Membership, in order to create a more member-friendly experience.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE CANDIDATES
Greg Dina
I have been a Westchester / Playa del Rey resident for the 21 years that I have been in Los Angeles and an active member of the Club for the past 8 years. I have served on the WPDC board in various roles for several years and have assisted in the planning and promotion of many of our Club events and fundraisers. I am excited to return to the Board for 2022 and assist with our club communications and outreach in particular, and to work with all the new and returning Board members. I'm a graduate of LMU and have worked in design and marketing roles at various companies, and look forward to combining my skills with the Club's needs to further advance our mission of promoting Democratic principles and values. For the past 4 years, I have served as Marketing Manager at the architecture firm HOK in Culver City.
Kelly Ducharme
I first joined the Westchester Demclubback in 2008, when the group was still pretty young. Sheila and I would spend our Saturdays with others collecting signatures for health care reform. Also volunteered for the Ballona Institute working on planting native plants along the Venice canals with Marcia and Roy. This has been a year and a half of devastating blows to the well-being of Americans, with the rollbacks on health care, tax cuts for the super-rich, environmental rollbacks, the confirmation of BK to the supreme court. For 2019 I would like to see more focus on getting single-payer or reviving the ACA back on track, God willing if we can turn the house and senate blue. Also, I believe we should really get California to go as renewable as possible with tax cuts for solar panels, try to stop the Ballona wetlands from this revitalization project that So Cal Gas is trying to push forward.
Daniel Ivanov
Danny is an associate attorney practicing in the areas of civil rights and employment litigation. Prior to his legal advocacy work, Danny worked at several non-profit organizations in Chicago and Washington D.C. He also had the opportunity to work on several political campaigns across the country during his time at the Democratic National Committee. Danny graduated from the University of Miami with a B.A. in Economics, Political Science, & History in 2017. In 2020, he earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School. He was admitted to the California state bar in 2021. When he is not practicing law or working to get Democrats elected, Danny enjoys playing basketball, fishing, going to the beach, and spending time with friends & family."
Jim Ouellet
Jim Ouellet has lived in Playa del Rey since 1985, raising both his sons here. He has been a member of Westchester-Playa DemocraticClubfor about 10 years, mostly doing for grunt work on political campaigns. Before that, he worked on the board of the Alliance for Regional Solutions for Airport Congestion (ARSAC), helping fight attempts to move the nearest LAX runway even closer to homes and schools in Westchester and Playa del Rey. Before retiring, he spent 40 years doing research on motorcycle accident causes and countermeasures.
Ahmanise Sanati
Ahmanise is a mother of two young children, a social worker in the mental health unit at the LA County Jail, and a passionate activist in her community. She is also a CADEM Delegate for our AD 62, Regional Director of National Association of Social Workers, a member of the Westchester Park Advisory board, shop steward with her union AFSCME 3511, and a dedicated volunteer with Westside Pacific Villages, Grass Roots Neighbors and The Westchester Family Y. Ahmanise actively seeks opportunities to engage her community in democracy, and is eager to join the Westchester/Playa Board for a second term.
Beverly Sanford
I am Bev Sanford, a long-time resident of Westchester and a lifelong Democrat. I have been a WPDC member and strongly believe in democratic values. Previously I served on the nominating committee and social activities committees. Having been present when theclubwas being formed, I am pleased to know that the torch is being passed to a new group of activists. A big thank you to all who have helped to energize ourclub. I hope to see you at the meetings!
Catherine Tyrrell
I hope to contribute another year on theClubBoard as a member at large with the hope that it will be a year to build a strong bond and effective organization - and that I can help. I currently serve on several Boards where my focus is on environmental protection and leadership.
Sylvia Wilson
Sylvia is a mother to three children, a lawyer with Los Angeles County practicing family law, a community activist/organizer with Westside Activists, and dedicated to Democratic causes. She is an elected member of the Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council and serves as the Committee Chair for the Neighborhood Council’s Community Services Committee. She works daily to engage with local community members to improve the community and promote education around social and racial justice matters.
If you have any questions, please contact the Nominating Committee Co-Chairs:
Susan Robinson: susanrobinson88@gmail.com
Onofrio Vincent Bertolini: ovbertolini@gmail.com