Below you will find a list of nominees for our 2015 Executive Board, as well as candidate statements.
President
Michael Dillon
Jonathan Piel
Vice President
Susan Hochberg
Abraham Salcedo
Treasurer
Yael Jacobson-Zieff
Adam Roberts
Joy Zagoren
Recording Secretary
Devin Gould
Corresponding Secretary
Gabe Panek
Members at Large (6 positions available)
Posie Di Sesa
Michael Dillon*
Susan Hochberg*
Yael Jacobson-Zieff*
Teresa Malyshev
Kim Moscaritolo
Jonathan Piel*
Madelaine Piel
Lance Polivy
Romano Reid
Adam Roberts*
Abraham Salcedo*
Lee Wiggins
Frank Wilkinson
Joy Zagoren*
*Indicates that this person is also nominated for an officer position. If that person is elected an officer position, he or she will automatically be removed as a nominee for Member at Large.
Posie Di Sesa
I have been active in Democratic politics on the city, state and federal levels for five years, doing everything from petitioning and phone banking to visibilities, poll site campaigning and door knocks and canvassing. This year, I ranked first in petitioning and campaigned regularly for all our endorsed candidates. I initiated a forum on the ACA and a second on Climate Change to instill among members a n active role in progressive politics. I believe in working to improve lives for all citizens. If elected, I will work to ensure the FFDC becomes the biggest force in achieving democratic goals.
Michael Dillon
Historically, the Democrats in our district have been failed by political clubs that place their focus on collecting petition signatures and influencing judicial politics. Our district has always needed an organization dedicated to educating and mobilizing Democrats towards our community’s needs. As President, I will continue our excellent member recruitment efforts and place a focus on our outreach with Democrats in our district. I will prioritize holding issue forums for the community and strive to make the Four Freedoms Democratic Club a vehicle that Democrats in our district use to connect with their elected officials. Since our founding, the Four Freedoms Democratic Club has always been the club our district deserves. As we move forward, I will make sure that our organization continues to have its priorities in the right place.
Susan Hochberg
I am honored to be Vice President and a founding member of FFDC and am asking for your continued support. Together we accomplished a great deal our inaugural year and I hope to continue working with everyone to accomplish a great deal more. Outside of FFDC, I am a Trial Lawyer for a City agency, Corresponding Secretary of CSBA, the labor union representing the attorneys working for the City of New York, a volunteer Small Claims arbitrator; a member of the Women’s Bar Events Committee, and co-chair of New York Democratic Lawyers Council’s Law School Outreach committee. Thank you!
Yael Jacobson-Zieff
Yael has been a member of the Four Freedoms Democratic Club since its inception, and is currently serving as a board member. Since moving to the Upper East Side seven years ago, Yael has been an volunteering on a range of local and national issues including: petitioning, phone banking, canvassing & getting out the vote. Knowing that all politics is local, Yael would love to further her involvement in the community and feels that she can maximize her service to the club using her accounting skills and background.
Teresa Malyshev
For the past four years, I have been actively involved in progressive politics at the local, state and national level, petitioning, canvassing, GOTV, visibility, phone banking and campaigning. I am a current member of the FFDC Executive Committee. I organized a well-attended FFDC climate change forum and coordinated with the Yorkville Common Pantry for the Thanksgiving food drive. I am also a current member of the Campaign Committee, working to ensure that our endorsed candidates have the club support and ancillary assistance. Recently, I was appointed the deputy climate leader for OFA-UES.
Kim Moscaritolo
Kim has served as President of the Four Freedoms Democratic Club since July, and she would be honored to continue serving the club as a Member at Large. Kim previously served as President of the Manhattan Young Democrats, and was named 2014’s Young Democrat of the Year by the New York County Democratic Party. She hopes to continue the club’s mission of empowering and educating local Democrats, and supporting Democratic candidates and principles.
Gabe Panek
Gabe Panek is the corresponding secretary for the Four Freedoms Democratic Club, a position to which he is seeking reelection. He helped coordinate the club's political activities for 2014, including our incredibly successful petitioning operation. He was recently a candidate for Judicial Delegate and serves as a member of the County Committee. He is currently in his first year at NYU School of Law and very much wishes it were baseball season.
Jonathan Piel
I want to serve as President of the Four Freedoms Democratic Club because I believe that my experience and ability will enable me to work with each of you as well as with the Executive Committee to make FFDC into powerful team for applying progressive values to the challenges that our community faces. I will devote myself to channeling the Club's abundant energy into effective support of our endorsed candidates for elected office. I will work with my colleagues who have conducted forums on public issues to expand this vital program. I will ensure that the Club's funds are committed to electing strong candidates and implementing progressive programs and policies. Your vote for me will renew our Club's commitment to the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island.
Madelaine Piel
I am running for re-election to the Executive Committee of the Four Freedoms Democratic Club because I believe that this Committee should speak with an independent, constructive voice in guiding the Club’s actions. As a member of the Executive Committee I have worked hard to make sure that the values of our Club are implemented at every level of our operations from petitioning and campaigning for our endorsed candidates to focusing public attention on issues of critical importance to our community. Your vote for me will help maintain a strong, effective Executive Committee, committed to maintaining transparency and advancing our progressive agenda. I look forward to continuing to work with the membership to make FFDC a powerful force for progressive change in our Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island community.
Lance Polivy
Lance Polivy is an attorney at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison where he practices in the Litigation Department. Lance ran as one of the Four Freedoms Judicial Delegate candidates this past year and served on the Executive Board of the Club as an at-large member. Lance also serves on the Steering Committee of the New York Democratic Lawyers Council, where he advocates for election law reform and engages in voter protection work.
Romano Reid
I have a unique feature of communication skills. Part of my ability to communicate is the enthusiasm and energy I bring to meetings. I am filled with optimism and hope, even in dealing with difficult problems. I bring a sense of full engagement to every civic effort. I would like to sincerely thank everyone for allowing me to serve as a member of the Four Freedoms Democratic Club. Moreover, I am also honored to accept the nomination as a candidate in the running to continue serving as one of the Executive board members of the club.
Adam Roberts
I would be truly honored to serve as your Treasurer. I have a great deal of experience with campaign finance, including financial compliance and fundraising for Comptroller Stringer, multiple candidates in Baltimore, and currently Council Member Kallos, for whom I serve as fundraising director and scheduler. These experiences have fostered my ability to solicit contributions, use financial reporting software, and maintain detailed financial records. As your treasurer, I would ensure the club’s financial stability, while actively securing more members and contributions. This would enable our club to expand its presence, and strengthen progressive politics on the Upper East Side.
Abraham Salcedo
A member of FFDC from inception and an active member of the community Abraham values inclusion, transparency, pragmatism and open dialogue. He would embody these qualities as Vice President and together with the FFDC Executive Board and membership work tirelessly to ensure FFDC builds on its successes and stays true to its mission. An attorney and CPA, Abraham is a New York County Committee member as well as a member of Community Board 8, co-chairing its Environment and Sanitation Committee. Abraham received a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting from NYU, and J.D. from Fordham University School of L
Lee Wiggins
Former Advertising and Publicity Director for major book publishers, former teacher, and current volunteer and activist for progressive Democratic candidates and issues. I petitioned and did phoners for the Club's candidates, helped people sign up for the Affordable Care Act, participated in climate change initiatives, including the recent Climate Change March, as well as the march against the war in Iraq and other marches over the years for women's rights. I would like to take a more active role in promoting the health and success of the Club which I believe has the potential to make a real difference in the community.
Frank Wilkinson
Frank Wilkinson, a native Philadelphian, Princeton graduate, former book editor, and author of the bestselling novel "Bygones," became involved in Yorkville politics in the mid-1980s and served as the East Side Democratic Club's district leader for twenty locally primary-free, peaceful years, thanks to cooperation and compromise with the Lenox Hill Democratic Club. He still sits on New York County's Judiciary Committee, which picks the panel organizations that screen Democratic candidates for Civil and State Supreme Court judgeships. His knowledge, experience, and connections may prove valuable to a young club.
Dr. Joy Zagoren
Joy holds a BS from NYU, a MS in Biology from Adelphi, and a PhD in Medicine from NYU. She has been chairman of umpteen organizations over the years, and has always been an active member of the community. As a young girl, she received citywide recognition for her fundraising efforts in support of the country.
