Art Schankler for DNC
- 20 years experience in DA
-Country Chair, International Treasurer and Vice Chair
-Building bridges between DA and DNC
-Fighting for issues of DA importance
I’m Art Schankler and I’m running to be one of Demcrats Abroad’s DNC members. I've been a Democrat since I was 5 - stuffing envelopes for John Kennedy (yes, I'm that old). I have been active in Democrats Abroad for 20 years. I have served as a Country Chair, International Treasurer and twice as International Vice Chair. Maybe more importantly I have spent many hours signing up voters at bookstores and bagel shops. I have made hundreds of calls on Call Hub to voters – and as some of you know I have called many of you over the years asking you to make a donation and support the work that we do.
But to be clear, I don’t mention all this because I think our DNC positions should be viewed as rewards for long service. I mention this because our DNC members are the most visible face of Democrats Abroad to the larger Democratic Party. Through the experience that I have had, I know how Democrats Abroad works – and frankly how in some cases, it doesn’t work. I will make the case to the rest of the Democratic Party about how we can help them – and how they can help us.
But I also believe that we need to be more than a face – we also need to be a bridge between Dems Abroad and the Democratic Party. It shouldn’t just be the eight DNC members members who are connecting with the DNC. And as part of this we need to make our work visible to our members as well as get input from members about what we do.
Finally, I want to make one more point that I have made over the years. These elections are important, that’s why I’m running – and I want to win. But let’s be clear, the really important elections in 2024 are the ones in November. And I commit, win or lose – and believe me, I have lost a few over the years – to continue to work with Democrats Abroad to turn out every vote we can to help the Democrats win in November. That is one commitment I am happy to make. Thank you and I hope I can have your vote. I’ll be reaching out, but if you want to contact me, write to art4dnc@gmail.com. And I will be happy to chat.
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A little about how I see the DNC position
A little about me and why I'm running
- Make the case to the DNC and State Parties about how we can help them - and how they can help us
- Funding (I helped DA receive $300,000 in 2022 election cycle)
- GOTV organizing - staff in border regions
- Voter data (within GDPR)
- Voter protection - liaising with DA State Teams
- Create bridges between DA and DNC and State Parties
- Interaction between DA Caucuses and Councils and DNC counterparts
- Ensure that DA members are informed about what we are doing at the DNC - and let them provide input; our DNC participation shouldn't be a mystery
- Regular Town Halls and newsletters
- Attendance at regional meetings by DNC members
- Reporting to the ExCom
- Fight for issues that are important to DA members
- Examples - resolutions on Residence Based Taxation and Reparations put forward by DA members
- Making voting easier for overseas Americans
- Reducing income inequality
- Advocating for peace
- And more - let's hear from YOU....
A little bit more about me
Experience in Democrats Abroad
- Began volunteering in Prague in 2004, signing up voters at schools, bookstores and bagel shops
- Helped start CC in Czech Republic in 2011
- Served as first Czech Country Chair
- Deputy RVC in EMEA 2012 - 2013
- Elected International Treasurer in 2013
- Named International Vice Chair in 2016 to replace Ken Sherman
- International Fundraising Chair (2013-2021)
- Elected International Vice Chair in 2021
- Currently Deputy International Treasurer and Acting Chair Medicare Portability Task Force
Selected Accomplishments
- Kickstarted Study Abroad outreach in EMEA in 2012
- Founded Data Committee in 2012
- Submitted annual financial reports to the DPCA - and monthly reports to FEC
- Helped raise $700k+ in 2020 and $290k+ in 2022 (midterm)
- Helped receive $300k funding from DNC in 2022
- Organized DA participation in DNC Chair elections in 2017 including survey of DA members
- Served on DNC Ethnic Council - helped get ethnic identity into voter database
- Honorary Kentucky Colonel (really, but without the white suit)
Educational and Professional Background
- Grew up in Ohio and Michigan
- BA Degree in East Asian Studies from Princeton University
- Worked with refugees in Southeast Asia and East Africa (1979 - 1983)
- Mondale for President Campaign 1984 - Deputy Regional Field Director Northeast
- World Bank 1985 - 1986
- MBA from Columbia University 1988
- 30 years developing and financing infrastructure projects in US and Eastern Europe
- Water and wastewater projects
- Other environment projects including solid waste and biomass energy projects
- Sports facilities
- Transport including rail and road projects
Endorsements
“I know few other members as committed to Democrats Abroad as Art. He is always willing to step up and do the work. I enthusiastically endorse him to be our Democrats Abroad DNC member."
Hope Bradberry - Chair DA Mexico
"The Democrats Abroad Vaccination Task Force has found Art to be a person who promises to do seemingly impossible tasks and successfully follows through. We found Art’s contributions to our discussions on how to tackle our issue politically, invaluable. His experiences with the US politics, particularly with the Democratic party politics helped us navigate a very complicated political landscape to find allies in Congress, and for that he has our ringing endorsement and appreciation from the task force members and many Americans living abroad for his efforts on our behalf."
Jennifer Westfall and Harold Hibbert [DA Thailand] co-chairs, Covid-19 Vaccination Task Force
More Endorsements to Come (I hope)
"I have known Art Schankler from my early days with DA. When I first started learning about DA or when I had a question, wanted to debate an issue, learn more about what/how the DNC was thinking, or just talk about the general election, Art was the go-to-guy. He still is today. We are facing what will be the most pivotal election in our history. The outcome of this election will shape policy regarding health care, wages, women’s rights, taxes and our international standing among many other critical problems facing our nation. Art is someone who I believe knows the terrain, he knows policy and has been a standard bearer for the issues that I care about personally. Many in our party want change. They want leadership change, progressive change and a new approach to our policies that are important to Americans both domestically and abroad. I welcome change, but we also need a steady hand that can navigate and manage the resources that we have at our disposal and can see us through. Art has the right approach combined with a balanced perspective to represent all of us at the DNC and that is why I will be supporting him."
Radu Florescu - Vice Chair DA Romania
"When I joined Democrats Abroad, Art became one of my first mentors and colleagues. I have appreciated his wisdom as I learned how to be an effective member of DA. With his long experience, service and relationships, I believe he will be an effective DNC Member. I wholeheartedly support him. "
Keith Brannum - Turkey - EMEA Non--CC Representative"
"I worked closely with Art this past year on the DPCA Legal Sub-Committee. We were tasked with trying to understand how we got to where we found ourselves after the "FEC rollout" and making recommendations to lead us forward. We did not always agree. I found Art to be invariably well prepared for our meetings, capable of being laser focused and tenacious on what he deemed essential for DA, knowing how to disagree persuasively yet willing to compromise when it mattered. I also spent time with him last fall during our EMEA Meeting in Alicante, where his combination of charm and self-deprecating humor seemed universally welcome. He reminds me very much of the kind of effective staffer I saw often during my 15 years of practice in Washington in happier days when friends could fight about policy and politics during the day and go out together for drinks in the evening. I am confident he will be an effective advocate for DA with the DNC and will fulfill his promise to us of making it a two way street. I am pleased to endorse him."
Andrew J. Stites - DPCA Voting Rep - Norway
Some Other Endorsements
- Erin Vest - Chair DA Canada
- Jennifer von Estorff - DPCA Rep DA Germany and head of State Teams
- Alex Surer - DPCA Rep DA Switzerland
- Josh Van der Ploeg - DA UK - International Treasurer
- Suma Shamana - DA India - RVC Asia/Pacific
- Sue Alksnis - DA Canada - DNC Member 2024-2028 Term
Please note that the appearance of others in these photos does not constitute endorsement.
To find out more about me (about the photos or anything) please fill out the form below with questions or comments or just write to me at art4dnc@gmail.com. And if you want to endorse me (even better), do the same. Thanks very much.
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