2011-2012 Executive Board

President: Anais LaVoie

Anais LaVoie is a Senior studying Ethnic Studies and Education. She came to Cal full of hope and enthusiasm from a conservative pocket of Southern California, knowing that Cal Dems could be the niche she never had.  Three years later, she is excited to be leading the most active college Democratic club in California.  Anais is deeply passionate about social justice issues, and wants to work towards increasing representation of women and people of color in higher education and electoral politics.  When she isn’t listening to Journey with Cal Dems, she volunteers to tutor and mentor Bay Area middle school students and serves as Corresponding Secretary for the Women’s Caucus of the California Democratic Party.  To pay the bills, Anais works for Cal Performances, and can possibly get you free tickets if you volunteer to register voters (not really, just ask).

You can contact Anais at president@caldems.com.

Vice-President: Molly Peterson

Molly Peterson is a third year Political Science and Public Policy student at UC Berkeley. Despite growing up with politically active parents, Molly first became immersed in progressive politics when she arrived at UC Berkeley, joining Cal Dems in her first week of college. Since joining, she has become increasingly involved, first serving as the club’s Political Director and as this year’s Vice President. Molly also serves on the board of the California College Democrats and is involved in Emerge California, an organization dedicated to training Democratic women to run for office. This year, she’s excited to coordinate service events for Cal Dems to get involved in the larger Berkeley community, as well as organize voter registration efforts on campus to build the framework we need to reelect President Obama in 2012.

You can contact Molly at vp@caldems.com.

Membership Director: Andrew Postal

Andrew Postal is a fourth year double major in Political Science and Environmental Economics here at UC Berkeley.  He is originally from Los Angeles, and his first political memory is in the fifth grade coloring a map of who won which states during the 2000 Presidential Election.  He has worked in the California State Assembly and in the Executive Office of the President in Washington, DC.  His favorite political moment was taking a picture with Nancy Pelosi at the California Democratic Party Convention in April 2010.  His non-political interests include reading, spending time with friends, and taking long walks along the beach.  This year as the Cal Berkeley Democrats Membership Director, he hopes to create a more inclusive environment in which new members feel welcomed and connected to the Democratic Party and each other.

You can contact Andrew at membership@caldems.com.

Communications Director: Mia Hodge

Mia Hodge is a third-year student majoring in Political Science and Arabic. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, progressivism and political engagement were instilled in her from an early age, and she is especially passionate about education policy. Her first political memory is watching Florida change columns on CNN during the 2000 Presidential Election, and she has been fascinated with politics ever since. Outside of Cal Dems, Mia is also involved with the ASUC. As Communications Director, she leads Public Relations Committee, and plans to strengthen Cal Dems’ ties to the network of progressive campus organizations here at UC Berkeley. Communications are important to Mia because she believes Cal Dems is one of the most awesome clubs on campus, so she is excited to share our great work with everyone!

You can contact Mia at communications@caldems.com.

Finance Director: Daniel Tuchler

Daniel Tuchler is a second-year student at the University of California, Berkeley pursuing a double major in Rhetoric and Political Science. His strong interest in governmental affairs began in high school. Throughout four years, Daniel competed as one of the top ranked debaters in the nation, setting several records in California. With the heavy amount of research required to be successful at debate tournaments, Daniel developed a vast amount of knowledge concerning U.S. government agencies and their policies. Since graduating, Daniel has shared his knowledge of governmental affairs by interning at Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. in Oakland, California and the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Daniel intends to use his work experience to bolster the financial capability of Cal Dems as the campaign season for the 2012 election nears.

You can contact Daniel at finance@caldems.com.

Tech Director

You can contact Marshall at IT@caldems.com.

Smart Ass Editor-in-Chief: Jeremy Bishow

Jeremy Bishow is a fourth-year Rhetoric major and potential Physics minor at UC Berkeley.  Born and raised in Burbank, he spent his high school years in mock trial, speech and debate, and play production.  Many of these years were spent arguing on the behalf of liberalism and progressivism with his friends. This affinity for words and their presentation, along with his liberal tendencies, quickly brought him to the Cal Berkeley Democrats and its publication—the Smart Ass.  Cal Dems quickly became his home and the Smart Ass became his new outlet.  Now the Editor-in-Chief of the Smart Ass, he can bring his own flair to the publication he’s put so much time and effort into.  Expect to laugh, expect to cry, expect to make deadlines.

You can contact Jeremy at smartass@caldems.com.

Events Director: Chasel Lee

Chasel Lee is a fourth-year Political Science major and intended Asian American Studies minor. A San Francisco native, Chasel grew up in an immigrant family from mainland China in a neighborhood undergoing rapid demographic and social change. This environment has shaped his views and politics to emphasize the empowerment of the historically disenfranchised, the inclusion of all, especially communities of color, in decision-making processes, and the advocacy and implementation of pragmatic, progressive, people-first policies. As an intern for San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu for over two years, Chasel has worked to put these ideas into motion at the local level. As Events Director, he will organize events, trips, and projects incorporating these basic Democratic values, making Cal Dems a more diverse, inclusive, and dynamic chapter for all members. Chasel’s interests include redistricting issues, electoral race tracking, and Korean pop music.

You can contact Chasel at events@caldems.com.

Activism Director: Jacob Metz

Jacob is a second-year pursuing a double major in Legal Studies and Political Science – International Relations. Coming from the suburb of Huntington Beach in Orange County, he has been an active voice from the street corners to city hall trying to move forward the blue democratic banner of progress. As Activism Director, Jacob hopes to be an organizer and an out-reacher by rallying support behind key petitions for the 2012 ballot, meeting with public officials to ensure they stay beholden to the platform they campaigned on, and forming a progressive union and base of support among the many clubs and organizations on campus. Jacob promotes activist organizing because he believes firmly in the notion that change is the law of life and that change only comes by collective action as Robert Kennedy noted, “it is from numberless diverse acts of courage and
belief that human history is shaped.”

You can contact Jacob at activism@caldems.com.