The Mohave County Democratic Party held elections at their
reorganizational meeting in Lake Havasu City on December 5th. The
group elected Kingman resident and county District One party chair Joe Longoria
to a two year term as chairman of the county party. A recently returned Kingman native, Longoria
was elected last month to the District One position and had served as the
county point man for the Arizona Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign. “I didn’t think that I would end up in this
position, but we learned so much. Dems are going to go to the state house not
facing a super-majority and our Congressional delegation is majority blue. We
set up a lot of ground work, to move forward we will build from that.” Joe will replace Ed Pyrzynski, also of
Kingman.
Stepping down, due to family illness, after serving as an
interim chair for much of the turbulent 2012 election season, Ed Pyrzynski, a
former postman from Chicago was happy with the election. “The year started out
rough, but things worked out. The Dem booth at the County Fair was
impressive. All of us made a
difference.”
Rounding out the executive board, two-time state senatorial
candidate, Beth Weisser was re-elected to her position as first vice chair and
Peach Springs’ community leader Wanda Quesula was re-elected to be second
vice-chair. After over a decade in the county leadership, Lake Havasu’s Kay
Lilland announced her retirement as party treasurer and promised to stay in an
active position to help train her replacement, Kingman’s Danny Baker. Acting
county party secretary Mikel Weisser was elected to continue serving in that
position. And, Bullhead City’s David Hamilton was re-elected Sergeant at
Arms.
The Democrats will be facing a major rebuilding year with not
only the replacement of much of the party officers, but also the departure of
the heads of all three county districts as well. In Lake Havasu’s District
Three, in addition to the retirement of long-time county treasurer and Havasu
organizer, Kay Lilland, district chair Dave Tunnell, another Havasu mainstay,
is also stepping down citing illness in the family. Tunnell will be replaced by
Joan McDermott. Both Tunnell and Lilland have a driving force in the Lake
Havasu Democratic Party for years and both intend to remain active. Besides
training the new county treasurer, Lilland will continue to be the leader of
LHC’s Democratic Association of Havasu and Tunnell will take a role on the
newly revamped finance committee.
In District Two serving the Bullhead area, acting chair
Julie Piquette will continue officially in the role. Piquette replaced former
chair Hillary Williams when she resigned to run for the newly created Mohave
County District Five Supervisor position. In Kingman’s District One, long-time
chair and county party office manager Mary McLaughlin is stepping down after
eight years. Her son Patrick Gonzales also previously served as county chair.
In addition to electing Mohave County Party officers the
group also approved the slate of delegates who will represent the county party
at the state party’s quarterly meetings. Following a successful season of voter
registration and increased precinct volunteers the county delegation is
increasing from 14 to 20. From District One, the Kingman area, the delegates
are: Ed Pyrzynski, John Holland, Mert
Glancy, Joan Johns, Wanda Quesula, Beth Weisser, Mikel Weisser, Patrick
Gonzales, Mary McLaughlin, Susie Gestine, and Perry Wickerd of Dolan Springs.
From District Two, the Bullhead City area, Marty & Patricia Coburn, Julie
Piquette, Dave Hamilton, and Laureen Hayden. And from District Three, Lake
Havasu, Joan McDermott, Kay Lilland & Dave Tunnel. The party also announced
its list of newly appointed PCs, or precinct committee leaders: Paul Dean
Young, Merrit Becket, Jacky Goode from LHC; and
Carol & Pete Voydanoff, Hilary Williams, Richard Krup, Iretha
Badnar, Barb Grier from the Bullhead City area.
In addition to the election of officers, the party’s monthly
meeting also served as the official kick-off for this year’s annual fundraiser,
the Presidential Inaugural Ball. Event chair Dave Tunnell, working with is the
lead on the committee, reported the essentials of the Inaugural Ball: It will
be held Jan. 19th, $35, black tie optional. Dinner/Dance guest
former Board of Regents Chair and recent leader of AZ’s delegation to the
Democratic National Convention, Fred Duval. Tunnell’s survey of LHC Dems suggests that there may be a true
interest in such a celebration.” We are also hoping to be able to read a blurb
from the Whitehouse thanking Mohave County Dems. The tickets are distributed to
district chairs.
For more information Contact, Joe Longoria, county chair
Mohave County Democratic Party, 620 E. Beale St., Suite 4 Kingman, AZ 86401,
ph: 928-753-0006. Or visit the website at: mohaveweb@mohavedemocrats.org
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