2025-2026 EXECUTIVE BOARD Candidates
President:
Liz Kane
Elizabeth “Liz” Kane is a lifelong California Democrat and resident of Westchester since 2009 and was pleased to serve in this role for 2023. Liz has also taken on role as a CADEM Delegate for AD 61 this year and is enjoying being involved in CA Democratic Politics. During her day job, she supports LAUSD Virtual Academy and Educational Option Schools supporting students from all across LA. Her role as an educator and administrator provides her with a unique set of skills to communicate effectively and coordinate multiple projects at the same time. Liz’s passion for activism led her to found Westside Activists with other local activists and she continues to fight for Democratic issues in local, statewide, and national elections.
VP of Political Affairs:
Ahmanise Sanati
Ahmanise is a mother of two young children, a social worker in LAUSD and Airport Marina Counseling Service, a lecturer in the social welfare department at UCLA, and a passionate activist in her community. She is also a CADEM Delegate for AD 61 for her third term and has been actively engaged in efforts to fight back against this current administration. Whether holding up signs at a demonstration encouraging people to vote or campaigning for a cause in which she believes, Ahmanise actively seeks opportunities to engage her community in democracy, and is eager to join the Westchester/Playa Board for a third term.
VP of Finance:
Cord Thomas
I have been an active member of the Westchester-Playa Democratic Club for over 2 years. Prior to joining the club, I was on the board of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa for 4 years where I served as the Finance Director or Treasurer for 2 years. I completed and maintained my board ethics and finance ethics training requirements and understand the general practices of a finance director for a not-for-profit organization. In the role as the NC treasurer, I worked with the Budget & Finance Committee to establish an annual budget, create monthly reports on expenses and partnered with local not-for-profit organizations to apply for and receive neighborhood purpose grants. I completed all these responsibilities on time, accurately and usually with a smile. I would welcome the opportunity to be the VP of Finance for the Westchester-Playa Democratic Club.
VP of Operations:
Mary Gonzalez
Mary has been a resident of Westchester for 34 years, since moving to California in 1988. She is a retired executive, working for over 30 years in the consumer products industry. Prior to retirement, Mary was most recently the Vice President of Customer Care and Technical Service for the Citizen Watch Group. Mary currently volunteers for Grassroots Neighbors and has previously served the community as a volunteer with the Girl Scouts, Paseo Del Rey School Site Council, La Tijera United Methodist Center for Children Steering Committee, and Westchester United Methodist Youth Group. Mary is actively seeking opportunities to assist others working to improve our community and is thrilled to have discovered WPDC and is eager to contribute to the mission of the team.
VP of Communications:
Sherry Lambie
I would like to run for this position to remain active and involved with my club, my community and politics in this very difficult time. My background is in graphic design and the associated social media, so I am very adept at with marketing. I ran for neighborhood council on the progressive slate twice, but lost to the prevailing far right incumbents. It left me frustrated with the lack of representation in our neighborhood.
VP of Programs:
Susan Robinson
I am a life-long Democrat, a resident of Westchester-Playa for 30+ years, and an active member of the Westchester-Playa Democratic Club for nearly ten years. I bring decades of Board experience, serving non-profits at many Executive Board levels, and I have been a been proud member of the WPDC Board for five years. I am especially passionate about helping to create a sense of community. I want to help bring together like-minded Democrats in comfortable spaces to address the many challenges we are all facing while building friendships and even finding opportunities to laugh!