APACHE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY Board

Loren Marshall (Chair): Yá’át’ééh, my name is Loren Marshall. I am Diné, a citizen of the Navajo Nation. My clans are (Tó’áhaní) Near the Water People clan, born for (Tódích’íi’nii) the Bitter Water clan. My maternal grandfather was of the (Táchii’nii) Red Running Into the Water People clan, and my paternal grandfather is of the (Ma’ii Deeshgiizhnii) Coyote Pass Jemez clan. I was born and raised in rural Whiteclay, Arizona. I've been a tribal organizer since 2020, working to strengthen Indigenous political power and increase voter participation in rural Native communities. In addition to my Chair role for the Apache County Democrats, I am the Director of Campaigns and Engagement with Northeast Arizona Native Democrats. Previously, I was the Tribal Deputy Organizing Director with Mission for Arizona during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, where I played a key role in mobilizing Native voters. I also served as the Constituency Organizing Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, focusing on outreach to Tribal communities. In addition to my campaign work, I have been actively involved in party organizing as a Precinct Committee (PC) and State Committee Person, ensuring that Native voices are represented within the Democratic Party. My work is driven by the belief that our communities are strongest when we are informed, engaged, and united at the ballot box and beyond.

Priscilla Weaver (First Vice Chair):  In January 2020, I traveled from Teec Nos Pos to Window Rock with my husband to learn more about the Arizona Democratic Party in Apache County. I met wonderful community activists who became my allies and friends because we shared common ideas and were willing to help each other. We campaigned together with the Northeast Arizona Native Democrats to get votes by using social media, phone banking, text messaging, signposting, and radio advertising. We eventually reached our common goal in November when we were successful in electing Democratic candidates, flipping Arizona blue by 10,457 votes, and turning our country blue. Apache County had 51,906 registered voters, 35,776 of whom voted. This accounted for a 68.92% turnout, and I learned that grassroots organizations were critical in producing this high turnout.

 Ginny Dotson (Secretary/Treasurer):  Before politics became so compelling, I was a wood artist. I am a strong supporter of voting rights.  My oldest aunts on both sides of my family reached adulthood at a time when women did not have the right to vote.  When they fought for and finally gained that right, they voted in every single election as long as they were able to do so.   When I saw some of our legislators trying to take that right away from people, I knew it was time to get to work and fight again.As a board member of the Apache County Democrats, I will work to empower and educate voters in our communities.

Mike Kunneke (Board Member At Large): I'm a retired computer professional who first came to the Southwest as Data Processing Director for the Ramah Navajo School Board in New Mexico. Now living in the southern Apache County neighborhood of Show Low Pines, I'm currently a Precinct Committee Person for Concho, Arizona, and  the At-Large Executive Board member of the Apache County Democrats. Although my personal politics tend to be left of the majority of the Democratic party, I try not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. You can find me at @geekonabike on Instagram, plus various other online sites. If you'd like to contact me, my email is mikekunnecke@yahoo.com.