March 15, 2005

SUE SWANTON NAMED DEMOCRATIC LEADER OF THE YEAR

At their January 26, 2005 Volunteer Recognition Dinner, the Monroe County Democratic Committee recognized Gates Town Leader, Sue Swanton, with the Local Committee Leader of the Year Award for 2004. Ms. Swanton was recognized for her work in rebuilding the Democratic Committee in Gates with over forty members representing the thirty-five election districts in the town. Her work is seen as the most noteworthy among local committee leaders in Monroe County. In a matter of some ninth months she rebuilt the organization, involving dozens of citizens, to make the local committee a vibrant force in local politics once again. The committee elected officers and established several standing sub-committees to continue the work of electing representatives to town government in Gates and Monroe County.

Also, at the Monroe County Democratic Committee's annual volunteer recognition dinner, Gates Town Committee member, Norma Polizzi, was nominated for the Committee Person of the Year Award. Ms. Polizzi, a lawyer with Jaeckle, Fleischmann and Mugel, was recognized for her significant contributions in reorganizing the Gates Democratic Committee.  She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Women's Leadership Council.

Tom Janowski, chairman of the Issues and Research Committee, is the co-founder of Democracy for America, Rochester Chapter.  The organization received the award for Activist Organization of the Year.  Tom was also nominated for Campaign Volunteer of the Year.

All of these local leaders were lauded for their volunteer work on behalf of the county's citizens to organize campaigns and provide voters with options in the upcoming local elections in the fall of 2005.

Contacts:
Sue Swanton - Gates Democratic Town Leader, 247-0142
Norma Polizzi - 899-2962