Candidates for State Executive Committee

My name is Joey Melone, and I am a senior at AC Reynolds High School. I've been involved with the Buncombe Dems for 4 years, volunteering and now working on various campaigns ranging from school board to congressional races. In 2021 I got my start with the Teen and Highschool Dems, then in 2023 I was elected Vice President of the Young Democrats of Buncombe County and appointed Finance Director of the Young Democrats of North Carolina, assisting in raising more than $100,000 for the organization. In 2024 I served as one of the youngest field organizers in Western NC, for Caleb Rudow's campaign for NC11, and as an intern for Lindsey Prather's campaign for State House, recruiting, training and managing volunteers across the district.

My future goals are to pursue a political science degree at UNC Greensboro. As the newly elected director of programming for the College Dems of North Carolina, I will continue my work to get young people involved and to get Democrats elected across the state.

I'd appreciate your vote to reelect me as a member of the State Executive Committee!

I don’t have a fancy resume. I’ve spent most of my life working service jobs— waiting tables, tech support, etc.

I’ve been coming to the Asheville area my whole life, and I moved here 3 years ago because the mountains felt like home. I found flexible work here at Montreat that allowed me to care for my mom while she was dying of cancer. Currently, I work as the Assistant Arrangements Manager there.

I believe in the power of showing up and helping out however I can.

Working in the service industry has shaped how I see the world. I’ve watched single moms work for less than minimum wage because tips are supposed to make up the difference— while the restaurant owner drives a BMW and has a nice beach house. That’s not right, and we need leaders who get that.

I believe the Democratic Party needs to build power from the bottom up. We need to figure out a better way to communicate how our party is working for people who feel left out and left behind. We need to show we care about these communities not just during election season, but all the time. Too many folks who should be in our corner don’t feel welcome and don’t feel like the party represents them or their values. We have to change that.

40+ years in Buncombe County working as a clean energy, public education, and community volunteer, entrepreneur and advocate.

Small business owner, non-profit IT services provider, Democratic precinct officer, cluster leader, and former County Party and campaigns Treasurer. Networker with statewide Democratic Party members and leaders.

I have organized and coordinated get-out-the-vote efforts in NC-11 and Buncombe County since 2006. I served as Precinct 4.1 chair for 18 years, two terms as county 1st Vice Chair, and six terms (nonconsecutive) on the State Executive Committee (SEC).

My most important SEC qualification is that I attend these tedious meetings without fail, in person, wherever they take place across North Carolina. I want others to share SEC responsibilities, but recognize that the SEC is a time and money commitment.

I am a two-time Liston B. Ramsey Award-winner (Buncombe County, 2009 & 2013) and my free For The Win GOTV planning guide for county chairs is in its 5th edition and in 50 states. For over a decade, I’ve written for Digby's Hullabaloo, a nationally recognized, Los Angeles-based political website. I was a 2024 DNC Convention Delegate from NC-11.

I respectfully ask for your vote and support as a candidate for SEC.

I am a long time (oldish) member of the Democratic Party. I have had an opportunity to be involved at many levels. One of the most important jobs on the SEC is the governance of our State Party. Being a member of the SEC requires time and dedication to the structure of the Party, upholding the Plan of Organization and the willingness to move the Party in a positive direction. Here are some of the experiences I have had:

- Chair, McDowell County Democratic Party
- First Vice Chair, McDowell County Democratic Party
- Precinct Chair North Cove Precinct multiple terms
- Candidate NC House District 85 (old district)
- Lillian’s List Featured Candidate
- Liston B Ramsey Award
- Member of County Board of Elections, McDowell Co
- Council of Review multiple terms/currently seated CD 11
- SEC many years/currently seated Buncombe Co
- Young Democrats McDowell Advisor (all grown now)
- Young Democrats of NC Advisor/special award (these humans are all grown now)
- Democratic Women McDowell Co
- District Platforms and Resolutions Committee
- Statewide Platforms and Resolutions Committee
- Campaign manager Chuck Aldridge NC House District 85 (old district) ‘06/’08
- Campaign advisor Emily Swearingen New Hanover Co House District
- Volunteer/ multiple campaigns
- Advisor: subcommittee Plan of Organization Review Committee
- Candidate proxy/surrogate
- Front desk/rover volunteer Buncombe County Democratic Party
- Poll greeter for Buncombe County Democratic Party and multiple campaigns

My sincerest thanks for your kind consideration.

Mark is a dedicated Democratic leader and seasoned nonprofit professional with almost 2 decades of experience in non-profit fundraising. He is honored to serve as one of your State Executive Committee (SEC) members and is excited to seek re-election to continue representing Buncombe County and Western North Carolina at the North Carolina Democratic Party.

Mark’s leadership spans local, state, and national levels. He has served as a precinct chair, Treasurer of the Buncombe County Democratic Party, National Committeeman of the Young Democrats of North Carolina, and Treasurer of the Young Democrats of America.

Mark holds a B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill, an M.A. from Georgetown University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. Whether in political or professional spheres, Mark is committed to building stronger communities and advancing progressive values.

I am a lifelong Democratic activist, I moved to Asheville three years ago, after a year in Costa Rica, and I love it here. I am currently a precinct officer in the Emma Neighborhood, an area that I canvassed for the Harris campaign.

I am a progressive transgender man, a proud Democrat, and a union activist. I have dedicated myself to protecting workers, have led campaigns to protect renters from unjust evictions, passed strong rent control ordinances and increased the minimum wage that led to a living wage around the SF Bay Area. I fought for economic and social justice for working people, immigrants, people of color and neighborhoods. Named a "local hero" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, I was also a Community Grand Marshal for the SF Pride Parade, a former President of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, and a former Co-Vice President of Pride at Work, a national AFL-CIO LGBT Labor constituency group.

I am a graduate of UC Berkeley and Hastings College of Law, I have also worked as a Political organizer for SEIU Local 1021 for 19 years, and was on the Executive Board of the Contra Costa Labor Council. I also served as an elected member of the SF Democratic County Central Committee for 10 years, and after that was a Statewide Delegate to the California Democratic Convention for 6 years, and served on the Resolutions Committee for the State Democratic Party.

I would be honored to have your support.

Hi, I'm Valentina Pallin, a lifelong Buncombe Democrat and a resident of Precinct 9.1.

I serve as Vice President of the Buncombe County Young Democrats and was the Campaign Manager for Bo Hess’s 2024 Asheville City Council campaign.

As a young person committed to values like equity, inclusion, justice, and providing for the common good, I’m running for a position on the SEC to represent Western North Carolina and to strengthen ties between local community leaders and state party leadership in Raleigh.

My name is Soren Pedersen and I am running to continue serving as a progressive voice on the SEC from Buncombe County. As an SEC member, I have advocated for living wages, pro-worker labor reforms, and human rights through my resolutions, party platform amendments, and positions within the party.

Currently, I serve on two statewide committees: Resolutions and Platform as Vice Chair appointed by Anderson Clayton and Plan of Organization Review as NC-11's representative. I also serve on the executive committees of both the statewide Young Democrats and Progressive Caucus and - locally - as the Secretary of the Buncombe Young Democrats and chair of Precinct 3.1.

I pride myself in using my positions to be an accessible resource to those around me. Whether it be through answering questions about the actions and mechanics of our party, assisting other counties across the West with their organizational structures, or anything else, I am available for collaboration to make our party a stronger, more representative force.

Right now, our party's values need to be forefront to the work we do, and I hope to continue serving as one of your SEC members to make sure that continues to be the case.

There's more I'd like to put here, like my work creating and advocating for the Public Employee Living Wage Pledge (https://www.pcncdp.org/pledge) or working as Voter Contact Captain for Public Schools Strong here in Buncombe County, so please reach out to me at (828) 772-0555. I'd love to talk!

Hi everyone! I've been in Asheville for four years, hailing from the great state of California - Bay Area to be more exact. I live in West Asheville with my partner Trae, our kid Stella (3) and 3 pets. We love Asheville for its progressive nature, community and access to the outdoors.

I've been a life long Democrat and have been very passionate in pushing a progressive agenda forward. I currently work in tech on partnerships and love to collaborate with others. I'm easy to work with, focused and would love to work with North Carolina state politics to support legislation + representatives that push towards a more just, inclusive and vibrant North Carolina.

I am a rising junior at UNCA majoring in Creative Writing and my passion for making a difference has led me to run for an SEC seat. I'm originally from San Diego, California, but I have been living in the Triangle area most of my life after my parents moved here due to losing their manufacturing job during the Great Recession. I am relatively new to being a part of the Democratic Party for the '24 election was my first time voting.

Ever since coming to UNCA I have gotten connected with the Buncombe Dems and from this I have been given the opportunity to represent my generation through introducing Tim Walz when he came to Asheville mid-September, organizing canvasses and phone banking to recruit individuals to help us rally the vote after Hurricane Helene.

I am running for this position to gain more insight on the inner mechanisms of our state party, this better understanding can help me in my endeavors to educate the younger generation on their civic duty.

My name is Brenden Hipps and I’d be honored to serve a second term as an SEC member. You might have met me last year while I was managing Rep. Lindsey Prather’s re-election campaign or in my role as the President of the Young Democrats. I’m beyond grateful for all the help we got from across the county with Rep. Prather’s campaign — with your help, we broke the GOP supermajority in the NC House and re-elected an amazing advocate for WNC.

I’m running for the SEC again to make sure we can continue building the pipeline for young folks to lead in our party. We’ve seen what happens when our party invests in young Democrats, and that’s what I hope to continue to do on the SEC. I’d be honored to have your vote at the county convention.

I'm a lifelong Democrat who strongly believes in the democratic values of respect, inclusion, equality, fairness, freedom, and helping others. I also value the ability to listen and the willingness to compromise.

My enthusiasm for politics began in my teens, and since then I have continued to be involved on many levels: from phone banks and postcard writing to voter registration drives to poll monitor. I was elected to Town Meeting when I lived in Massachusetts and I have served on the boards of several nonprofits.

I believe this is a critical moment for our country and a time to get more involved. I'm at a point in my life where I am able to dedicate the time and attention that being an SEC member deserves. My goal is to be a representative for people who may not have the time to attend the meetings and to advocate and be a resource for them.

I have a B.A. in Political Science and an M.P.A. in Public Administration. I would welcome the opportunity to represent Buncombe County as an SEC member and would greatly appreciate your vote.

Thank you for your consideration.

Hello everyone! I'd be honored to serve as one of your State Executive Committee members. I moved to West Asheville in 2019, just before the pandemic hit. When all stores and restaurants were closed down except for essential workers, I continued my job working overtime delivering pizzas.

I have 20 years of experience working in the customer service/food industry, and I have earned a Bachelor's in Psychology & Legal Studies. Yet I know what it's like to work 2 jobs, all the overtime in the world, and still not make enough to buy a house or take a decent vacation.

I became a mom in November and am now more concerned than ever with the world I have brought my baby into. I have recently gone back to school to explore more of my interests related to public administration and teaching.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to see progress towards living wages and equal rights for all regardless of sexual orientation, identity, or gender. Our dearest held values are under attack in the Trump administration and I feel a duty to advocate for the world we want to create, more than just at the ballot box. Thank you for your support and it would be an honor to represent you.

Andy has been active in our local party, with the NCDP and with organizations and candidates across North Carolina for more than two decades. Nearly 600 members of the SEC from all 100 counties meet twice a year to make policy decisions to govern our state party. Starting in the College Dems, Andy has encouraged and mentored young people to get involved, from their precinct level to the floor of the DNC Convention.

- volunteered as advisor, canvasser or poll greeter for hundreds of candidates

- ASU College Democrats & Watauga County YDs, President

- Obama for America, 2008 Staff

- YDNC, 2008-2013, National Committeeman, 5th District Chair, Top 5 YD 2009

- NCDP SEC, 10 years, Plan of Org Review, SEC Working Group, ED Search, 2012 DNCC PLEO Delegate, Executive Council 2009-2017, 2024-2025

- NCDP 3rd Vice Chair, elected 2013 w Voller, 2015 w Keever

- Boone Mayor, Council Member, elected 2009, 2011, 2013, Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, UNC School of Government, NCLM, Local Elected Leaders Academy, Masters Level, Democratic Municipal Officials, NC VP

- Buncombe County Board of Adjustment, chairperson, 2018-present

Andy lives with his daughter Lillian in West Asheville - they enjoy trips to the swimming pool, getting sushi and days at the trampoline park. Andy enjoys discovering new coffee shops and overlooks in his travels helping folks buy and sell property with Town and Mountain Realty, and hunting for vinyl.

I ask for your vote today, and your partnership over the next two years, to represent you on the SEC.

My name is Thys Millan, and I would be honored to run for the State Executive Committee this year.

Though I am only a recent arrival to district 18.2, I have been involved in political activism for over six years, four of which I spent administrating student organizations of various sizes and goals. I am used to conducting interminable meetings and paperwork with the vigor necessary to spur progress and success in these organizations and I intend to put my all into bringing this same vigor to the Democratic Party. I believe we as a party need to be faster and more comprehensive in our responses to an ever-changing political landscape. We can only reflect speed and thoroughness externally if we are able to act with it internally, and this is what I intend to represent in the SEC if I am elected.