Calvert County Democratic Central Committee Members

 The Calvert County Democratic Central Committee is committed to registering new voters, seeking out candidates for local office, organizing, and promoting Democratic ideals here in Calvert County. Our goal is to increase voter participation in each and every election, find and support candidates for office, elect Democrats throughout our government, and show our neighbors that when you show up, you can make a real difference in your community while always working to dutifully represent the ideals of the Democratic Party in all that we do.

FAQs

  • Each county has its own local central committee to manage party affairs in its jurisdiction. Central committee members are elected at primary elections every four years. Any registered Democrat can run for a seat on their county’s central committee.

    To advance the party’s principles and help elect Democrats to public office, committee members register and assist voters, staff events, work at polls and phone banks, raise funds and resources, and support the party organization. In addition, the committee recommends appointments to the Governor for the county board of elections, and helps to fill vacancies in certain elected offices.

  • The Calvert County Democratic Central Committee regularly meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. We plan to meet at our new office as member availability permits, but for the forseeable future we will meet virtually via Zoom. If you’d like to attend, please see our Virtual Meeting RSVP to request the Zoom link for an upcoming meeting. Our regular meetings are public and you are welcome to attend.

  • Of course! Elections for the central committee are held every four years and any registered Democrat can run for a seat.

    There are occasional vacancies that may come open mid-term which you may be able to apply for. Please keep an eye on our website and be sure to sign up to receive our emails to be informed of when these vacancies are open and how to apply.

    The CCDCC may also appoint associate members which provides additional opportunities for people to be involved in committee decision making.

  • Commissioner Districts

    The CCDCC membership is organized so there are two members from each Commissioner District and four members At-Large. This is to ensure each area of our county has representation and their unique issues heard on the committee.

    Gender Balance

    Membership of the committee allows for representation of three gender categories; Male, Female, & Non-Binary. When filing for candidacy, candidates will identify their preferred gender identity, which will appear on the official ballot alongside their names. All candidates will appear under one ballot title. Elections of the committee shall allow for gender balance ensuring that no more than fifty percent of the membership is represented by one of the three gender categories listed above.

    Three Gender Categories:

    Each candidacy filing form will show THREE categories Male, Female, & Non-Binary. Non-Binary: “non-binary” is one term people use to describe genders that don’t fall into one of these two categories, male or female. What does gender balance mean? Gender balance allows for equal representation between genders. The election process will take into account both vote total and gender representation. Through the election process, the committee will be considered gender balanced as long as there is no greater than a variance of one between Male and Female, as Non-Binary will not count as either Male nor Female.

    What DOES this mean:

    -No more than a maximum of five members can be Male, Female, or Non-Binary.

    -Candidates WILL have their preferred gender identity listed on the ballot with their names.

    -In the case that a Non-Binary candidate wins a spot on the committee, the remainder of the committee will be balanced as equally as practicable between male and female with the remaining candidates on the ballot.

    -There are no guaranteed slots to any one gender. Meaning the allocation of members is solely determined by vote total and gender balance allocation.

    -There is NO advantage or disadvantage to selecting a specific gender category.

  • The only difference between a full member of the committee and an associate member, is that an associate member cannot vote on state-related matters. That includes state central committee meetings as well as filling vacancies in the state legislature.

    Associate members fully participate in all other responsibilities of the committee such as organizing, deciding on strategy, voting on county party budgeting, etc.

Calvert County Democratic Central Committee Members

2022-2026

  • Cindy Yoe

    CHAIR

    Cindy was born and raised in Prince George's County, Maryland and is a life-time Maryland resident. She has lived in Southern Maryland since 1984 and in Calvert County since 2007, where her parents were also born and raised. Cindy has worked in the legal field for over 35 years and currently works as an office manager for Peer, Gan & Gisler, LLP, a union-side labor law firm in Washington DC. She has raised five wonderful children, has five grandchildren, and currently lives with her husband, John, in Prince Frederick. Her hobbies include beekeeping and she enjoys volunteering for the Democrats in Calvert County.

    Contact: yoedems@gmail.com

  • Renita Alexander

    VICE-CHAIR

    A resident of Calvert County since 1997, Renita Alexander graduated from Morgan State University in 1991, majoring in Elementary Education; Bowie State University in 1994 earning a Master of Special Education; and NOVA Southeastern University in 2005 with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Committed to serving the community, Renita has served as an educational leader for seventeen years, as well as performed various duties for service organizations in the State of Maryland. Presently, she is the Membership Chairperson for the Concerned Black Women of Calvert County and the League of Women Voters. Volunteerism is key in the heart of Renita. Having a passion to serve the residents of Calvert County, she lives her life by the following guiding question: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is…What are you doing for others?” -Martin Luther King Jr.

    Contact: renita.alexander@gmail.com

  • Lauren Elyard

    SECRETARY

    I moved to Southern Maryland with my family in 2014 from West Virginia where I lived for a while after earning my B.S. in Geology from West Virginia University (Let’s Go Mountaineers!). I am excited to call Maryland my home. I don't see being a “relative” newcomer to Calvert County as a liability, but as an asset. There are so many folks in our community who are fresher faces ready to plant roots in Calvert, that their needs and concerns deserve representation as well.

    I worked on Julia Nichols' campaign for state delegate in 2018 as her digital media coordinator, as well as helping to draft policy positions, and voter outreach. I am currently managing our web page and assisting with our digital outreach as well. I am excited to help further extend our reach within Calvert County, and continue to move us forward and promote Democratic ideals in our community.

    Contact: LElyardCCDems@gmail.com, Twitter, Instagram

  • Collin Berglund

    TREASURER

    Collin lives in Dunkirk, MD with his family. He works at the intersection of digital, communications and politics, leading the digital practices of a Democratic digital firm and a bipartisan public affairs firm. Collin has also led the digital operation for winning political campaigns, nonprofits, and companies.

    Collin is a Rhode Island native and earned his undergraduate degree in journalism and government & politics from the University of Maryland, and an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

    Contact: collinmberglund@gmail.com

  • Sylvia Batong

    MEMBER

    Bio to Come

  • Kara Dudley

    MEMBER

    Kara Dudley, a life-long Democrat, grew up in Maryland before spending almost a decade moving around the country with her Active Duty spouse. Since 2016, she’s been back in Maryland and living with her family in Calvert County. Volunteerism and contributing to her community has always been central to her life, regardless of where she was living. Some of the work she has done has focused on supporting military families and new parents.

    For the last 4 years, she has taken an active role in a gun violence prevention organization and helped to pass several pieces of lifesaving legislation. Reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights are issues near and dear to her heart. As a member of the Central Committee, she hopes to make sure the voices (and the votes!) of Calvert County Democrats are heard.

    Contact: info@calvertdemocrats.com c/o Kara Dudley

  • Gabe Gough

    MEMBER

    Gabe Gough lives in Huntingtown, MD with his wife, Heather and their two elementary school-aged children. Gabe and his family moved to Calvert County in October 2020 from Alexandria, VA where they had lived since 2009. When the pandemic began and remote work became an option, Gabe and his wife began looking for areas to move that had better schools, a more affordable cost of living and a better community atmosphere to raise their young family. Calvert County was the best and most obvious option. As more families find themselves in similar circumstances, Gabe wants to ensure Calvert County continues to be the most attractive option for families to raise their children. To do that, “We need to take a good hard look at our county and ask what kind of place we really want to be in 2022 and beyond.”

    Gabe is a combat Veteran with multiple deployments as a Special Operations soldier and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with a Valor “V” Device for his service in Iraq. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a master’s degree in International Affairs and Global Politics from Georgetown University. He has more than 10 years experience working in the federal government. His experience includes serving as a Fellow on a the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, an adviser to the Special Operations Command in Afghanistan and as a Special Assistant and Adviser to three Secretaries of Veterans Affairs. Gabe is currently a consultant at Deloitte, and in December 2022 he was elected to serve as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party.

    Contact: gabegough21@gmail.com

  • Cameron Gross

    MEMBER

    Cameron Gross is a dedicated and passionate advocate for civic engagement and voter participation in Calvert County, Maryland. Raised in Calvert County, Cameron's journey toward becoming a champion of democratic values and civic responsibility began during his formative years at Huntingtown High School. While there, he discovered his passion for politics and social justice. Soon after, this led him to take charge of the school's Young Democrats club, where he was instrumental in fostering political awareness and activism among his peers. Under his guidance, the Young Democrats became a platform for young voices to be heard.

    Currently, Cameron Gross is furthering his education at the College of Southern Maryland, where he continues to expand his knowledge and skills in political science and community organizing.

    His primary mission is to engage the youth of Calvert County in the civic process. He firmly believes that when young people are empowered with knowledge and encouraged to participate, they can make a significant impact on the future of their community. He's dedicated to creating opportunities for young voters to understand the issues that matter most to them and to have their voices heard at the ballot box.

    One of Cameron's most ambitious goals is to expand voter participation in Calvert County, with the ultimate aim of flipping the county. He understands this is no small task and requires concerted effort and unwavering determination. Through community outreach, voter education initiatives, and grassroots organizing, Cameron aims to create a more inclusive and representative political landscape in Calvert County. he has worked throughout Southern Maryland to elect Democrats on the county-to-state level to bring in a new age of elected officials.

    Contact:

    camerontlgross@gmail.com

  • Greg Howard

    MEMBER

    Bio to come.

  • David Salazar

    MEMBER

    David was born and raised in Calvert County, Maryland. Currently, the Director of Support Services for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers at their International Headquarters in Washington, DC. David is a strong proponent of organized labor and working-class families. Having spent over 25 years working for a labor union he has seen first hand the benefits of collective bargaining and its impact on the middle class. He is also a life-long Democrat. A strong supporter of the party, its ideals, values, and principles. When asked about his greatest accomplishment, David always replies "My Family." He has 2 daughters Mikayla and Maysen. Mikayla is a field organizer for the Maryland Democratic Party, and Maysen is pursuing her Masters Degree in Education at St. Mary's University. Through the IBEW and the AFL-CIO Release Staff Program, David has worked on several campaigns to elect officials from Maryland and New Mexico. His work within the Calvert County Democratic Party has served to forward the principled unity that can help us win more influence, as well as elections in the future months and years.

    Contact: dsalazar63@gmail.com

  • Spike Erickson

    ASSOCIATE MEMBER

    Bio to come

  • Garrett Hill

    ASSOCIATE MEMBER

    Garrett Hill, from Huntingtown, MD has been a pivotal figure in the Calvert County Democratic Party, and Southern Maryland. He has worked tirelessly in multiple roles to continue to grow and expand the Democratic Party throughout our area, and especially to outreach to younger Democrats.

    Driven by a desire to foster community engagement and promote progressive ideals, Garrett brings his expertise to the forefront of his political endeavors. From his various roles on multiple local and regional campaigns, to his positions with the Calvert County Democratic Central Committee, Southern Maryland Young Democrats, and Maryland Young Democrats, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the party's messaging and outreach strategies, utilizing his skills to connect with voters across our community. It was due to Garrett’s work that helped to establish and grow the SOMDYD organization this past year.

    With his unwavering commitment to community, Garrett continues to inspire those around him as he works tirelessly to build a brighter, more inclusive future for Calvert County and beyond.