2024 EXECUTIVE BOARD Candidates
President:
Liz Kane
Elizabeth “Liz” Kane is a lifelong California Democrat and resident of Westchester since 2009 and was pleased to serve in this role for 2023. Liz has also taken on role as a CADEM Delegate for AD 61 this year and is enjoying being involved in CA Democratic Politics. During her day job, she supports LAUSD Virtual Acadmey supporting students from all across LA. 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’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.
1st VP / Political Affairs:
Ahmanise Sanati
Ahmanise is a mother of two young children, a social worker in LAUSD, and a passionate activist in her community. She is also a CADEM Delegate for AD 61 for her second term and is on the Executive Board for CADEM. Additionally she is a Regional Director of National Association of Social Workers, and Board Member of the Westchester Family YMCA. Whether holding up signs at a demonstration encouraging people to vote or campaigning for a cause in which she believes, Ahmanise actively seeks opportunities to engage her community in democracy, and is eager to join the Westchester/Playa Board for a third term.
2nd VP / Operations:
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 Westchester-Playa Democratic Club since 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 Dem Club meet some important goals: sustainability and growth, succession planning, and board and Club culture. As 2nd Vice President, Susan would like to continue to help manage programs and communications in order to further community-building and enhance a member-friendly environment.
Recording Secretary:
Mary Gonzalez
Mary has been a resident of Westchester for 34 years, since moving to California in 1988. She is a retired executive, working for over 30 years in the consumer products industry. Prior to retirement, Mary was most recently the Vice President of Customer Care and Technical Service for the Citizen Watch Group.
Mary currently volunteers for Grassroots Neighbors and has previously served the community as a volunteer with the Girl Scouts, Paseo Del Rey School Site Council, La Tijera United Methodist Center for Children Steering Committee, and Westchester United Methodist Youth Group. Mary is actively seeking opportunities to assist others working to improve our community and is thrilled to have discovered WPDC and is eager to contribute to the mission of the team.
Corresponding Secretary:
Ellen Klein
As a charter member and former Board member of the WPDC, I have been involved with many Club activities over the years. I am retired from Rpse Brand, a Theatrical Fabric and Supplies Company, where I worked in operations and marketing for 24 years. I love baseball, my grandkids, and like to do lots of walking, reading, cooking, traveling and weaving. My husband has lived in Westchester since 1953 and I have been here over 20 years. We love this neighborhood. We are liberal progressive Democrats and understand what needs to be done.
Treasurer:
Corinne Castro
Corinne Castro has been serving the WPDC as a Board Member in the position of Treasurer for the past four 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.
Members-at-Large
Onofrio “Vince” Bertolini
I am an architect and a member of the club since 2006. I have held many club offices 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.
Greg Dina
Since arriving in LA in 2000 to attend LMU, I have remained a Westchester-Playa area resident and currently reside in Culver City’s Fox Hills. I have been an active member of the Club for the past 9 years and have served in various roles on the board for the majority of that time. I have been a 62nd AD delegate since 2018. I am excited to return to the Board for 2023 and 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. For the past 5 years, I have served as Marketing Manager at the architecture/engineering firm HOK.
Kelly Ducharme
I am a Westchester resident and first joined the Westchester-Playa Democratic Club in 2008 when the group was still pretty young. I would spend our Saturdays with many of the club founders and others collecting signatures for health care reform. I have volunteered for the Ballona Institute working on planting native plants along the Venice canals. I believe we should continue to push California to go as renewable as possible with tax cuts for solar panels and try to stop the Ballona wetlands from this revitalization project that SoCal Gas is trying to push forward.
Sherry Lambi
Moving to LA in 1994 shortly after her graduation from ArtCenter in Pasadena, Sherry is an award-winning graphic designer with a substantial tenure in the entertainment industry.
Sherry's connection to the community runs deep, having been a resident of Westchester and later Playa del Rey since 2004. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she wears multiple hats as a devoted wife and mother, and proudly supported her son on his journey to becoming an Eagle Scout.
Sherry's passion extends far beyond her family and career. She has actively engaged in local civic life, running for the Neighborhood Council twice, a testament to her commitment to making a positive impact on her community. She is also involved in various community initiatives, from being a part of the Lady Elks to joining forces with the Trash Fairies in their mission to clean up Playa del Rey.
Sherry's political activism is a big part of her life, having campaigned for numerous Democratic candidates, including the formidable Katie Porter. She is a member of both Westside Activists and the DEMCLUB, where she believes her efforts can contribute to the betterment of her beloved city.
Shachar Lavi
Born and raised in Israel, Shachar moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1995, after serving nearly two years in the IDF as a budget coordinator. She is a professional, award-winning graphic designer, with many years in the non-profit arena. A Westchester resident since 2005 and a mother of two, she has taken great interest in the local community, became a co-founder of Westside Activists and is a passionate volunteer at her children’s schools, who led many successful fundraising events in recent years. Shachar has had very liberal views ever since she can remember and has taken interest in politics since childhood. During her naturalization ceremony in early 2005, Shachar immediately registered as a Democrat and never looked back.
Jim Ouellet
Jim has lived in Playa del Rey since 1985, raising both his sons here. He has been a member of Westchester-Playa Democratic Club for about 10 years, mostly doing 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.
Beverly Sanford
I am 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 the club was 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 our club. I hope to see you at the meetings!
Caryn Beck Southers, EdD
Professor of Fieldwork at Loyola Marymount University 2018-current
Mentoring and evaluating student teachers
Early Literacy Connection 2018-current
Professional development-early literacy instruction and intervention
Educational Doctorate University of Southern California 2018
Publication 2018
Early Literacy Intervention
Los Angeles Unified School District 1997-2018
Coordinator, instructional coach, teacher