Alison Jones, chair of the Pima County Democratic Party (PCDP), announced today that former U.S. State Department Public Diplomacy Officer and Tucson native Joshua Polacheck is PCDP’s new Executive Director.
He replaces Cat Ripley, who is running for the Pima Community College Board of Governors.
“My focus is on electing Democrats in November as well as fundraising, party-building and strengthening PCDP’s ties with traditionally underrepresented communities,” Polacheck said. “I believe this election is about the soul of our city, our county, our state, our nation. People are suffering and losing faith in our institutions. We have a unique opportunity this November as the Democratic Party to earn back the voters’ faith.”
Jones said that Polacheck “comes to PCDP with wonderful communication and organizational skills. His 17 years as a commissioned Foreign Service Officer in the State Department will be a valuable asset to the party, our candidates for office and the community at large.”
Jones said she is “grateful for all that Cat Ripley has done for PCDP. Her background as a Naval officer and diplomat were critical to her success as Executive Director. She instituted operating procedures that make our organization more professional and effective. She was a formidable fundraiser, and we are grateful to be on sound financial footing because of her efforts. I cannot thank her enough, and personally, I will miss her. She is one of those people who makes things happen, and I am sure she will be an effective member of the Pima Community College Board of Governors.”
Ripley said, “I would like to convey my most sincere gratitude to the Pima County Democrats, and especially to our chair, Alison Jones, whose strong leadership and inspiration guided us all through a tremendously important and busy year gearing up to 2020! It was a pleasure and honor serving our party and community. We still have much work left to do, and I am pleased to leave you in good hands.”
CONTACTS: Alison Jones 520.326.3716 alison@pimadems.org Joshua Polacheck 520.326.3716 Joshua@pimadems.org