Our Mission

Electing Democrats to all levels of government from Coral Gables to the White House.

Our Story

Coral Gables Democrats are one of the most active and effective Democratic clubs in the county.

We are a group of passionate residents who first came together to get out the vote for local Democrats in 2016. This founding group of activists included former President Dawn Bowen, former Vice President Shed Boren, former Treasurer Richard Thurer, and current Vice President Jane Moscowitz.

We strongly believe that the character of our city is defined not only by its Mediterranean charm but by its friendly, hardworking residents who care about our freedoms, environment and good governance. It’s for the betterment of these residents’ lives and our surrounding communities — both ours and yours — for which we so tirelessly volunteer.

Meet The Board

Bentonne Snay

President

Bentonne Snay

Bentonne Snay has worked for Democratic and progressive causes and candidates since joining the 1972 NOW Miami-Dade board of directors. After joining the Coral Gables Democrats' board in 2017, she became secretary in 2018 and president in late 2019. Prior activities include Women for Obama in 2008 and 2012, as well as the 2016 Clinton campaign ...

Jane Moscowitz

Vice President

Jane Moscowitz

Jane grew up in Texas but moved north after she met Norman in 1967 when they were counselors at a Jewish summer camp in the Catskills. Her first career was as a computer programmer, but later she and Norman went to law school. After they graduated from Harvard Law School in 1977, she became a federal prosecutor first in Washington DC, then Baltimore and finally in Miami, having moved here in 1982 ...

Robin Peguero

Vice President

Robin Peguero

Peguero spent six years working in Congress, most recently as investigative counsel to the Committee Investigating the January 6th Attack on the Capitol and as chief of staff to a congressman. A first-generation American whose parents emigrated from Latin America, he graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School ...

Julie Samkoff

Treasurer

Julie Samkoff

Julie started her activism in her freshman year of college at a small all women's college. She then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master of science in social work from the Columbia School of Social Work. Her work life included direct work with people in need, program development, fundraising and executive leadership ...

Elizabeth Newman

Secretary

Elizabeth Newman

I am a retired lawyer from Washington, DC, where I specialized in security clearance appeals and other employment law cases. I am a graduate of Skidmore College and Georgetown Law. I spent a lifetime campaigning for Democratic candidates in New Hampshire (“Clean for Gene”), Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia ...

Janet Stearns

Parliamentarian

Janet Stearns

A lifelong Democrat and native New Yorker, Janet is a graduate of Yale University and its law school and is now the Dean of Students and Lecturer in Law at the University of Miami Law School. Janet is the past president of the Yale College Democrats, held elected office in New Haven, Connecticut, and has been employed by many Democratic campaigns over the years ...

Katie Aguirre

Board Member

Katie Aguirre

Katie was born and raised in Miami. She earned her Bachelors degree from Boston College and Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Florida International University. She is currently an occupational therapist supporting neurodivergent individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities ...

Gordon Dickinson

Board Member

Gordon Dickinson

Gordon M Dickinson, MD, joined the Coral Gables Democratic Club (CG Dems) in January 2023. I joined because the club offers me an opportunity to work with diverse people whose political ideals are like mine. I joined the CG dems board of directors in March 2025 ...

Fäde zu Grau

Board Member

Fäde zu Grau

Fäde Zu Grau is a German artist who lives in Coral Gables with his husband of over twenty years. He grew up in repressed East-Germany and escaped at the age of 19 to the free, western part of the country where he embarked on a graphic design career that would later lead him to an international life ...

Kristofer Hernandez

Board Member

Kristofer Hernandez

Kristofer is a Miami native with a lifelong commitment to Democratic and nonpartisan progressive activism. He studied Political Science at the University of Chicago with a focus on Electoral Politics. He has worked on many federal and local elections throughout his career, notably contributing to Senator Tammy Duckworth's first campaign for Congress and Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign for Indiana ...

Matt

Board Member

Matt

Matt joined the Coral Gables Democrats' board while serving as the UMiami Democrats' treasurer in 2023. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He is co-chair of the Communications, Security & Technology Committee.

Stephanie Kontzamanys

Board Member

Stephanie Kontzamanys

Stephanie is a native of Miami with New York roots and a strong connection to her Greek heritage. She approaches her projects and causes with creativity and heart—what the Greeks call Meraki. She is a passionate and committed advocate for democracy and seasoned philanthropist ...

Janet Nostro

Board Member

Janet Nostro

Janet is a devoted lifelong Democrat who volunteers in state, local and federal elections. After the 2000 elections of George W. Bush, she promised that she would work as hard as possible to make sure that a Democrat be elected to the White House. Janet was an active volunteer for Hillary Clinton and several other campaigns in 2016 ...

Martha Schoolman

Board Member

Martha Schoolman

Martha is a professor of US literature in the English Department at FIU and a lifelong progressive Democrat. A 1988 graduate of Palmetto High School, Martha returned to the area in 2014 to work at FIU. In politics, she particularly enjoys door-to-door canvassing. Outside of politics, she is active in Jewish Voice for Peace-South Florida and enjoys running and yoga. She lives with her wife and their teenaged daughter who attends M-DCPS ...

Monica Skoko Rodriguez

Board Member

Monica Skoko Rodriguez

Monica Skoko Rodriguez is a Miami-native, nurse leader, and organizer and works as the Director of Medical Standards at planned Parenthood Federation of America. In addition to the Coral Gables Democrats' board, she serves as secretary of the Florida abortion fund, Women's Emergency Network ...

Jarrett Soto

Board Member

Jarrett Soto

Jarrett Soto is a first-year student at the University of Miami majoring in Political Science with minors in Spanish and Exercise Physiology. Government and politics have been recurring themes in his life and guided his passions. He has worked on various campaigns and partisan organizations throughout his life to represent the message of the Democratic Party ...