CANDIDATE STATEMENTS, RIVIERA CHAPTER DEMOCRATS ABROAD FRANCE
Leslie Palanker-Jermyn
CANDIDATE FOR CHAIR
After living away from the United States for the past 8 years, and
feeling extremely disconnected from my home country, I can finally say
that I once again have a strong and renewed interest in America and
how the world sees her. Having a young child late in life, I want to
do all I can to make her country the best country it can be. In order
for that to happen we need a strong active Democratic community, both
at home and abroad. I want to grow and unite our Riviera chapter in
the hopes of having our voice make a difference in keeping America
Democratic.
I owned my own Gallery in NYC for many years and have strong business,
publicity and fundraising skills. I was also a cheerleader for most of
my early life so I know how to excite a crowd or even just a few! I
have strong political experience having worked on the Clinton campaign
as well as many other local New Jersey political elections due to the
fact that my ex-mother-in-law was a politician. I must not leave out
that I also grew up in a very hippie political family!
I have already done some strong thinking about fundraising activities
and would like to plan at least one major function per quarter,
starting off with an Art Auction fundraiser where everyone is the
artist! Next a quiz night and then with the money raised, bring in a
speaker...to be discussed by the group. We also need to talk about how
to increase our numbers and get the word out to other Americans living
here who have not yet joined the community.
I look forward to your support!
Leslie Palanker-Jermyn
email: lesliecaryn@gmail.com
__________________________________________________________________
Emilie Flanagan
CANDIDATE FOR VICE-CHAIR
As a Democrat living in Antibes and working in Monaco who greatly believes in President Obama’s vision of change, I wish
to represent Democrats and Americans of the Cote-d’Azur by being elected Vice Chair of the Riviera chapter. I am interested
in being on the committee of Democrats Abroad to bring together Democrats as well as Americans and other nationalities
around different types of political or cultural events. Such events would include having renowned speakers come to discuss
crucial American or international issues, hosting ‘political coffee breaks’ whereby members can debate important topics in
American politics or just come to listen and learn about American democracy and organizing a July 4th party. I am willing to
listen to any ideas and will do my best to incorporate them within Democrats Abroad. If you want a dynamic Democrat Abroad
Chapter-please support my candidacy.
Thank you,
Emilie Flanagan
emiliecflanagan@hotmail.com
__________________________________________________________________
Isidore (Dore) Gormezano
CANDIDATE FOR CHAIR
I received my PhD. In Experimental Psychology at the University of Wisconsin and spent my 43 year career in teaching and
research at the University of Wisconsin, Indiana University and the University of Iowa and, as a Visiting Professor at the
University of California, Berkeley, University of Western Australia, University of Miami and the University of New South
Wales. Moreover, I have given 125 research addresses at universities throughout North America and Europe. Although my
career specialized in the study of the behavioral and neural mechanisms of learning and memory, my interest has been in
understanding the human condition.
In the real world, my objectives are to galvanize our members to pursue the traditional objectives of Democrats Abroad
through bimonthly meetings involving discussions, lectures, and round tables on: U.S. political developments; lobbying the
CANDIDATE STATEMENTS, RIVIERA CHAPTER DEMOCRATS ABROAD FRANCE
White House and Congress,; registering voters; and, most importantly, campaigning and contributing financially to Democratic
candidates in congressional and national elections.
Dore Gormezano
60 Bvd Franck Pilatte
06300 Nice
Tel/Fax 04.92.04.19.73
email: I-Gormezano@uiowa.edu
__________________________________________________________________
Nakhli Zeidan
CANDIDATE FOR VICE-CHAIR
I have been involved with DA since 2000, originally in Japan and, since 2003, here on the Riviera. My professional career was
in the financial industry, where I held senior executive positions. I spend a good part of my time now in socially responsible
roles (board member of international school, consultative board member of solar energy start up, promotion of micro finance
and environmental awareness in my birth country Lebanon).
I am eager to serve as part of an active team that plays a leading role in informing, recruiting and motivating the chapter
members. Our success in taking back our country is fragile. Congressional elections are around the corner. I believe grass root
and community activism are crucial to maintaining our democratic momentum.
Nakhli Zeidan
email: nakhlizeidan@hotmail.com
Tel: 06 76 58 20 02
__________________________________________________________________
Ginna Hamilton Zoellner
CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY
I would like to place my name in nomination for the position of Secretary of the Riviera Chapter of Democrats Abroad. I have
lived in Nice for seven months of each of the last nine years with my husband David. For the first years of the Riviera Chapter
I was the Treasurer. I am a CPA and worked as the Director of Finance of the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois for twelve
years before retiring in 1999. As a CPA, I am very detail oriented.
At this time I think it is very important to change the focus of the group from getting Obama elected to issues of importance to
the future of our country.
Thank you for your consideration.
Ginna Hamilton Zoellner
Tel: 04 93 44 23 31
email: dgnomads@yahoo.com
__________________________________________________________________
Barbara Luenser
CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER
Barbara Luenser and her husband, Peter, have lived in Nice since June 2006.
She is a member of the American Club, Gourmet Club, and is on the Council at
Holy Trinity Anglican Church. She has a BA and MEd in elementary education
and has 37 years teaching experience in North Carolina, Georgia, and with
the Department of Defense in Germany.
Political experience: Marietta City Georgia Democratic Party, Walter
Mondale presidential election campaign chairperson for Georgia's 7th
congressional district, Governor's "Aide-de-Camp" Honorary Award, PAC
interview team for Georgia's 7th congressional district, Georgia Association
of Educators "lobbyist" to the state legislature for 3 years, National
Education Association Civil and Human Rights Committee 7 years, delegate to
NEA convention 6 years, president of local association 3 terms in Georgia
and Munich, president of Atlanta area GAE council, recipient "Educator of
the Year" award Marietta City Schools.
Barbara Luenser, peter.luenser@orange.fr or peter.luenser@gmx.net
06000 Nice, FRANCE, Tel: +33-(0)4.93.13.87.04
CANDIDATE STATEMENTS, RIVIERA CHAPTER DEMOCRATS ABROAD FRANCE
__________________________________________________________________
Barbara Thompson
CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER
I submit my name for nomination as Treasurer of the local chapter of Democrats Abroad France.
I have been a Democrat all my voting life and now desire to become more involved in the Riviera Chapter to support my
fellow Democrats living abroad and myself in achieving a meaningful involvement in American politics.
Prior to moving to France 13 years ago I worked in partnership with my husband, Kevin Thompson, as self-employed small
business owners and managers of various enterprises and real estate development projects. Professionally I am a librarian who
has worked for several years in international schools, presently as Head Librarian at the International School of Monaco.
email: bkuter@hotmail.com
Tel: 06 61 78 80 98 or 04 93 76 09 97
La Scaletta
8 Traverse Ferme de May
06230 St. Jean Cap Ferrat
__________________________________________________________________
Carole Labrousse
CANDIDATE FOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE
In this time of elation over the election of our new president I would like, nevertheless, for our chapter to seek ways for us to
increase our understanding of major questions before us such as the Middle East, the two wars, Guantanamo, health care,
government eavesdropping, and more via issues-oriented gatherings.
I have lived in Nice for over 40 years, am a long-time member of Democrats Abroad France and have been a member of the
Riviera chapter since its creation.
Now retired, I was for some 20 years the director of the International Baccalaureate program as well as a mathematics teacher
at the CIV in Sophia Antipolis. I am married to Jean-Philippe Labrousse. We have three children and five grandchildren , and
our priority is to ensure a safe world for them.
Carole Labrousse
email: labro@math.unice.fr
63 Av. Cap de Croix
06100 Nice
__________________________________________________________________
Mimi Gormezano
CANDIDATE FOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE
I am submitting my name in nomination for member At Large. As
indicated by my experiences below, I can help our chapter to grow and further the goals of Democrats Abroad. Politically, I
have served on the Boards of The League of Women Voters, Democratic Women’s Club and, most recently, on our Riviera
chapter’s Committee to update our membership and to organize the OBAMA fund raiser.
As a food, wine and travel journalist, I served on the Board of The International Association of Food Professionals and The
International Association of Food Writers and Editors. I was the Food Commentator for National Public Radio’s (NPR’s)
“Morning Edition”. I wrote regularly for the Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press Citizen, and served as Food Editor of
several magazines. In addition to my French Cooking School, I taught writing “Food, Travel and Memoirs” at the University
of Iowa Summer Writing Program.