Glynn County Dems Committee Members (2024-2025)

Meet our Executive Committee members

Olga McKenzie

Chair
District 3 representative

Olga began her term in 2022, appointed Chair in December 2023.

Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina during the civil rights movement of the 1960’s, Olga McKenzie experienced racism and segregation first hand, yet she was able to excel in school. After graduating from the HBCU, North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and the University of North Carolina where she earned a Masters of Science Degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences , Olga relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where she worked as a speech pathologist with the Atlanta Public School System for 30 years.  In 2015, Olga relocated to Brunswick for continued employment and eventually retired in 2020.

Since moving to Brunswick, Olga found a greater opportunity to become more involved in the community and volunteerism with Glynn Community Crisis Center and for GlynnDems where she became involved with the Democratic Party working to register voters, make phone calls, write letters and other volunteer work. She currently serves as the Co-Chair for District 3 with GlynnDems. Olga has three grown sons and two grown stepchildren and married to Bob McKenzie formerly of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

E-mail Olga

Richard Ingalls
First vice-chair
District 2 representative

Richard began his term in November 2022, appointed First Vice Chair in December 2023 and re-elected to his position in July 2024.

Richard is a retired Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Systems and Industrial Engineering and well over 40 years of professional experience in manufacturing, distribution, retail businesses and supporting Information Systems. He began visiting Georgia as a vacationer in the Golden Isles while still in college at Rochester Institute of Technology in the 1980s. Twenty-five years ago, he moved to the Atlanta area working for Carrier Air Conditioning and The Home Depot before opening two successful Batteries Plus Bulbs stores in Gwinnett County. 

Retirement planning for Richard and his wife of 38 years, Lynn, took a big step forward in 2013 when they purchased a lot on St Simons Island for their retirement home. The home was designed and built by local businesses before their family move was completed three years later. 

Rich is a life-long contributor and supporter of community volunteer organizations including The Red Cross, The United Way, Habitat for Humanity, One Hundred Miles, and Second Harvest. Recent participation in local elections included extensive canvassing for other Democratic candidates and his own campaign for Glynn County Commissioner At Large in 2022, focused on Fair, Honest and Open Government.

Vicki Greene
Second vice-chair
District 1 representative

 

Vicki Greene began her term as 2nd Vice Chair in December 2022. She started getting involved   with the Glynn County Democrats in 2016. Vicki was a 2018   candidate for the Glynn County Commission, but had to withdraw   due to a technicality regarding residency qualification. She is also   involved with the Women’s Voices of Glynn. Vicki likes to volunteer   for animal rescue groups, and was a president of a dog rescue group   in Florida, before moving to Georgia.

Vicki moved to Glynn County in 2006. She has degrees in history and education from Long Island University. Vicki began a long career in government service with the Social Security Administration, later working with U.S. Customs Service (now Homeland Security Investigations). She retired after 30 years of service, but continues to work at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Her career experience will help her in her work with the Glynn County Democrats. Vicki is currently serving as Second Vice-Chair.

Tim McDermott

Secretary
At-large representative

Tim is a retired IT executive with 35 years experience. He retired to the Golden Isles in 2017. Tim was appointed Secretary in 2023 , he was re-elected to an At-Large position in July 2024.

Heath Holdsworth
Treasurer
District 4 representative

Heath Holdsworth began his 2nd term as treasurer in December 2022 as a District 4 representative with the Glynn County Democratic Committee. Heath has a degree in Banking and Managerial Finance and a masters in Early Childhood Education. His career spans decades in both the private sector as the principle of a marketing and promotions firm and public sector as a reading and phonics specialist currently working with the Glynn County School System.

Heath thinks of himself as a Georgia native having moved to Atlanta in his childhood. He relocated to the Golden Isles in 2017 knowing that his extended family would be following close behind. Heath has a passion for teaching swimming and believes it is one of the most important life skills, especially for children of the Georgia coast.

Support and promotion mean everything, Vote Blue and Act Blue!

Meet our Committee members

Richard “Rick” Bassett

District 1 representative

Rick was born and raised on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, Cloquet, Minn., where he is a proud enrolled member. After graduating from Cloquet Senior High in 1970, he worked in various capacities for the reservation: Carpenter Foreman during various HUD funded housing projects and Tribal Employment Rights Officer. He coordinated the following: Bureau of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program, Bureau of Indian Affairs Road Maintenance and Indian Health Services Wells and Septics. He went on to work for the Carlton County, Minn. Assessors Office as a Minn. Certified Appraiser for 14 years. He returned to work briefly for the reservation before he and his wife Kim made the decision to move to the Golden Isles. He was hired at the Brunswick Housing Authority as the Section 8 Housing Inspector for four years; after which, he decided to retire. It was also at this time that he felt it would be appropriate to bestow himself the Doctorate Degree “Professor of Sidewalk Experience”.

He also served as a Township Supervisor, Planning Commissioner for the City of Cloquet, President of both the Carlton Area Lions Club, Carlton, Mn. and the Golden Isles Lions Club, St. Simons Island, GA. He feels that with his ample experience he can help move Glynn County forward to a more positive inclusive government entity and a strong Democratic community. Rick was elected o his position in July 2024.

Russ Rathweg
District 2 representative

Russ, who began his term in 2019, volunteered many hours during the 2018 election canvassing for candidates and volunteering at events. He is retired, having worked in the power conversion tech industry.
Russ moved to Glynn County to enjoy his retirement, and the Georgia Coast has become a welcome new home. His hobbies include: woodworking, fishing, and walks on the beach with his dog. Russ became involved with Glynn County Democrats to do something positive, instead of just sitting on the sidelines.

Sonya Peacock

District 3 Representative

Hello, Glynn County! I’m P. Sonya Peacock, your dedicated District 3 Representative. Born and raised in Dodge County, I’ve called Glynn County home since 2005. My journey has been shaped by a passion for public service, a commitment to social justice, and a belief in the power of community.

As a proud mother of 3 Strong Independent Women, 2 Wonderful Son in Laws and Gaga (Grandmother) to 2 Glamgirls, I’ve spent years advocating for women’s rights, mental health, and addiction support. Currently, I’m focused on empowering marginalized communities, supporting educators, new ideas and opportunities,and pushing to amplify every citizen’s voice through their vote.

Looking forward, I aspire to continue serving our community with integrity and compassion, working tirelessly to create a brighter future for all. Let’s rise together and make a positive impact! Sonya was elected to her position in July 2024.

Regina Johnson

District 4 Representative

Regina began her term in 2021 and was re elected in July 2024.

Dr. Regina Hedgeman Johnson currently serves the Glynn County Democratic Party of Georgia as one of the District 4 representatives and past candidate for our local school board.  She has resided in our community for over 40 years and has been an active servant leader who teaches, serves, and leads in and out of the classroom. Her active participation has been with the Glynn County School System, Department of Family and Children Services, Southeast Georgia Health System Volunteer Services,  Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Brunswick St. Simons Community Bible Study and First African Baptist Church.  Dr. Johnson’s commitment to service for humankind is a light of encouragement and sincerity. Dr. Johnson works tirelessly to build relationships and participation in our democracy of “liberty and justice for all.”

Mary Wray

District 5 Representative

Mary is an accomplished government and business executive with over 35 years of professional and volunteer work in the public, private and nonprofit sectors driving meaningful outcomes. Her extensive experience includes: advocacy, finance, project management, administration and program management.
Before retiring to the Golden Isles area in 2022, she served as the Deputy Executive Officer of Administration at the Delta Stewardship Council. In this capacity she was responsible for Human Resources, Information Technology, Budget, Finance & Accounting, Procurement & Building Services.
Prior to that position, she worked for Alex Padilla, current U.S. Senator from California, former Secretary of State as the Chief of the Political Reform Division. The Political Reform Division administers provisions of California’s Political Reform Act, including the law’s most fundamental purpose of ensuring that “receipts and expenditures in election campaigns should be fully and truthfully disclosed in order that the voters may be fully informed and the activities of lobbyists should be regulated and their finances disclosed…” The Secretary of State’s Political Reform Division administers provisions of California’s Political Reform Act of 1974 which requires the disclosure of financial activities related to political campaigns and lobbying.
Her passion for helping communities has driven her to volunteer and serve on boards for causes relating to advocacy and services for victims of violence and the homeless communities in Sacramento. She served as a founding board member on the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness and currently serves as Secretary and Board member for Heart 4 Victims (heart4victims.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting victims of crime seeking assistance from government program, service providers, victim advocates and attorney representatives. Mary was elected to her position in July 2024.

Audrey Gibbons

District 5 Representative

Audrey Gibbon is a past chair of the Glynn Dems and currently serves on the Board of Education for District 5.

Meet our At Large Committee members

Julie Jordan-Post 1

Julie was elected At Large Representative in December 2022.

Julie is also a Democratic Party of Georgia State   Committee member, representing Glynn County. She was the   Democratic candidate for the Georgia State House for District 179 in   2020. Julie was previously an at-large member of the Glynn County   Democrats, and a DPG State Committee Member. Other groups Julie   has been a member of or worked with are: the Selden Park Advisory Board, Women’s Voices of Glynn County, and Greening Georgia. Julie has lived in Coastal Georgia for more than 20 years. She worked as a counselor at Needwood Middle School and Glynn Middle School.

Jon Smith-Post 2

John is a retired public school administrator after having served as Director of Operations in Trotwood, Ohio for 13 years. Prior to that career he served in various business and finance positions for 24 years with General Motors Corp. John holds a bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance along with a masters in Human Resources Management.
John and wife Deborah are proud parents of 4 daughters and 10 grandchildren. They purchased a home on St. Simons in 2016, and after 6 years of “snowbirding” between here and Ohio, made the Golden Isles their permanent home in 2022.

John began his volunteer voyage at an early age, serving on various neighborhood boards and committees. Later he entered politics, and was elected to the local School Board, serving 10 years total; 5 of those years as board president. His community service also included stints with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and multiple county organizations in Ohio. John looks forward to getting up to speed on the issues of Glynn County residents and working with the Democratic Party to achieve results for citizens. John was elected to the board in July 2024.

Rich Selzer -Post 3

After Graduating from Drake University in Des Moines, Rich spent 25 years in medical and HR sales in Iowa and Georgia.  In 1996 he moved to Snellville, GA and in 2005 he started his own repair and remodeling business. He is also a licensed real estate agent for Virtual Properties in Duluth, GA. 

Rich and his wife Sharon, along with Sharon’s mom, retired to the Golden Isles in July of 2022.  Rich and Sharon have 3 children. Adam is in Chicago, IL, Eli is in Los Angeles, CA and Cassidy is in Lilburn, Ga. Rich was elected to the At Large position in July 2024.

Nathan Russo -Post 4

Nathan was elected to the Committee in July 2024.

Diane Elder -Post 6

Born into a Missouri family with one Democrat and one Republican at the dinner table, debating politics was a regular event. Diane is an educator at heart who taught 7 years of middle school, 11 years of university, and presented endless in-services on topics from food safety to the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Dr. Elder moved to Georgia in 2001 to work as a contractor at the CDC in Atlanta and on to Brunswick in 2010. Diane has been a volunteer at Fort King George, the McIntosh Art Association, and the Glynn Library in downtown Brunswick. From the 1960s through today, she has advocated for women’s rights economically, reproductively, and maternally.  Her education includes a B.S. from The University of Nebraska, a M.S. from The University of Iowa, and a PhD from Texas Woman’s University. While acquiring her degrees, Diane reared two children and now has four grandchildren. Dr. Elder believes all Americans have a responsibility to protect and promote Democracy. Diane was elected to the Committee in July 2024.

Meet our Special Representative Committee members

Penny Hennessey

Voter Protection Committee Chair

Teresa DeSimone

Office Committee Chair

Terry Was elected to the Committee in July 2024.

Joyce Kitchens

Parliamentarian

Joyce E. Kitchens was appointed Parliamentarian of the GlynnDems by Chair Olga McKenzie in 2024.    She graduated from the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia, and was admitted to practice with the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1982. 

She has volunteered for a number of non-profit organizations such as serving as National President of the Federal Bar Association, President of the Federal Bar Building Corporation, member the personnel committee of  Covenant Presbyterian Church, Vice-Chair of the AIDS Athens Board, member of the Board for the Athens Community Council on the Aging, member of the Board of Friends of Five Points (Athens, Georgia), National Employment Lawyers Association, American Civil Liberties Union, Interfaith Volunteer Lawyers, and Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (Atlanta).

Education

Bar Admissions

State Bar of Georgia

Memberships

Georgia Democratic Party Officials
1st Georgia Congressional District
Jay Jones, chair

Representatives on Glynn County Board of Elections
Keith Rustin – Chair
Ward Schaumberg – Secretary

State Committee Members

Rich Selzer

Julie Jordan