Meet the Party Officers
Chair
Don Bivens
(602) 298-4200
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Don Bivens began his career in Arizona politics in the late 1970s as a precinct committee person. In the early 1980s, he was President of Young Democrats of Arizona. Since then, Bivens has held leadership roles in many Arizona elections, including the 1982 gubernatorial campaign for Bruce Babbitt and the 1994 gubernatorial campaign for Terry Goddard in which Bivens served as Finance Chair. He most recently served on the finance committee for U.S. Senate candidate Jim Pederson. Read more »
Treasurer
Rick McGuire
(602) 493-6642
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Rick McGuire is currently the Executive Producer for Health and Medical Multimedia of Scottsdale. He is a past vice-chair of the party and co-authored the PC Handbook and Resource Guide which has been used in Arizona and other states. For a decade, Rick has travelled the state, on behalf of the ADP, to do PC training. Plus, he offers training in political fundraising and compliance. Rick was named Arizona Democrat of the Year in 2007.
First Vice Chairwoman
Harriet Young
(928) 527-1001
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At only 11 years old, Harriet gave her first speech attacking farm subsidies to her class, and by the time she was in high school regularly urged her classmates to make sure their families were registered to vote. While in graduate school, majoring in Political Science and History, Harriet saw JFK in New Orleans during a visit, and worked for LBJ when he ran in 1964. For the next ten years, Harriet watched American politics from the Far East, the Middle East or Europe. She wrote her master's thesis on Harry Truman’s 1948 Civil Rights plank in the Democratic platform, and engaged the issue of incumbency for her dissertation at Rice. Harriet moved to Flagstaff in 1992, and became an active member of the Democratic Party through her friends. Harriet was elected County Chair in 2002, and her county is now considered Democratic territory.
Senior Vice Chairman
Michael Smith
(928) 782-4878
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Wm. Michael Smith also serves as the Yuma County Democratic Party Vice Chair. He has served in multiple leadership positions within the County and State Party. He was elected Chair of the Yuma County Democratic Party in 2000 and elected a State Vice Chair in 2004. A dedicated public servant, he was named the youngest County Attorney in Arizona in 1971. He served as the Yuma County Attorney from 1971 to 1975. A practicing attorney, Michael has a record of public service as a Board member and Past Chairman of the Yuma Regional Medical Center and the Arizona Hospital Foundation. In 2000, Wm. Michael Smith was named a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. He is married and a proud father of 4 and has 11 grandchildren. He is a third generation Arizonan.
National Committeewoman
Carolyn Warner
(602) 957-7552
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Carolyn Warner was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma to Democratic State Senator U.T. Rexroatand Mary Tullis. Carolyn attended the inauguration of President Harry S. Truman as youth representative (and danced with the President at his Inaugural Ball). After moving to Arizona, Carolyn became active in its Democratic Party. She was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1974, 1978, and 1982. She ran for the U.S. Senate in 1976 and was Democratic nominee for Governorship of Arizona in 1986. She was Elected Democratic National Committeewoman in 2004 and most recently in 2008. She is actively involved in many local organizations such as Arizona Center for After School Excellence, Arizona List, Arizona Women's Forum, Arizona Educational Foundation, Children’s Action Alliance, Dean's Associates for Educational Advancement at Arizona State University, EMERGE, and Jobs for America's Graduates.
National Committeewoman
Judy Kennedy
(602) 978-1333
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Judy is a lifelong Arizona resident. She holds an MS from ASU and a Doctorate from NAU. Dr. Kennedy worked for 30 years as a teacher and administrator in Arizona public schools. She is an adjunct professor for Northern Arizona University, teaching when time permits. Judy is married and has one son. Her political involvement includes being newly elected to the Democratic National Committee, serving as Secretary for the Arizona Democratic Party, and is a Juniper Precinct Committeeperson. Her past participation has been serving as a delegate to Democratic National Convention in 2004, working as a past Chair and Vice Chair for the Maricopa County Democratic Party and was a former candidate for Senate in Legislative District 10. Judy passionately believes the purpose of Government is to serve the people and considers herself a full time Democrat.
National Committeeman
Fred DuVal
(602) 430-2507
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Fred DuVal is a Democratic activist, author, and businessman from Phoenix. DuVal is a member of the Arizona Board of Regents and the Arizona Commerce and Economic Development Commission. He is Arizona’s National Committeeman to the Democratic National Committee. From 1980 to 1985 DuVal served as a top aide to Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt, responsible for legislative programs. During this time DuVal helped craft Arizona’s initiatives on health care, transportation, housing, economic development, natural resource protection and education. He was one of the founders of the Democratic Leadership Council in 1985. He was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1989 to 1993.
Fred is also the president of DuVal and Associates where he represents clients in state capitals across the United States. For two years following his White House service, DuVal was a Senior Managing Director of Hill and Knowlton, a global public affairs consulting firm.
Vice Chairwoman
Bree Boehlke
(602) 697-4905
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Bree holds a degree from Arizona State University in Political Science with a Walter Cronkite New Media Certificate and is an Emerge Arizona 2006 Alumna. She was just recently hired as the Executive Director of Emerge Arizona. Currently she sits on the Young Democrats of America Executive Committee as their National Resolutions Chair and is extremely active with the Young Democrats of Arizona Women’s Caucus and the Arizona Federation of Democratic Women. She has worked on multiple campaigns in Arizona and across the country from city to national level. In the 1990's Bree traveled internationally representing Team USA Figure Skating. She has served on Governor Napolitano’s executive staff, as National Committee Woman for Young Democrats of Arizona and was an elected delegate and selected delegation whip at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. In addition to politics and community - Bree enjoys time with her politically active family, automobiles and sports.
Vice Chairwoman
Jo Kelleher
(928) 636-2081
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Jo has served as the ADP Vice Chairwoman for the past four years. Veteran in Democratic politics, her experience with the Party includes, Vice Chair of Yavapai County Democrats beginning 2009, ADP State Committee Person, Member, Chino Valley Unified School District Governing Board, Candidate for State Senate - LD 1, Board of Directors - League of Women Voters of Central Yavapai County. Jo’s commitment to the Yavapai Democratic Party allows them to operate with a year-round office every year.
Vice Chairwoman
Sharon Covey
(520) 803-1656
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Originally from Montana, Sharon moved to Arizona and graduated from Mesa High School and Arizona State University. She was active in the Student Religious Liberals, did some volunteer work for Arizona Democrats and was a civil rights activist, becoming Public Relations Director for Congress of Racial Equality(CORE). Sharon moved to Dallas, TX where she became part of a pilot project leading to the first child abuse legislation in Texas. Upon returning to Arizona, Sharon helped establish the Mill Avenue Merchants Association (MAMA), and chairing the first Mill Avenue Arts and Crafts Festival in Tempe. After spending a couple of years traveling around the world, she returned to Texas to her career as a social worker, where she met and married Jerry Covey. Sharon has two step children and five step grandchildren. She was Executive Director for a large non profit facility which provided physical rehabilitation for children. Sharon and her husband retired in 1999, traveled full time in an RV for four years and then built a house in Cochise County. By May of 2003, both Jerry and Sharon were full time Democratic Activists. Sharon is now serving her second term as an AZ Democratic Party Vice-Chairwoman.
Vice Chairman
Chris Campas
(520) 234-5498
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Chris Campas, a native of Sierra Vista, is often hailed as Cochise’s own political prodigy. At age 20, he ran for the Cochise County Board of Supervisors (2008). Chris comes from a community-oriented perspective which inspired him to get involved in politics at a young age. He has worked on Wesley Clark and John Kerry’s campaigns, started the Young Democrats chapter at Buena High School, served on Governor Napolitano’s Youth Commission, and ran for Sierra Vista City Council in 2006. Chris received the Outstanding Candidate Volunteer Award and the first Young Democrat of the year award from the state party in 2004 as well as the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in 2006. During his campaign in 2008 Chris focused on creating a more inclusive government and building strong communities while preserving natural resources.
Vice Chairman
David Olvera
(520) 749-4633
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David Olvera (Pima County) has been an active State Committee Person for the past two years, and has worked with others to create and launch the AZ Democratic Hispanic Caucus. As Vice Chair of the Pima Co. Democratic Party, David has learned much about County political activities, and is excited to bring his experience and energy to the state level of our Party. He feels it is important that the ADP continue to have representation from Southern Arizona as well as someone who represents the diversity of the members of our State Party. David is a business owner in Tucson. He and his wife Celine have a six year old son named Thomas.
Vice Chairman
Gerald Richard
(602) 380-3309
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Gerald Richard began his post as an Executive Board member in January of 2009, as the ADP’s Affirmative Action Moderator. He and his committee served the ADP by focusing on efforts to increase the number of Democratic voters and permanent early voters, who are members of Arizona ethnic, minority and LGBT groups. Currently, he is the Special Policy Advisor for Law Enforcement for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. In this position he is responsible for advising the Attorney General on critical issues involving law enforcement, encouraging and assisting in the development of interoperability among all levels of law enforcement in Arizona, improving police/community relations with the AGO, court appearances and representing the Attorney General as his designee. Having been a Democratic candidate for Maricopa County Attorney, he understands challenges of political campaigns from a candidate’s perspective.
Secretary
Brittni Storrs
(520) 519-8402
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Affirmative Action Coordinator
CJ Carenza
(602) 253-2671
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C.J. is the Affirmative Action Moderator for the Arizona Democratic Party, an active point person with Progressive Democrats of America, and is the 1st Vice-Chair of his legislative district (15). C.J. is originally from Urbandale, IA, and has lived in Arizona since April 1995. He is currently living in central Phoenix with his partner of 9 years, Richard Ruiz, and their 7 dogs. Elected in April 2008, C.J. is one of the founding members of the LGBT Caucus. Having working in the banking and financial Lending industry since out of college he has seen firsthand the devastating results of the Republican policies of de-regulation. However, it was the controversial election of 2000 and the subsequent unjust war in Iraq that got C.J. motivated to take to the streets, and become politically active. Whether marching with tens of thousands in Washington D.C. or standing on the street corners of Phoenix demanding the impeachment of President Bush, C.J. is not afraid to take to the street to demand action. In November 2007, because of his strong beliefs in the importance of Health Insurance Reform, and his proposed HR 676, Single Payer Health proposal, C.J. began working for the Kucinich Presidential Campaign. While unsuccessful, this work helped prepare him for his challenges ahead of him.
Educational Coordinator
Anne Greenberg
(602) 493-6642
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Anne is co-owner and executive vice president of Health & Medical Multimedia. The webmaster for the United Parent Council, Mrs. Greenberg is a member of the Community Legislative Network and has served on numerous district and school committees. She also is a member of the state board of the Arizona Academic Decathlon Association and of the Legislative Committee and Federal Relations Network for the Arizona School Boards Association. Mrs. Greenberg and her husband, Rick McGuire, have two sons, one who graduated from and one who currently attends Paradise Valley schools. Her term will run through December 2012. Her role as the ADP’s Education Coordinator makes her the principal organizer for developing and disseminating the ADP’s platform.
