Born in Damascus, Ahmad Zahra grew up between Syria and the UK. He obtained a medical degree at the age of 23 and practiced for three years before deciding to follow his passion for film and media. He immigrated to the US in the late 90’s and started working his way through Hollywood. Ahmad ran for Fullerton City Council in 2018 and won becoming the first openly LGBTQ person to serve on that seat and the first openly LGBTQ Muslim to be elected in the entire nation. His focus has beento introduce and advocated for policies that help tackle the issues of housing affordability, homelessness, infrastructure, water quality, jobs and the economic disparities that have especially impacted the ever rising number of disadvantaged neighborhoods in the city and region. He was re-elected in 2020 for a second 4 year term. Ahmad has also served on a variety of boards including, The Orange County Water District among others.
Gary R. McCarthy has served as Mayor since April 2011, bringing with him more than three decades of experience in government and a reputation as a hands-on, accessible, public servant who believes that government can be a force for positive change in the lives of its residents. He was elected to a full four-year term as Mayor in November 2011 and was re-elected in 2015, and in 2019. Mayor McCarthy co-chairs the Center for Economic Growth’s Capital Region Local Government Council, and previously served as President of the New York State Conference of Mayors. In 1981, he began his career as an Investigator in the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office.
Doreen Ditoro is a Councilmember for Schenectady, NY. Doreen is a successful small business owner and member of St. Anthony Church where she volunteers. She is also the chairperson for her community’s Little Italy.
Chief Majority Whip, US Army Lt. Colonel, Veteran. Sen. Spearman was elected in November 2012 to the Nevada Senate representing District 1, becoming the first openly lesbian member of the Nevada Legislature. She was re-elected in November 2016, and has served as co-majority whip since. Regarded as one of the most liberal members of the Nevada Senate, Spearman has introduced bills that provide equal pay for women, support LGBT rights, and support veterans. Spearman is also a supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment. Moreover, she was involved in the process of establishing the Nevada Revenue Plan during the 2015 session. Before being elected senator, Spearman served in the United States Army for 29 years, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel, was a pastor, and held several public service positions, including president of the school district of San Marcos, Texas.
Anne Marie Graham-Hudak was elected as Canton Township Supervisor in 2020. As a supervisor, engineer, and mother Anne creates positive change in her community. She’s helped to protect Canton’s natural beauty, managed infrastructure and growth, and attracted the jobs of tomorrow. She previously was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2016 where she served on the Planning Commission and chaired the Technology Committee, which focuses on ensuring Canton and southeast Michigan is the center of tomorrow’s automotive advancement.
Representative Anne Hughes is serving her third term in the Connecticut General Assembly, representing the 135th House District. Representative Hughes has been a member of the Environmental Standards Commission on Offshore Wind since 2019 and has been designated as an Environmental Champion by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. She loves to champion systemic, equitable, effective policy change for all of Connecticut communities, including quality public education, economic justice through fair taxation and access to healthcare regardless of documentation status or gender, race, or zip code. Rep. Hughes worked successfully with colleagues to pass the Take Back Our Grid Act to force more accountability from utility companies, stronger Environmental Justice legislation to demand accountability from polluters,
Chuck Isenhart represents distrect 72. He owns his own small business, Common Good Services, which offers communications, public relations, training and education, strategic planning and other organizational services. Chuck’s past or current professional activities include the Labor and Employment Relations Association, National Business Coalition on Health (Government Affairs Committee), Iowa 2010 Strategic Planning Council (Development Committee), Iowans for a Better Future Board of Directors, the Governor’s 21st Century Workforce Council and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Customer Council. Chuck is the ranking member on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. He also serves on the Natural Resources, Transportation, Agriculture and Ways and Means Committee.
Tonya Graham was appointed Mayor on February 7, 2023 and will serve until the November 2024 election. She is the Executive Director of the Geos Institute where much of her work focuses on helping communities build climate resilience. Tonya has spent her professional life working to address ecological and climate challenges, starting from a place of collaboration and aiming for a win-win solution wherever possible. She believes that it is nearly impossible to separate environmental issues from other community issues. Mayor Tonya Graham was brought up in a town on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation in Nevada. For the past 20 years Graham has been a resident of Ashland and says it is now her second hometown.
Nicole first became involved in politics while in graduate school studying planning and environmental policy. In 2012, she worked at the Hawaii State Legislature and had the opportunity to see government in action in person. After working at the legislature, it became clear that government must be changed from the inside and made more transparent and accountable. With the encouragement of colleagues, friends, and family, Nicole made the leap and decided to run for office. She’s currently chairing the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, and have focused on the transition to clean energy and clean transportation, climate adaptation and mitigation, natural resource protection, and waste management. Nicole is a member of Elected Officials to Protect America's National Leadership Council.
Tina was the first Asian-American woman elected to the Ohio State Senate. She is a mother of two young boys, and a native of Whitehall, Ohio. The daughter of refugees from the war-torn Southeast Asian nation of Laos who fled to the United States, she was inspired by her upbringing and community to dedicate her life to public service. Prior to public office, she worked as a financial analyst forecasting staffing needs in private sectors, while being a community organizer who served on local advisory boards and committees and held roles in the government and nonprofit sectors.
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