Elizabeth Kelly
My name is Elizabeth Kelly, and I am asking for your vote for DAUK Treasurer. DAUK can become the hub for all overseas Democratic-voting Americans providing the most effective opportunities to make a positive progressive impact in the USA. We can do this by growing membership, cultivating volunteers, and encouraging clearer communications and transparency across the organisation. With a larger, more inclusive and empowered membership, we will motivate more Democrats to be engaged and vote. Midterms matter and we need to start now! There are roughly 250,000 American citizens of voting age in the UK – let’s recruit as many as we can!
As Treasurer, I will ensure DAUK has a clear financial strategy to develop and maintain a robust budget for delivering all the activities required to achieve our goals. I will build on recent innovations in the budgeting process to ensure a consultative approach with leaders throughout DAUK to deploy financial resources fairly, transparently and efficiently. I will set clear guidelines at the outset of the budgeting process with direct links to the DAUK strategy and specific performance indicators. Increased membership leads to increased revenue streams, and I look forward to hearing your ideas to maximise our outreach and continue to build community across the country.
I joined DAUK In 2002 and volunteered intensively with the voter registration team during the 2018 midterm election cycle, including travelling to voter registration drives at universities in Scotland. Since 2019, I have served as Co-Chair of DAUK Voter Registration/GOTV, developing and implementing our voter outreach strategy and building a team of over 300 volunteers from across the UK. I also serve as the Global Co-Chair for Vote From Abroad Communications. I created the Voting Champion programme and initiated the associated social media strategy and campaign, with participation by thousands of Democrats Abroad members and country committee leads from around the world.
Starting my professional life as an environmental grassroots organiser, I am an activist at heart with the financial acumen and attention to detail that will be required as DAUK Treasurer. I have a master’s degree in public policy, with training in economics, statistics, policy analysis and financial management. After relocating to London and a brief stint as a management consultant, I joined Transport for London to work in budgeting, business planning and performance management, managing a £350m budget and delivering efficiency and organisational reviews. Returning to my environmentalist roots, I became TfL’s Behaviour Change Manager delivering programmes to reduce car use. I am currently an independent consultant on projects that build civic engagement and deliver sustainable cities through behaviour change.
Through my work on voter registration, the knowledge and connections I gained working with country committees globally, and my professional experience, I can do as your Treasurer what DAUK’s needs to move forward. Thank you for your consideration. I would love to hear your ideas about how we can work together. Contact me at: [email protected] or www.DAUKGrowTogether.com
Monica Tanouye
In the run-up to the 2022 midterms, the Democratic Party needs to focus on voter turnout in red and purple states. I am passionate about the critical role Democrats Abroad can play in this, and that’s why I am running for DAUK Treasurer/DPCA Voting Representative.
My professional background is in the nonprofit sector, centered on project, partner and volunteer management for multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns. I currently work at UNICEF UK where I manage relationships with major supporters, raising $1M annually. I am recognized at work for discipline and attention to detail, coupled with an ability to see the big picture, which I believe would be an asset as Treasurer.
My interest and involvement in politics is rooted in my background as a mixed race Japanese-Mexican-Irish-German woman. The stories told by my Mexican immigrant grandmother, learning about my Japanese family’s life in post-WWII Hawaii, and my own experiences have developed my understanding of race in America and what it might take to create a more inclusive and representative democracy. As a leader in the organization, I will bring this perspective to DAUK and the DPCA.
I have been a member of DAUK since I moved to London in 2017, volunteering at the Independence Day Picnics in 2018 and 2019. Last year, I helped raise over $25,000 for our global phonebanking and GOTV efforts as part of the Call The World fundraising team.
As DAUK Treasurer, I will ensure smooth operations of our work through efficient, equitable budget management. Ensuring we maintain momentum with voters will be more challenging in a midterm, so we will need to use our resources strategically to turn out the vote. I will build strong, collaborative relationships with our chapters, caucuses and group leaders to set budgets and financial plans that make this a reality. More broadly, as a member of the Executive Committee, I will contribute to a positive, proactive team culture and will support additional projects when and where needed most. As a Voting Representative, I will bring my insights as Treasurer and personal perspective to our engagement with the DPCA.
I love being a part of DAUK and supporting our historic successes in 2020. I believe my experiences and background will make a unique contribution. I hope you will cast your vote for me and the rest of Team Nicole 21. For more information on our candidates, please visit www.TeamNicole21.com.
Short biography: I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, studied Economics and Spanish at Boston University and worked in Charleston, South Carolina before relocating to London. While working in marketing and communications in Charleston, I organized for the city’s first ever Mayoral Forum on Race Equity, held in the wake of the Mother Emanuel Church shootings. Outside of my work in fundraising, I am pursuing a masters in international relations at SOAS University of London where I am researching migration diplomacy in Mexico and Turkey. I live in London with my husband, Mike, and love knitting, cycling and reading.
