CYD Candidate Questionnaire
Please submit your completed, typed, questionnaire in word format by email to President Jennifer Longley(president@sfyd.org) no later then 8:00 pm, Wednesday, June 17, 2009. A digital photograph is also requested. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, and please visit www.sfyd.org to familiarize yourself with the SFYD bylaws. THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK! The 2008/2009 Officers & Board of the San Francisco Young Democrats
Information: Election Day All candidates will have an opportunity to speak at the Wednesday, Jule 8th, 7:00 pm general membership meeting of the San Francisco Young Democrats (SFYD) At the SFYD membership meeting, candidates will be given between 3-5 minutes to speak and take questions. The exact speaking time will be made available after the application deadline and will depend on the number of candidates running and the position you apply for, as well as the balance of our April 8 meeting agenda.
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
1. Name as it will appear on the ballot: First Name Middle Initial or Nick Name Maxwell Leslie 2. 3. 4. 5. Last Name Szabo
Office Sought: President Are you the incumbent? No Are you a Voting Member in Good Standing of SFYD? Yes How many years have you been a member of SFYD or other YD Chapters? 1 5. Contact Information: Home Address: Campaign Phone: Campaign Email: Campaign Website:
1062 Fulton St. #2, San Francisco, CA 831-359-1229 Maxwell.szabo@gmail.com n/a
POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Beginning with the most recent position, please list previous leadership and elected roles in the Young Democrats and other relevant Political or Leadership Organizations. Office/Role Elective/Appointive? Dates Held Leadership Role (if any)
Political Director, SFYD Appointed
April 2008 Present
QUESTIONNAIRE 1) Why are you running, and what makes you qualified for this position? I’m running because I have the knowledge, talent and political acumen to run SFYD.
2) What are the main challenges facing the California Young Democrats as an organization in the context of this position? How will you address those issues if elected? If you are the incumbent, please list at least three concrete accomplishments in the office. The California Young Democrats are a bit of a niche group. We have a powerful caucus due to our sheer numbers, but we have an opportunity to effectuate the larger issues of Democratic Party policy when we get involved in a more localized fashion. Whether this is by injecting ourselves into other Democratic Party caucuses, or locally with clubs such as SFYD playing a larger role in local and regional politics – our swelling numbers has given us an opportunity to divide and conquer. 3) Identify two challenges facing young people in the context of the position you seek? What specific commitment will you make to address these issues if elected? Jobs. Young people are getting laid off at an alarming rate at an age where we’re very vulnerable. SFYD needs to make a commitment to be part of the solution of the wretched local economy. We also have an opportunity to work with local non-profits at a time when they need more help than ever. Access. Young adults may not have the resources they need to tell their elected officials what is important to them. As young adults we are the future, and SFYD needs to be the conduit that ensures our needs are adequately addressed in city government. 4) If elected, what ideas and commitments would you put forward to engage more of California’s, and San Francisco’s, young people in the political process? What specifically would you do?
We need to utilize our existing networks more than we do. All of our members are young adults, they no doubt have friends and associates that are similar in age and ideology. We need to push our existing membership to carry our message further. One way in which I hope to do so is by better utilizing the tools of new media. 5) Please describe in sufficient detail at least one of your accomplishments that has improved the lives of young people. These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities which apply to the office you are seeking. These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life. I orchestrated the Volunteer Symposium where we helped numerous non-profits that serve young people, and we paired them with volunteers who are young folks who will stand to benefit from helping out in their communities.
EXPERIENCE Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills relevant to the office you are seeking. Include your roles in the activities and when you were involved. Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life. Please explain how your experiences would make you an effective advocate for young people as a CYD office holder. BergDavis Public Affairs, San Francisco
Account Executive
January 2008 – December 2008
I assisted with the day-to-day government, media and community relations management for a variety of clients on projects that require expertise in areas ranging from crisis communications, land use, advocacy, labor, & ballot campaigns Draft talking points, press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds and issue briefs Help formulate and implement communications campaigns to local, regional, and national press outfits Perform research, analysis and take action to ensure that legislation, elected officials, media and polling works to the client’s advantage Manage grassroots organizing and coalition building efforts for corporations and political campaigns Work with Fortune 5 companies and a variety of others to ensure they maintain excellent relationships in the communities, regions and realms they serve LegiStorm, Washington D.C.
Manager of Marketing and Product Development
January 2007 – June 2007
Responsibilities included developing our new products, our website, and designing our marketing, branding, and release strategies Create new informational products and their interoperability with our other features Develop our image as a nonpartisan organization dedicated to transparency in government Work with and hire designers to procure the look and feel of our website Market our website by forging partnerships with popular local businesses Create our advertising media kit and sales pitch using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator US Chamber of Commerce - Congressional & Public Affairs, Washington D.C.
Staff Assistant
September 2005 – October 2006
Managed the production of the Policy Insiders event series and supported four lobbyists Managed the production of events featuring House and Senate Leadership, Director of the FBI, the White House Chief of Staff, Secretary-General of OPEC, Governor of Massachusetts, NASA Administrator and other influential public and private citizens Wrote the speaker introductions for the Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, R. Bruce Josten. Researched and wrote policy memos, letters, and questions asked to elected members of Congress that related to issues including Homeland Security, Taxes, Transportation, Immigration, Health Care and Financial Services
Raised over $110,000 in six months by securing sponsorships from companies and organizations including Banco Popular, Boeing, Caterpillar, Greenberg Traurig, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Powel Goldstein LLP and SIA Enhanced Policy Insiders branding and sponsorship value by partnering with the political journal Roll Call Improved average attendance at each event by expanding our marketing base by nearly 500 people Created the invitations, marketing materials, introductions and questions we asked the speakers at each event Worked with membership and elements of the Chamber’s federation to maximize potential for new members Served as a Coordinator for the Americans for Transportation Mobility and Essential Workers Immigration Coalitions
House Select Committee on Homeland Security, Washington D.C.
Intern
September 2004 – December 2004
Worked with detailed Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and other committee staffers on a variety of projects including an original investigation on illegal smuggling of terrorists across the Northern border and what the nation’s ability is to mitigate casualties in the event of a bioterrorist attack Researched & retrieved sealed affidavits linking a multi-billion dollar company to a terrorist organization in Columbia Wrote a 12 million dollar grant recommendation on behalf of Ranking Member Jim Turner to the Science and Technology directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Regularly observed private and full committee hearings with cabinet level officials (i.e. DHS Secretary, Tom Ridge, Chief DHS Financial Officer Andy Maner, and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Peter F. Varga)