DEMOCRATS ABROAD JAPAN ELECTS JOINT CHAIR ANNOUNCES OCTOBER 30, 2003 FALL DEBATEWATCH FUNDRAISER "VOTE AMERICA OUT OF THE BUSHES!"
Democrats Abroad Japan (DAJ) have elected Terri MacMillan and Brent O'Leary as co-chairs for leading the organization as the vital November, 2004, elections near. DAJ is also holding a Democratic Presidential Candidate Debatewatch Party on Thursday, October 30, 2003 at the Pink Cow (Shibuya). All interested in US politics are invited.
While Arnold Schwarzenegger was quoting lines from his movies to win the governorship of California, another American political skirmish, with fewer dramatic fireworks, was taking place in Japan.
Democrats Abroad Japan, the official branch of the American Democratic Party in Japan, with over 500 active members, held its election for a new Chair. The election followed the retirement of John McCreery, who had held the post for two years, and last February was elected International Vice Chair of Democrats Abroad. After the votes were counted, the two candidates for Chair: Terri MacMiIllan and Brent O'Leary, were found to have received an equal number of votes. To unanimous applause from all attending DAJ's regular monthly meeting at the new Pink Cow in Shibuya, MacMillan and O'Leary accepted election as co-chairs on October 14. McCreery commented, "I couldn't have hoped for a better outcome. We had two great candidates, and having both as winners and leading our push to get America out of the Bushes in 2004 is more than a dream come true."
"I'm thrilled to be working with Brent," said MacMillan (author of "Bush in Wonderland", Kobunsha, 2003). "He and I have very similar aims - chief of which, of course, is to make sure that a Democratic candidate wins the next Presidential election." MacMillan, who has lived in Japan for five years, is one of the principals in De-I Productions, a language production house that localizes Japanese and English multimedia and print materials for businesses & non-profit organizations.
O'Leary, a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in 2000, commented, "I think that the combination of Terri and myself is going to be good for the Democratic movement here. As she says, we have similar goals in promoting the Democratic candidates, in making sure Americans here get information and in expanding our membership, and I think our approaches to these common aims complement each other." O'Leary, who is a seven-year Japan resident, is Asia Compliance Counsel for Bloomberg LP.
James Farrar, who lectures at Sophia University, Tokyo, was elected as Vice Chair, and added "I would have been happy to serve as Vice Chair under either of the candidates. Having both acting as Chair is going to be challenging - but it's going to be good for the DAJ."
Democrats Abroad Japan is also happy to announce renewed Officer terms for:
Claudia Colnar: Secretary
Robert Zuckerman: Treasurer
David J. Littleboy: Membership Officer
Sven Serrano, Democrats Abroad Japan Chair, Kansai
Ruth S. McCreery, Adrienne Urbanec: Voter Registration Counselors
Ruth S. McCreery, Democratic National Committee Member; Editor, the Overseas Democrat
In additional news, Democrats Abroad Japan will hold a Democratic Presidential Candidate Debatewatch Party on Thursday, October 30, 2003 at the Pink Cow (Shibuya). MacMillan said, gNo matter how you classify your politics, herefs a rare chance to see the Democratic candidates debate on the big screen, to get crucial voter registration information, to vote in the pre and post event Straw Polls, and to have a great time with other Americans and supporters who want to see positive change in Americafs direction.h Tickets are \3000: contact: 090-1700-0022 or RSVP online:
http://www.newcore.jp/demsjapan/debates.html
Democrats Abroad Japan holds regular meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at the Pink Cow, Shibuya.
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