Democratic Committee of Dormont

Amie Downs, Chair

Amie Downs is Chair of the Democratic Committee of Dormont and is also the District 5 Committee Woman. She has been a resident of Dormont since 2012 and has been involved in the Democratic Committee since 2016. Amie works for a communications and government relations firm, serves on borough council, and is involved in a variety of organizations and boards in her spare time. She first joined committee because there had been a great deal of conflict over a primary and she wanted to see Democrats come back together in this community. Today, it’s even more important than ever to her that continue to build and grow the party here, while supporting Democratic candidates. She has stayed involved because of her belief that we can address difficult issues by working together, thereby having a significant impact on the future we all see.

Toby Greenwalt, Vice Chair

Toby Greenwalt is Vice Chair of the Democratic Committee of Dormont and is proud to represent the 10th District. This is Toby’s second term on the committee. He moved to Dormont in 2014 with his wife and son, and they like it so much they ended up having another kid! Toby has worked as a technologist in public libraries, using data, design, and empathy to help bring communities together. (All of which are also important to good government!) Toby is the founder of social impact consulting firm Flywheel Strategies, and can often be seen in the neighborhood walking Mildred Bonk, the world's worst dog.

Kate Ledford, Secretary

Kate Ledford is originally from Rhode Island and moved to Dormont with her husband and young daughter. Before becoming a mom, Kate worked in higher education but is now raising her daughter full-time. She is an active volunteer with the local Moms Demand Action chapter and is passionate about gun violence prevention. She has volunteered and worked on a variety of campaigns, enjoys voter outreach, and hopes to help others get involved any way they can.

Brent Wasko, Treasurer

Brent Wasko is one of two members representing District 9 on the Democratic Committee of Dormont. Galvanized by then-candidate Barack Obama’s plan to improve health care, Brent first became involved in politics in 2007, when he volunteered to help the future President’s campaign. He registered voters, made phone calls, and distributed materials door-to-door. The experience inspired him to continue fighting for Democratic candidates who passionately believe as he does — that we need to improve health care, fix our infrastructure, protect our environment, and reduce income inequality. Brent is a former newspaper reporter and editor. He now works as the Public Information Officer for the Allegheny County Department of Public Works. The Kansas native has lived with his wife, Emily, in Dormont since 2012, and they have a young son, Desmond.

Lauren Shifler

Lauren Shifler is the District 1 committee woman. She and her husband live on Voelkel Avenue. After first being appointed to committee, Lauren ran for a committee seat because she believes being involved in our community is crucial when it comes to enacting positive change. Elections are so important and endorsing democratic candidates in these elections is something she believes can improve the lives of those living in our area.

Josh Snyder

Josh Snyder and his partner have been residents of Dormont for over 7 years. Josh loves it here, from the shops on Potomac/West Liberty to the community garden to Dormont Park.  As such, he wants to participate in our community in a way that will help it thrive so that his growing family can enjoy this great neighborhood too.  One of the ways to do that is supporting and furthering the policies of local Democratic candidates, politicians, and policies, which is why he joined the committee.

James Olchowski

James and his wife recently moved to Dormont and fell in love with it immediately! He joined the Democratic Committee because he wanted to find a group of people dedicated to making this an even better place to live and he believes the committee is a great place to help some great people making positive changes.

Jessica “Jess” Yoest

Jessica "Jess" Yoest, a native of Dormont, has built her career in the field of learning and development. Her commitment to the Democratic party stems from her belief in the importance of accessible, high-quality education for all, regardless of age. She is thrilled to serve on the Democratic Committee of Dormont, viewing it as a platform to connect with her community, comprehend their needs, and champion their causes. For Jess, committee membership is not just a responsibility, but a means to actively participate in and contribute to the democratic process.

Amie Downs

Amie Downs is Chair of the Democratic Committee of Dormont and is also the District 5 Committee Woman. She has been a resident of Dormont since 2012 and has been involved in the Democratic Committee since 2016. Amie works for a communications and government relations firm, serves on borough council, and is involved in a variety of organizations and boards in her spare time. She first joined committee because there had been a great deal of conflict over a primary and she wanted to see Democrats come back together in this community. Today, it’s even more important than ever to her that continue to build and grow the party here, while supporting Democratic candidates. She has stayed involved because of her belief that we can address difficult issues by working together, thereby having a significant impact on the future we all see.

Christian Rieger

Chris Rieger is currently a member of Dormont Borough Council and an attorney in solo practice, specializing in bankruptcy, debt relief, and consumer protection. He also does volunteer work with Just Harvest in Pittsburgh. As a former Congressional candidate and someone who had previously served on the Butler County committee, Chris ran because he believes in registering, engaging, and mobilizing Democrats in order to elect like-minded individuals up and down the ballot to enact positive, substantive change in our communities. He lives on Belrose Avenue with my wife Tracy and son Darrow.

Beth Dabruzzo

Beth has been living in Dormont for 22 years with her husband Jim. Both of her boys graduated from Keystone Oaks High School & both still live locally. Beth is a lifelong Democrat & has been active on the Committee & has been a prolific volunteer for numerous Democratic campaigns. Beth is retired but enjoys volunteering for the Dormont Free Pantry. Beth's other interests are cooking, baking, & gardening. 

Jim Dabruzzo

Jim Dabruzzo is a 20-year Dormont resident who has voted in every election since 1992. An active volunteer and member of committee, Jim works at an area hospital in its imaging department.

Erin Anderson

Erin Anderson has lived in Dormont since 2020. She was drawn to the close-knit neighborhoods of Dormont and has loved living here for the past 4 years. She is currently studying for my Master in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh and is passionately in support of the responsible dissemination of transparent and accurate information. After volunteering for Pennsylvania Democrats in 2020 and 2024, she wanted to continue to advocate for Democratic principles in her own community. She’s looking forward to working on this committee to help make Dormont a thriving and inclusive environment for everyone who lives here.

Ian Anderson

Ian Anderson has been a Dormont resident since 2023 after graduating from Washington & Jefferson College. He works as a writer and life insurance broker, in his spare time being active with the Battle of Homestead Foundation. He is currently working on a book theorizing modern applications of political strategy during Huey Long’s tenure in Louisiana. He first became interested in politics after volunteering for the 2008 Obama campaign with his parents in Washington County. After working as a regional organizer for the Biden/Harris campaign, he decided to get involved at the local level and work towards electing Democrats to combat economic inequality and climate change. He lives in District 7 with his wife, Riley.

Michael Jarrett.

Michael Jarrett moved to Dormont in 2021 and lives on Peermont Avenue. He’s originally from the South Hills area, but spent much of the last decade in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Pittsburgh drew him back in 2020 and he couldn’t be happier that he ended up in such a vibrant community. His interest in politics started during the 2000 presidential election when he was in fourth grade and had the opportunity to meet Vice President Al Gore during a family vacation in Philadelphia. He’s been a political junkie (and a Democrat!) ever since and he’s thrilled to be a member of the Dormont Democratic Committee representing District 8. He’s passionate about elected officials who want to combat the effects of climate change, reduce gun violence, support the LGBTQ+ community, and work toward a more equitable society for EVERYONE in the country. He currently works in the sustainability field and as an adjunct professor of political science at Duquesne University.

Daniele Ventresca

Daniele Ventresca was born and raised in Dormont. After living in another area of the county for a few years, she returned to raise her family here. She and her husband are the proud parents of three boys. She is a mental health professional and a licensed social worker. She is also privileged to be a member of Dormont Borough Council and currently serves as its president pro tempore. This is her ninth year in office. Daniele first got involved in the Democratic Committee to reenergize the committee and its advocacy in this borough. She is excited to see a committed, active group of people involved this year and look forward to seeing everything this group does.

Brent Wasko

Brent Wasko is one of two members representing District 9 on the Democratic Committee of Dormont. Galvanized by then-candidate Barack Obama’s plan to improve health care, Brent first became involved in politics in 2007, when he volunteered to help the future President’s campaign. He registered voters, made phone calls, and distributed materials door-to-door. The experience inspired him to continue fighting for Democratic candidates who passionately believe as he does — that we need to improve health care, fix our infrastructure, protect our environment, and reduce income inequality. Brent is a former newspaper reporter and editor. He now works as the Public Information Officer for the Allegheny County Department of Public Works. The Kansas native has lived with his wife, Emily, in Dormont since 2012, and they have a young son, Desmond.

Melissa Reinert

Melissa Reinert has been a life-long Democrat, even encouraging her parents to vote Democratic when she was seven years old! Melissa has participated with the Democratic Committee of Dormont for several years now. She wants to support voter engagement and encourage everyone to participate in the process. It's critical to vote blue up and down the ticket each election to ensure access to health care, secure civil rights for all peoples, and respond to climate change, among many other current issues. Melissa has been a resident of Dormont since 2012. She resides on Earlsmere Avenue with her spouse, Jason, their three children, and their bearded dragon.

Brandon Ledford

Brandon Ledford lives on Grandin Avenue with his wife, Kate (also on the Committee), his two daughters, and their dog. They have lived in Dormont for four years and this is his fourth year being involved in the Democratic Committee. He’s the Senior Vice President of a national, public-sector consulting firm that works on issues of social impact and equity for his day job. Brandon is also on Dormont Council and leads the Public Safety, Building & Code Enforcement Committee. He fell in love with Pittsburgh as a young kid, as he was a rare cancer survivor treated at UPMC Children’s Hospital. He’s working on continuing to improve our business district and parks and is excited to support local Democrats in any way he can.

Associate committee members have the same goals and purposes of elected and appointed committee members. They are residents of districts that already have representation, or prefer greater flexibility related to committee meeting attendance and participation in events. Associate members may also vote on Democratic Committee of Dormont-only matters, with the exception of budgets and bylaws, and are active and engaged members of the DCD.

Jim Lamb - District 2

Jim has been in Dormont's District 2 since 1987. His family has been involved in Democratic campaigns for decades with various family members holding elected office, representing constituents at the local, state, and federal level.  A rehabilitation counselor and youth worker by formal training and experience, Jim runs a Pittsburgh nonprofit organization fostering educational, commercial, civic, and cultural links between Pittsburgh and the island of Ireland.  Jim also is a professional musician, performing in various venues across the region.  He lives with his wife, Ann, on Piedmont Avenue.  Their son, Ciaran lives and works in Pittsburgh. 

Emily Munson - District 5

Emily is a proud Army wife, and a loving mom to three lively young boys, and a dog mom. She’s a talented Business Analyst Consultant in the IT industry. A resident of Dormont for 15 years, she’s deeply connected to her community. Raised as a conservative, she later embraced a progressive perspective, a change she passionately stands by. Fiercely committed to social justice', she’s often found a rallies and marches working to enact meaningful change. Known for her unwavering advocacy, she keeps her family inspired and engaged in the fight for a better world.