Meredith Wood Smith has served since March 10, 2007 as full time Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon and previously served four years as the full-time DPO Vice Chair. She also serves as Western Vice President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and is a member of the Executive Committee. In 2009 she was appointed by DNC Chairman Tim Kaine to serve on the Change Commission. The Commission is charged with reviewing and making recommendations on automatic delegates to the national convention, timing of the Presidential primaries and process for presidential caucuses. Governor Kaine also appointed her to the DNC Budget and Finance Committee.
Frank Dixon is serving his first term as First Vice-Chair after organizing and chairing the DPO GLBT Caucus in 2004. Frank practiced consumer law for 15 years in the state and federal courts before turning his eye toward politics and business pursuits.
Politics has been in Jill Thorn's blood since listening to the nominating conventions of Adlai Stevenson and Dwight Eisenhower!
Jill has been elected to the West Linn City Council and served 3 terms as its mayor. As chair of the Clackamas County Democrats, Jill has built an organization with almost 250 precinct committee people in viable working house district organzations.
Becky Gladstone started working with Democrats after empty nesting, invited into Kitty Piercy's campaign by a fellow school lobbying parent. She has volunteered for Oregon Democrats since 2004, working as Kerry staff and Oregon 4th CD Delegate to Boston. Since then, she's been DPO Finance Vice-Chair, DPLC Events Chair, and 2005 Summit Co-Chair. She worked to initiate Treasurers' Trainings and on the DPO Grants Committee. The 2006 campaign also brought running phone banks and serving Chris Edwards as a treasurer. As DPO Secretary she wants to work to bring Democrats together, to make it easier for them to keep in touch, to get more people actively involved. She's enjoying working on the Delegate Selection Plan for Denver 2008 and with our 5 Congressional Districts.
Laura Calvo comes to democratic politics from a background in social justice and public service. Born and raised in San Francisco, the child of immigrant parents, Laura began her career in public service as a paramedic working for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
In 1980, a move to southern Oregon launched a distinguished career in law enforcement and an eventual passion for political activism. Laura also served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. After an injury suffered in the line-of-duty resulted in retirement from law enforcement, Laura turned her attentions to focus on passion for democratic politics.
Mike Radway began canvassing as a four-year old when he dressed-up as a politician for Halloween and distributed flyers for the Democratic candidate for governor as he Trick-or-Treated. He inherited his political roots from his mother, a former Town Clerk, and his late father, a professor of government, state legislator, and former Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Hampshire. He was raised to believe that you couldn't take a candidate for President seriously unless he had visited your house at least once. He is thrilled that both his native state and his adopted state have transformed from red to blue.
Lupita was born in Mexico City, and is the granddaughter of a founding father of Mexico: a Senator who signed that nation’s constitution. Despite being well respected, her family was of modest means, and she emigrated to the U.S. as a teenager. She married here, and is now a naturalized citizen of the United States. She lives in Aloha, Oregon, with her husband and two children, Kathryne and Mark.
Wayne Kinney is in his third term as Oregon's Democratic National Committeeman, and was recently elected secretary of the DNC's Western Caucus. He has been a member of the DPO state committee since 1991, and a member of the Executive Committee since 1993. In that time, Wayne has served two terms as DPO Secretary, two terms as chair of the Second Congressional District, two terms as chair of the Platform and Resolutions Committee, and he's in his third term as chair of the Rules Committee.
Trent Lutz assumed responsibilities as Executive Director effective May 15, 2007.
In 2002, Trent served as deputy field director for the DPO's coordinated campaign. Lutz led the Governor's 2006 fundraising efforts and U.S. Congressman David Wu's 2004 fundraising operation. Before joining the DPO, he was deputy legislative director for Governor Kulongoski.
Born and raised in Chicago, Lewis and Clark College brought her to Oregon where she settled after graduating. Cindy and her husband have three children.
Farley Griner is a Florida native who has made her way to Oregon by way of Georgia and North Carolina. In 2004, she joined the Teach For America corps in Eastern North Carolina and taught middle school history, English, art, and swimming for two years at KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory. Following that experience, she worked on Teach For America’s staff for a year while also volunteering as an activist at Planned Parenthood and getting her first taste of grassroots power.
Meredith Wood Smith has served since March 10, 2007 as full time Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon and previously served four years as the full-time DPO Vice Chair. She also serves as Western Vice President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and is a member of the Executive Committee. In 2009 she was appointed by DNC Chairman Tim Kaine to serve on the Change Commission. The Commission is charged with reviewing and making recommendations on automatic delegates to the national convention, timing of the Presidential primaries and process for presidential caucuses. Governor Kaine also appointed her to the DNC Budget and Finance Committee.
Politics has been in Jill Thorn's blood since listening to the nominating conventions of Adlai Stevenson and Dwight Eisenhower!
Becky Gladstone started working with Democrats after empty nesting, invited into Kitty Piercy's campaign by a fellow school lobbying parent. She has volunteered for Oregon Democrats since 2004, working as Kerry staff and Oregon 4th CD Delegate to Boston. Since then, she's been DPO Finance Vice-Chair, DPLC Events Chair, and 2005 Summit Co-Chair. She worked to initiate Treasurers' Trainings and on the DPO Grants Committee. The 2006 campaign also brought running phone banks and serving Chris Edwards as a treasurer. As DPO Secretary she wants to work to bring Democrats together, to make it easier for them to keep in touch, to get more people actively involved. She's enjoying working on the Delegate Selection Plan for Denver 2008 and with our 5 Congressional Districts.
Laura Calvo comes to democratic politics from a background in social justice and public service. Born and raised in San Francisco, the child of immigrant parents, Laura began her career in public service as a paramedic working for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
Mike Radway began canvassing as a four-year old when he dressed-up as a politician for Halloween and distributed flyers for the Democratic candidate for governor as he Trick-or-Treated. He inherited his political roots from his mother, a former Town Clerk, and his late father, a professor of government, state legislator, and former Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Hampshire. He was raised to believe that you couldn't take a candidate for President seriously unless he had visited your house at least once. He is thrilled that both his native state and his adopted state have transformed from red to blue.
Trent Lutz assumed responsibilities as Executive Director effective May 15, 2007.
Farley Griner is a Florida native who has made her way to Oregon by way of Georgia and North Carolina. In 2004, she joined the Teach For America corps in Eastern North Carolina and taught middle school history, English, art, and swimming for two years at KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory. Following that experience, she worked on Teach For America’s staff for a year while also volunteering as an activist at Planned Parenthood and getting her first taste of grassroots power.