East Valley YD’s

The East Valley Young Democrats invites young professionals from the East Valley to come join us and change the face of politics in our community. We meet monthly, but we’re working every week to elect Democrats and support our Democratic elected officials in our local governments, the Arizona Legislature, Congress, and the White House.

Whether you’re a seasoned activist or have never been involved in politics before, everyone is welcome and everyone has something to contribute to improve our community and our democracy.

We offer opportunities to learn more about local and national issues, learn how to effectively contact voters and increase Democratic voter turnout, and how to become a leader in your community. Our generation has the power to change Arizona and America, but only if we step up and take that responsibility.

The East Valley Young Democrats meet every second Thursday at Macayo’s, 1920 S. Dobson Rd, Mesa.  Join us for happy hour at 6pm and our business meeting at 7pm.

East Valley Young Democrats Officers

Cole Hickman, President

Cole Hickman lives in Tempe, Arizona and serves as President of the EVYDs which he helped found in 2007.  While receiving a Political Science degree from Arizona State University, Cole was President of the ASUYDs, worked as volunteer staff on two successful campaigns of Young Democrats for the AZ State Legislature and Tempe City Council, joined the Army Reserve and deployed to Iraq in 2006.  In 2008 he was elected President of the Young Democrats of Arizona.  He founded and served as the first chair of the YDA Veterans and Military Affairs Caucus, and currently serves as Vice Chair.  He currently leads YDAz’s rural, veteran and young professional outreach and is the Southwest Region representative for the Rural and Veterans Caucuses .  Cole is a Sergeant in the Army Reserve and does community outreach for Arizona’s top Democrat, Attorney General Terry Goddard.

Amanda Kehrberg, Vice President

Amanda joined the East Valley Young Democrats in the summer of 2008 and began her first foray into political action for local candidates that fall. The 2008 election cycle was the first time she donated to candidates, an exception that quickly became a rule. Though still a little green to activism, she has escalated her involvement from literature drops to phone banks, street teams and more. She is particularly enthusiastic about planning social activities and community service projects. Away from politics, Amanda is the editor of “A” Magazine in Ahwatukee and an active member of the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce, where she was nominated to serve on the new Women in Business Board. She is also working toward her master’s in American Media and Popular Culture at Arizona State. She briefly served as Secretary for the East Valley Young Democrats and currently serves as Vice President.

Megan McPherson, Secretary

Since 2004, Megan has volunteered for and staffed several local, city, and state campaigns in Phoenix and the East Valley.  In 2005, she helped to start the Phoenix College Young Democrats and led the chapter as President.  She also was elected to Vice President of Membership for the Young Democrats of Arizona.  In 2008, she was the campaign manager for Glenn Ray, a candidate for state representative in District 22. This campaign demonstrated to Megan the importance of maintaining Democratic activism in Gilbert and East Mesa, and she was ultimately elected to the role of District Chair.  Megan serves as the Secretary of the East Valley Young Democrats.

Matt Moellering, Treasurer

Matthew Moellering began his political activism in 2003 and 2004 when he worked on the John Kerry for President campaign.  Matthew has since worked for several candidates, including Glenn Ray, Corey Woods, Ed Ableser, David Schapira, Harry Mitchell, and many others.  He has also participated in lobbying for Arizona State University, and he has worked on various propositions and initiatives.  Matthew is currently finishing his last year of law school at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.  After taking the bar exam this summer, he plans to work as a patent attorney.  Matthew serves as the Treasurer of the East Valley Young Democrats and resides in Gilbert, Arizona.