County Level – NewDEAL https://newdealleaders.org Wed, 22 Jan 2025 13:38:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 Marcelia Nicholson https://newdealleaders.org/leader/marcelia-nicholson/ Wed, 18 Oct 2023 04:00:20 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=27790 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Marcelia Nicholson

County Supervisor | Milwaukee County, WI






Marcelia Nicholson serves as Chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. First elected to the County Board in 2016, she is also the first Afro-Latina person to serve as Chairperson of the Board.

Chairwoman Nicholson has dedicated her time in office to addressing racial equity, climate justice, and economic development. She is proud to have authored various pieces of legislation prioritizing these issues, including the creation of an ARPA Taskforce for Milwaukee County, moving Milwaukee County towards Carbon Neutrality, creating a strategic plan to combat racism as a public health crisis, and authoring generational legislation that allows Milwaukee County to raise local revenue to avert a fiscal crisis and save and promote critical services for its residents.

]]> Amanda Gonzalez https://newdealleaders.org/leader/amanda-gonzalez/ Tue, 30 May 2023 15:05:11 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=24467 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Amanda Gonzalez

Clerk & Recorder | Jefferson County, CO



Amanda Gonzalez is a dedicated professional known for her instrumental work in promoting civic engagement through policy development. She is currently the Clerk and Recorder in Jefferson County where she is the first Latina in the role. Gonzalez previously served as the Executive Director of Colorado Common Cause, a nonpartisan organization committed to advancing good governance. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in formulating and advocating for policies that expanded ballot access, curtailed the influence of money in politics, created Colorado’s independent redistricting commission, and ensured an accurate count in the 2020 Census.

Throughout her career, Gonzalez has held diverse roles, including policy analyst, staff attorney, small business CEO, nonprofit executive director, and Chicano Studies adjunct professor. The first in her family to go to college, holding degrees from Occidental College and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

]]> James Walkinshaw https://newdealleaders.org/leader/james-walkinshaw/ Wed, 03 May 2023 01:00:47 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=23863 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

James Walkinshaw

County Supervisor | Fairfax County, VA







James Walkinshaw currently serves on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, representing the Braddock District. He is Chairman of the Board’s Legislative Committee, responsible for Fairfax County’s legislative agenda in Congress and with the Virginia General Assembly. He also serves on the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the National Capital Regional Transportation Planning Board, the Fairfax County Council to End Domestic Violence, and the Virginia Railway Express Executive Committee.

During more than a decade of service as Chief of Staff to Congressman Gerry Connolly, James oversaw all aspects of the Congressman’s office and served as his chief adviser on a host of issues, working closely with local, state, and federal officials. On the Board of Supervisors, James has worked to ensure that Fairfax County continues to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family. He has led initiatives to address climate change, reduce plastic pollution, support small businesses, and provide tax relief to military families.

In 2022, James secured approval for an innovative public-private partnership that will deliver hundreds of new affordable housing units and child care for low and moderate income families on the grounds of the Fairfax County Government Center complex.

]]> Dana Barrett https://newdealleaders.org/leader/dana-barrett/ Wed, 03 May 2023 01:00:06 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=23916 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Dana Barrett

Commissioner | Fulton County, GA







Elected to the Fulton County Commission in 2022, Dana Barrett is committed to strategic pro-growth community investments that are sustainable, equitable and focused on improving lives. In her first month in office, Commissioner Barrett initiated a $5 Million healthcare reserve and a $5 Million capital projects reserve which were both passed as part of the 2023 Budget. She also represents the county on the Invest Atlanta board, the city’s development authority.

Throughout her career, Dana has been an advocate for women and minorities in business. For many years, she was the host of a daily award-winning business and technology talk radio show that included regular weekly segments that focused on women and minority led businesses, technology start-ups, and business ethics. She was a repeat guest on Headline News on the topic of the gender pay gap, and sexual harassment in the workplace, and has written for Forbes and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Dana has been recognized by the SBA as an advocate for small business, and by the Technology Association of Georgia as a Diversity Game Changer. She is also proud to have been honored by Georgia Tech’s Women Out Front initiative and the Atlanta DREAM’s Inspiring Women program.

]]> Monique Diaz https://newdealleaders.org/leader/monique-diaz/ Tue, 11 Oct 2022 23:50:13 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=14820 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Monique Diaz

District Judge | Bexar County, TX







Monique Diaz is a San Antonio native. She and her two brothers were raised by their Puerto Rican mother and Dominican father. Monique earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, and her law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Prior to being elected to the bench, Monique owned and operated her own law firm for nearly a decade, where she represented low-income families, victims of domestic violence, civil litigants and small businesses. In the public sector, she represented non-profit and government agencies, and served as a City Attorney and City Prosecutor for municipalities statewide. In 2018, Monique was elected to the bench as Judge of the 150th Civil District Court in Bexar County where she presided over all civil matters. She currently serves on the Bexar County Juvenile Board, and is Co-Chair of the joint city-county Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence.

]]> Andy Brown https://newdealleaders.org/leader/andy-brown/ Tue, 11 Oct 2022 23:33:54 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=14815 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Andy Brown

Judge | Travis County, TX







Andy serves as the Travis County Judge. The County Judge presides over the Travis County Commissioners Court which oversees the county’s $1.4 billion annual budget, acts as the County’s chief administrator, and is the Director of Emergency Management for the County.

Since taking office, Judge Brown has significantly increased resources to historically underserved communities, including starting a mass COVID-19 vaccination effort prioritizing communities of color. During winter storm Uri, Judge Brown directed additional food, water, and utility support to the hardest hit areas in Travis County. Judge Brown focuses on investing in mental and behavioral health to help people receive care outside of the jail system, improving access to affordable housing, and increasing transparency and community participation in County business. Under Judge Brown’s leadership, the Commissioners Court voted to fund $110 million for housing for people experiencing homelessness which is anticipated to create as many as 3,000 additional housing units in Austin and Travis County through models like the Community First Village.

Before taking office, Judge Brown helped create the Sobering Center-Austin to serve as an alternative to jail for intoxicated people, started a successful law firm, and served on local boards and commissions. He grew up in Austin and graduated from The University of Texas School of Law. Andy served as a legislative aide to former Texas Speaker of the House Pete Laney, a campaign manager for Congressman Lloyd Doggett, a law clerk for the US District Court in McAllen, finance director and senior advisor to Beto O’Rourke, and Travis County Democratic Party Chair.

Judge Brown lives in Austin with his wife, two kids, one dog, two cats, and three chickens.



]]> Shanti Narra https://newdealleaders.org/leader/shanti-narra/ Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:26:56 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=13372 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Shanti Narra

County Commissioner | Middlesex County, NJ




Middlesex County Commissioner Deputy Director Shanti Narra is a proud naturalized citizen. Born in Hyderabad, India, Deputy Director Narra immigrated to the United States when she was two years old. Her parents instilled in her a love of her adopted country and a commitment to service.

She began her career in public service when she began a long professional career as a public defender in Manhattan working with the Legal Aid Society of New York. She still works there full time as a supervising attorney in the Criminal Practice.

In 2004 she moved back to her hometown of North Brunswick, New Jersey. She became a local Democratic Committeewoman and then served on the North Brunswick Township Planning Board, where she was actively involved in the development for the North Brunswick Transit Village, a project she would later vote in favor of when she sat on the Township Council. She believes strongly that this project is an example of smart growth that strengthens the Township’s life, accessibility, and economy.

In 2009 she was elected to Township Council and became the first South Asian woman to serve in such office in the State of New Jersey. After serving on the Council for seven years, in 2016, Shanti was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners. She became the first South Asian (male or female) to serve on a County level in New Jersey’s history.
Currently, Shanti chairs the County’s Public Safety and Health Committee. Since she joined the Board, she has maintained a strong commitment to provide the residents of Middlesex County with programs and resources that will ensure their safety and address their health and wellness needs. County Commissioner Narra was named Deputy Director by the Board of County Commissioners on May 6, 2021.

County Commissioner Deputy Director Narra is serves on the Board of NJ Transit. She is an active member of the North Brunswick Township Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). She is trained in Search and Rescue, Fire Safety, Disaster Medical Operations and received specific instruction from the Red Cross in Shelter Operations. She also serves on the Boards of Jewish Family Services of Central Jersey and the Puerto Rican Action Board. Shanti is a founding member of ISAAW (Inspiring South Asian American Women), a group dedicated to helping South Asian American women become more civically engaged in their communities.

]]> Jesica Mackey https://newdealleaders.org/leader/jesica-mackey/ Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:24:07 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=13335 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Jesica Mackey

Council Member | Richland County, SC






Jesica Mackey represents District 9, which is located in Northeast Richland and includes the Pontiac community. She started her professional career in Columbia, working with Palmetto Parent magazine and the S.C. Governor’s School of Science and Mathematics Foundation, before moving to the Lowcountry to lead communication and economic development efforts for the City of Goose Creek. Mackey moved back to Columbia in 2016 and now serves as a senior project advisor with NP Strategy.

Mackey is passionate about giving back and volunteering in her community. She serves on the United Way of the Midlands boards and the S.C. chapter of Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS). Her previous volunteer and board service include: Emerge South Carolina, Mental Illness Recovery Center Inc., the Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce, Berkeley County First Steps, Carolina Youth Development Center, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia.

She and her husband, Joseph, have two children.

]]> Michael Naft https://newdealleaders.org/leader/michael-naft/ Tue, 09 Nov 2021 15:23:10 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=11659 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Michael Naft

Commissioner | Clark County, NV







Commissioner Michael Naft was sworn into his first full four-year term on Jan. 4, 2021. He was initially appointed by Gov. Steve Sisolak on Jan. 9, 2019, to serve out the balance of former Commissioner Sisolak’s term. Michael is a member of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority Board of Directors, the County’s Debt Management Commission, and the Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects. He serves as vice-chairman of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Fiscal Affairs Committee and chairman of the Big Bend Water District and Clark County Audit Committee. During his time on the Commission, Michael has championed traffic safety for all road-users along with several initiatives to modernize Clark County’s departments and agencies.

Prior to joining the Commission, Michael served the residents of Clark County as District Director to Congresswoman Dina Titus from Jan. 3, 2013, until 2019 when he was appointed to the Clark County Commission. In that role, he worked with hundreds of federal agencies, departments, and commissions overseeing outreach and constituent services for more than 700,000 Nevadans. Michael has focused on streamlining access to federal programs, advocating for improved roadways and pedestrian safety, and for increased travel and tourism to Southern Nevada.

]]> Adam Cote https://newdealleaders.org/leader/adam-cote/ Tue, 28 Sep 2021 12:31:22 +0000 https://newdealleaders.org/?post_type=leader&p=11035 .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709{ background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/header-tnd-1500x630.jpg); background-position:50% 0%; background-attachment:scroll; } .avia-section.av-k5jpnbyp-1e830beeb821e85dde944388509bd709 .av-section-color-overlay{ opacity:0.5; background-color:#000000; }

Adam Cote

Former School Committee Member | Sanford, ME




Adam Cote served on the Sanford School Committee and ran for Maine’s 1st Congressional District in 2008 and governor in 2018. As a 20-year Maine Army National Guard member, Cote served three overseas deployments in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, he took over command of an engineering unit earning the Bronze Star for this work. He earned an Army Commendation medal for his leadership after the deadliest suicide attack during the Iraq war. Currently, he is the Leader of the Energy Practice Group and a member of Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting. Adam has nearly 20 years of experience in renewable energy matters, focusing on renewable energy development, the wholesale purchase of electricity, the development of renewable energy credit policies, renewable portfolio standards, energy storage, demand response, and non-transmission alternative technologies.

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