On Saturday, December 14th, 2024 the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee will elect new officers to lead the Miami-Dade Democratic Party. The Chair of the local party will be elected to a four year term.
More details on candidates running for Chair can be found here
In addition to the Chair, DEC members will hold elections for the following two year term positions: First Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Program Vice Chair, and Outreach Vice Chair. Candidates were able to submit their name to run for multiple offices but can only be elected to one Officer position.
First Vice Chair
- Michael Joseph
- Ricky Junquera
- Nancy Lawther
- Marco Reyes
Secretary
- Sam Dorr
- Scott Wacholtz
Outreach Vice Chair
- Manny Fernandez
- Chuck Walter
Treasurer
- Kristen Browde
Programs Vice Chair
- Carisa Perez-Fuentes
Michael Joseph (Candidate for Vice Chair)
Why I'm running: I am running for Vice Chair to support the party's historic coalition and reemphasize kitchen table issues that voters expect us to champion. I believe my political and professional background can serve this purpose well.
Bio: I am the recently elected mayor of the city of North Miami Beach. I am the city's first elected Black mayor and its youngest. I was first elected to the city commission in 2018. I am an attorney with a boutique law firm. My legal practice includes civil rights, immigration and land use. My wife Asia and I have two children.
Ricky Junquera (Candidate for Vice Chair)
Why I'm running: Ricky is running for Vice Chair of the Miami Dade Democratic Executive Committee to bring structure and reform. He has a vision towards a future where candidates and elected officials can depend on the body to cultivate, activate, and engage voters to turn out to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Ricky is committed to appointing Committee Chairs that have never been Chairs before while providing them training, best practices, and quarterly reviews to ensure they are meeting regularly and producing for the body and beyond. He will hold himself to having his leadership reviewed every December of his tenure by the steering committee.
Bio: Ricky Junquera was born and raised in Westchester to Cuban American parents. With a BA in Political Science and a MA in Communications, Ricky has been Senior Press Secretary for Sierra Club for 9 years, and most recently was Senior Advisor on Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s U.S. Senate race. He has a strong understanding of building infrastructure and fundraising from stints as Acting Chair of the MDDP in 2018, electing Democratic women to four of the five Miami Dade Congressional seats while also running for office himself in 2020 raising over $500,000. Ricky currently resides in Liberty City.
Nancy Lawther (Candidate for Vice Chair)
Why I'm running: I am running for election as First Vice Chair because I am ideally suited to execute one of our most urgent tasks: building the bench. By training, temperament, and experience, I am perfectly poised to serve as a full-time mentor for our future party leaders. I’ve done it all: run for office, certified clubs, performed granular precinct analysis, crafted messaging, trained candidates and campaign workers, faced off against Republican legislators, canvassed, organized events and volunteers, run meetings and elections, and engaged voters at the polls. Nothing fazes me; nothing rattles me; nothing deters me from pursuing our shared Democratic values. (Statement supporting my candidacy for State Committee member submitted in separate Google Application Form)
Bio: A lifelong Democrat, Pennsylvania native, and enthusiastic polyglot, I set my roots in Miami-Dade County 34 years ago. Ever since, I have devoted myself to serving our community across multiple domains: education (post-secondary, adult, K-12), non-profit leadership (County and Florida PTA, Children’s Trust, Gun Violence Prevention Coalition), and, since 2019, dedicated DEC involvement. Elected in December 2021 as State Committeewoman, I have vastly increased the number of our certified clubs, run successful DNC Delegate elections, worked to pass comprehensive bylaws reform, and broken new ground through initiatives to train first-time candidates and encourage DEC members to run for Community Council.
Marco Reyes (Candidate for Vice Chair)
Why I'm running: As your current Party Secretary and a former candidate for FL HD 119, I am humbly asking for your support in my bid to become the next Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party. This past election cycle, I had the unique opportunity to serve on both sides of the aisle: as a candidate and as Secretary of the Party. This experience has provided me with invaluable insights and lessons that I am eager to apply as your next Chair.
One key lesson I’ve learned is that we must reach out to and engage voters across every corner of Miami-Dade County. Without this, we won’t be able to elect another Democrat in our county. Too many Democrats feel unheard, disconnected, and unappreciated by the Party. I’ve heard this directly from voters while knocking on doors, and I’ve seen how this frustration has led many registered Democrats to switch to No Party Affiliation (NPA). We must start addressing this now. Time is not on our side, with elections just two years away and the potential for special elections before then.
Reclaiming Miami-Dade County for the Democratic Party will not be easy. It will require dedication, hard work, and a collective effort—but the rewards will be worth it when we successfully flip this county back to blue.
Achieving this goal means we must also focus on fundraising. I am committed to making these calls and working closely with party leaders to identify potential donors. Additionally, I am committed to hiring a full-time Executive Director focused solely on fundraising. This person will be compensated based on the funds they raise for the DEC, ensuring their work directly benefits the party.
The important work that Chair Jones began must continue—and we must build on it. I am committed to that vision and to ensuring that we return Miami-Dade County to its rightful place as a stronghold for the Democratic Party.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. With your support, I am confident that we can turn Miami-Dade County blue once again.
Bio: I am a proud Miami native, a father to four wonderful daughters, and together with my wife, we own a small business. My parents were both Cuban, and I was raised by a single mother, which shaped my deep sense of empathy and compassion for others. There were times when my mom had to choose between putting food on the table or paying the rent, and those moments taught me the true meaning of resilience and community.
Miami-Dade County is my home, and I am more committed than ever to returning it to Democratic control. This past election cycle was an eye-opening experience, one that has fueled my drive to see Miami-Dade back to blue status. I had the honor of running for FL HD 119 and serving as your Party Secretary. These experiences have been deeply fulfilling, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to run for Party Chair.
Sam Dorr (Candidate for Secretary)
Why I'm running: The worst case scenario became reality on Election Day, and now it's up to us to stand for our country. As a DEC member since 2008, I know how to do the job of secretary. I am a strong writer; you will always be able to count on crisp, clean work from me. I additionally pledge to be in regular communication with membership.
As a former FDP staffer, I know how the state committee works. I will be a solid, reliable voice for Dade Democrats on the committee. It's high time for us to get back to winning; I am ready to be a leader in the hard work ahead to make this happen.
Bio: I am a Dade native and longtime Democratic activist. I am a former FDP staffer and veteran of countless campaigns, including Obama in 2012, Clinton in 2016, and Biden in 2020, in addition to myriad local and state efforts. During the debut open enrollment of Obamacare, I enrolled more than a thousand South Floridians in healthcare policies while working for Planned Parenthood. Most recently, I served as the Florida LGBTQ+ Vote Director with Harris-Walz, during which I traveled the state on behalf of the campaign lifting up and mobilizing the LGBTQ+ community. I am currently treasurer of the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus, and have volunteered in innumerable capacities over many years.
Manuel Fernandez (Candidate for Outreach Vice Chair)
Why I'm running: I am running for Outreach Vice Chair to help rebuild a stronger, more united Miami-Dade Democratic Party. The challenges of the 2024 elections revealed critical gaps in organization, communication, and community engagement. My vision is to streamline collaboration between the DEC, clubs, and caucuses, ensuring accountability, coordinated outreach, and effective resource use. By fostering unity, implementing staggered volunteer systems, and engaging with diverse communities through targeted events, I aim to strengthen our foundation. Together, we can create a dynamic and inclusive party that represents all voices and is prepared to win elections at every level.
Outreach Plan
Bio: My name is Manny Fernandez, and I currently serve as President of the Miami-Dade College Democrats Club, a position I have held since January 2024. In this role, I have successfully organized multiple events to engage and mobilize young voters. As Chair of the Young Democrats Committee within the DEC, I helped coordinate a presidential debate watch party in collaboration with various clubs and caucuses. I was honored to serve as a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and previously held the role of Treasurer for an environmental club at MDC Kendall.
Chuck Walter (Candidate for Outreach Vice Chair)
Why I'm running: Miami-Dade needs leaders who will enact policies to improve quality of life for all Miami-Dade residents. This includes housing, jobs, health, education, our environment, 3rd places, and mobility. If Miami becomes solely a playground for the wealthy and prices out other groups, it will be devoid of the cultural richness that metro areas need to thrive. The Democrats in Miami-Dade must feel they have a voice, and encourage non party affiliated voters, and new voters, to join us in creating a stronger party. I want to help empower all DEC members to be connectors in their neighborhoods.
Bio: Chuck Walter was raised in Long Island, NY, and is of Cuban and Jewish heritage. He graduated from Cornell studying Communication. He spent 17 years working for Univision and led many of their digital product initiatives through 2014.
He worked in the Miami tech space, first with a startup accelerator Rokk3r Labs, and then with a Latin American telecommunication company Tigo. He served as Communication Chair for the Miami Dade Dems from 2018 - 2020, and then again in 2024. He has led various local community initiatives in Miami Shores and in Brickell, where he has lived since 2019.
Kristen Browde (Candidate for Treasurer)
Why I'm running: I’m running because the party needs top to bottom, resurrection, and having that come from someone who is zealously advocates for equality while simultaneously focusing on the issues that matter to the public writ large rather than on niche issues is the only way to rebuild. I’m all in on this. Taking back Florida won’t happen by fighting amongst ourselves.
Bio: President, Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic caucus; President, Flamingo Democrats. 54 year union member. Attorney. Trustee, AFTRA Retirement Fund. Member, Downtown Neighborhood Association. Pro equality, Political moderate. I have run for office at the state and local levels and served as a political appointee on multiple boards.
Carisa Perez-Fuentes (Candidate for Programs Vice Chair)
Sign up for email updates, and join us at county and local club meetings to learn how to get more involved.