For Immediate Release | September 3, 2020
Contact: Claire Goldberg, communications@dcdemocraticparty.org
DC Democratic Party Announces Selection of Presidential Electors
WASHINGTON, DC — The DC Democratic Party has officially selected its three electors for the Presidential election. They are Meedie Bardonille, Jacqueline Echavarria, and Barbara Helmick. These women were chosen due to their commitment to Democratic values, along with their years of advocacy in the District. DC Democratic Party Chair Charles Wilson gave the following statement:
“Thank you to our members for all of the feedback and suggestions as to who should serve as our electors for this Presidential election. I asked for feedback in part because in the past, these positions have been reserved for elected officials and party leaders. With all that is going on in our country, I thought best to recognize everyday Democrats who are doing wonderful work to improve our quality of life who may not receive recognition, especially those who have been on the front lines during the COVID pandemic.
Additionally, the strategy was to select those who could provide opportunities to develop partnerships with labor unions and corporations that will help grow our organization. Lastly, this being the 100th year of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, we have intentionally selected an all-female slate to serve as our electors. We are so excited to work with them in the coming months, and are lucky to have them representing our party, our community, and our soon-to-be state of Washington, DC.”
Bios for the electors are as follows:
Meedie Bardonille
First Responder
DC Nurses Association, DC Hospital Association
Meedie Bardonille is a healthcare professional who serves as the Nursing Director of Surgical Oncology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. After spending over a decade working in the acute care setting, Meedie knows that nursing is about how well you connect with the people you serve during some of the most vulnerable times of their lives.
Meedie additionally holds the title of Chair of the Washington DC Board of Nursing, and functions as a nursing leader and member with various organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA), Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. (a professional nursing sorority), and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). In April 2020, Meedie was inducted into the Gamma Beta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing.
Jacqueline Echavarria
Essential Worker
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400; Safeway Inc.
Jacqueline Echavarria is a 62 year old native Washingtonian. She has worked for Safeway since 1997 in many capacities, and resides in Petworth, which has been her neighborhood for over fifty years. She enjoys her job and loves helping the many customers she services every day.
Jacqueline has been a volunteer with the Democratic Party for years, making phone calls and registering people to vote. When the opportunity presented itself, Jacqueline became a volunteer for First Lady Michelle Obama’s correspondence office, and later in President Obama’s office, where she got to receive, sort, and respond to mail from people across the country. She also volunteered at the White House’s annual Easter Egg Roll, Spring Garden tours and more. Jacquelinen says that volunteering in President Obama’s administration was the honor of a lifetime.
Barbara Helmick
Director of Programs, DC Vote
Barbara Helmick has been an advocate for DC statehood since moving to the District in 1978, currently serving as the Director of Programs for DC Vote. In her work integrating grassroots canvassing models for progressive organizations, she seized opportunities to educate folks across the country about DC’s disenfranchisement.
Barbara served on her Advisory Neighborhood Commission, the Executive Committee of the Ward One Dems, and the DC Democratic State Committee in the 90s. She was an officer of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club and served on the Mayor’s LGBTQIA Advisory Commission from 2012 to 2016. She has played a key role in building coalitions and developing strategy for a multitude of organizations across DC.
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Previous electors:
2016: Anita Bonds, Jack Evans, Franklin Garcia
2012: Yvette Alexander, Don Dinan, William Lightfoot
2008: Muriel Bowser, Jerry Cooper, Vincent Gray
2004: Linda Cropp, Jack Evans, Arrington Dixon
2000: Barbara Lett Simmons, Nadine Winter, William Simons
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