About

Hi, I’m Claire Conlon, the Executive Director of the California Young Democrats (CYD).

This website was created to chronicle my political adventures for easy sharing with my family and friends.  The idea to have my own website came to me as I was packing to go to D.C. for the inauguration of President Obama.  I blogged while in D.C. and then also back posted pictures and stories that I’d shared with family and friends through email from my past political adventures.

In my current position with CYD, and also during my time working for the political consulting firm Acosta|Salazar, LLC, I’ve felt extremely lucky that I get to do what I love for a living.

The California Young Democrats is the official youth arm of the California Democratic Party, committed to creating a bloc of young voters who will elect Democrats for an entire generation.  We use proven peer-to-peer methods to increase young voter turnout and to promote social justice, women’s rights, peace and stability in the world, and many other progressive values.

As Executive Director I manage the daily operation of CYD; create and fund our yearly budget; and work with the CYD Board to develop and implement our strategic plan, specifically planning peer-to-peer campaign activities, chapter building activities, lobbying efforts and coordinating with other progressive grassroots organizations.

From 2006-20008 I worked at Acosta|Salazar, LLC in Sacramento where I staffed the consultants of campaigns for National Primaries, State Constitutional offices, State Assembly Districts, ballot propositions, mayoral candidates, and public affairs campaigns.

In 2006, I graduated from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.  While attending UCD, I studied Political Science at the University of Lund in Sweden, and participated in the University of California Washington (D.C.) Program where I interned at the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF). There, I worked with the CMF staff on Capitol Intern and Staff Assistant training programs and consulting trips with member offices in the House and Senate to foster improved management practices.  After graduation, I volunteered as the Political Director for the Sacramento County Young Democrats, then was appointed as the Communications Director for CYD and the Pacific Regional Director for the Young Democrats of America Jewish Caucus.  In 2006 I was the recipient of the University of California President’s Washington Award and the San Francisco Workman’s Circle Community Service Award.

A huge thank you to Dan Fisher for creating my website!!!  I cannot thank him enough for all of the IT help he has provided me.  Dan is a great friend and a great help!  If anyone needs IT help, I highly recommend you hire Dan.  He does it for a living for the County of Sacramento.  He can even help you remotely!

And thank you to all of my friends who offered suggestions to help me name this website!  Posting the contest on my Facebook status, I offered Inaugural paraphernalia to anyone who came up with the best creative title for my new blog about “my fun political adventures and maybe other stuff too”.

Alicia came up with ‘Political Claireity’ and Kirsten suggested ‘the adventures of a Polichick’.  Thanks friends!