FDP Announces Formation of Convention Delegation Affirmative Action Committee

For Immediate Release: March 1, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman is proud to announce her statewide appointments to the Affirmative Action Committee for the selection of Florida's delegation to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Colorado.

The members of the committee are: Alex Acosta, Amanda Campau, Ana Cruz, Alma Gonzalez, Joan Lane, Nicole McConnell, Ron Mills, Chuck Mohlke, Janee Murphy, Sally Phillips, Winnie Tang, and Lisa Tilson. Brief biographies of the members are included below.

"It is an honor to choose the members of the Affirmative Action Committee, and I'm elated that these twelve fantastic, diverse people have accepted this important duty," Thurman said. "The Democratic Party is committed to representing all Floridians -- African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian/Pacific American, Caucasian, disabled, GLBT, men and women alike."

The Affirmative Action Committee is charged with reviewing the proposed Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Plans, as well as the Party's inclusion programs and making recommendations to the Chair. This select group also plays a key role on the overall implementation of the Delegate Selection Plan, ensuring adherence to the requirements of the Affirmative Action Plan and inclusion programs, and guaranteeing an open and fair process.

COMMITTEE MEMBER BIOS

Alex Acosta - Alex Acosta previously worked as political director for the Jimmy Morales for Mayor campaign in Miami-Dade County, Travel Aide and Miami-Dade strategist for the Rod Smith for Governor Campaign, consultant for Florida Democratic Party's House Victory committee for the election of State Rep. Ron Saunders. Acosta also works with the Miami-Dade Urban Debate League, helping inner city and urban youth attain a better understanding of politics and an opportunity at higher education.

Amanda Campau - Amanda Campau serves as the National Chair of the Disability Caucus for the College Democrats of America. She previously held the positions of National Vice-Chair and Secretary for the caucus. Campau is currently studying Mass Communications at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.

Ana Cruz - Ana Cruz is President of Leader's Edge, LLC, a governmental affairs and public relations firm that specializes in corporate strategic messaging, crisis management, Democratic campaign consulting, and grassroots/grasstops coalition building. Leader's Edge clients include some of the country's top Fortune 500 companies, such as the Orlando Magic, Motorola and Verizon. In addition, she previously served as Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party, becoming the youngest and first minority to hold the position. She has also served as the campaign manager for former State Rep. Bob Henriquez in 1998, Regional Deputy Finance Director for Florida for Gore 2000 and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson's Regional Director for West Central Florida, coordinating his Hispanic outreach efforts.

Alma R. Gonzalez - Alma R. Gonzalez serves as the Special Counsel for Florida Council 79 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. AFSCME Florida has representation rights for over 250,000 public employees in the state and university systems, and among various city, county, school board, and private non-profit hospital employers. She has an extensive legislative background, having worked on federal legislative issues for the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund in Washington D.C., the Florida Association of Counties, and AFSCME Florida. Her state legislative background includes serving as Legislative Director for the Florida Association of Counties, lobbyist for the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and attorney for the Florida House of Representatives Majority and Democratic office, as well as a consultant to the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators. Gonzalez has also served as the Executive Director for the Florida Battered Women's Clemency Project. She has lectured throughout the state on a variety of issues, including ethics, legislative advocacy, election law, and labor law.

Joan C. Lane - Retired after 35 years of teaching, Joan C. Lane currently serves as Vice Chair of the Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee. She is also the county's Democratic State Committeewoman and as been the Precinct 221 committeewoman for more than 15 years. Lane is a member of the Florida Democratic Black Caucus and the founder and President-Elect of the Democratic Black Caucus of Volusia County. She has previously served as President of the Northwest Democratic Club in Deland. Lane is the sister of State Rep. Joyce Cusack.

Nicole McConnell - Nicole McConnell is the President of the Pinellas County Young Democrats and is also on the board of the Florida Young Democrats. Nicole works for the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County and also serves on the Social Welfare Board of Pinellas County.

Ron Mills - Ron Mills is a longtime Democratic activist who currently serves as a member of the Broward County Democratic Executive Committee. He is also a member of the National Stonewall Democrats, Florida GLBT Caucus, and Dolphins Democrats, where he once served as Vice President. Mills co-founded the Progressive Democrats of America and is the Broward founder of Democracy for America.  He has also worked on numerous campaigns, including Gore/ Lieberman in 2000, Janet Reno Broward Steering Campaign in 2001-2002, McBride Coordinated Campaign in 2002, Dean Trantalis Campaign in 2003, Barry Sacharow 2006 House Race and served as Howard Dean for President Broward Chair, State Co-Chair in 2003-2004 and Jim Davis for Governor Steering Committee in 2005-2006.  He did GLBT GOTV for Kerry/Edwards in 2004. Mills was a Delegate to the Florida Democratic Convention, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, and 2006.

George C. "Chuck" Mohlke Jr. - George C. "Chuck" Mohlke Jr., is President and Market Research Director of Fraser & Mohlke Associates, a research and public relations firm in Naples established in 1984, providing a range of market research, marketing, and public relations services to Collier County's business community and its local governments. Chuck has served as the Chair of Collier County's Democratic Executive Committee since 1988 and as Collier's State Committeeman since 1998. He is a member of the Florida Democratic Party's Central Committee and its Affirmative Action, Judicial and Rules Committees. Mohlke also serves as Chair of the Florida Congressional District 25 (CD-25) Democratic Party Caucus. He was elected to the Democratic National Committee in 2000 and reelected in 2004.

Janee Murphy - Janee Murphy currently serves as Secretary of the Florida Democratic Party. She is a member of the Democratic National Committee and served as a Delegate to Democratic National Convention in 2004. Murphy is formerly the Chair of the Hillsborough Democratic Executive Committee.

Sally L. Phillips - Sally L. Phillips is a member of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee and its Membership and Affirmative Action Committees. She also serves as a precinct committeewoman for Precinct 423. In 2005, she helped establish the Hillsborough County Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender and Allies Democratic Caucus, chartered under the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus and affiliated with National Stonewall Democrats and the Hillsborough County DEC. She was elected as the first Caucus President. Also in 2005, Phillips was appointed as the Central Southwest Regional Director for the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus and elected again in 2006.

Venghan "Winnie" Tang - Winnie Tang is an active member of the Asian Pacific American community, closely involved in national and local community and political affairs. Tang was the first Asian American woman to be appointed to the Miami-Dade County Democratic Executive Committee where she chaired the Asian American Steering Committee. In 1997, she led the successful establishment of the ordinance of the Asian American Advisory Board in Miami-Dade County. Her activities include serving as President of OCA-South Florida Chapter and United Chinese Association of Florida, Vice President of Florida Chinese Federation, Chairperson of NANAY-CDC, Board Member of Women's History Coalition of Miami-Dade County and various other organizations.

Lisa Tilson - Lisa Tilson has served as the Florida Retiree Coordinator for the Service Employees International Union since 2004. She has also served as Executive Director of the Palm Beach Democratic Executive Committee and as Executive Director of the Florida Grassroots Project. Tilson began her career in politics as a volunteer for the Gore-Lieberman 2000 campaign. She has also done public relations work for the Aspen Resort Association in Aspen, Colorado, and was an advertising sales representative and marketing manager for Cowles Enthusiast Media. Additionally, she worked as a researcher for Good Morning America in Los Angeles.