GAD Officers

President

     Joanna Kay King has been a life-long Democrat.  She was born in Houston, raised in small Texas towns and graduated from the University of Texas in 1970.  Her father, Joseph Slavik, had a keen interest in politics which he passed on to his four children.  He was the oldest of eleven children from a Czech immigrant family and ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives in the early 1940’s, defeated by a narrow margin.

     Joanna’s interest in the political process intensified after graduating from South Texas College of Law in 1992 and practicing law in the criminal, family and juvenile courts.  She saw firsthand the effect of governmental policies, implemented by laws and statutes, which are the direct result of the controlling political philosophy.  Joanna is not only a licensed attorney but she also holds a Texas Teaching Certificate and has taught in alternative schools for over eight years, including four years at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center.  She is also a certified mediator, handling family, contract, and C.P.S. cases, and a licensed Texas Real Estate Agent. 

     Since 2003 Joanna has been the Democratic Precinct Chair for precinct 436 and has worked on several Democratic campaigns, most notably as campaign manager for Bill Connolly, the Judicial Candidate for the 315^th Juvenile District Court in 2006.  Joanna has been an active member of the Galleria Area Democrats since its inception.

Vice President

Michael Studdert brings close to 28 years of experience in Texas Democratic politics.   He has been involved in city (Houston), county and statewide campaigns serving in various levels of participation.

     Starting in 1983 Michael worked on the race for the office of Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, John Hill.  He was the media coordinator which involved media buys and management.  Michael was also the correspondence manager and assistant fundraiser.

      In 1985 Michael went work for the legendary U.S. Congressman J.J. “Jake” Pickle.

He worked in the press office as a researcher, preparing and organizing press releases and organizing data from throughout the Texas 10^th Congressional District.  He also traveled with the Congressman serving as travel aide.

     In 1988 Michael became the state wide fundraiser for the reelection of the Honorable Justice Raul Gonzalez to the Texas Supreme Court where his duties including traveling the state to organize the effort.  This also included coordinating the activities of various Political Action Committees and large law firms.

     In 2003 he became the campaign field director for Kathy Stone’s election to the State District Court.  Besides being the field director, he also was the Grass Roots coordinator and director of volunteers and ran the G.O.T.V. effort.

     From July through August he was a Grassroots/ field operative for the Kristi Thibaut race for the Texas .State House

     From September until the November elections of 2006 Michael became the field director for Charles (Chuck) Silverman’s race for the Civil bench in Texas where again he was responsible for coordinating the G.O.T.V. and volunteer effort.

      During this time he also pulled “double duty” serving in campaign of the Democratic Party’s nominee for Governor, Chris Bell as his deputy campaign treasurer.

    Michael spent six months (April-November 1007) in Iowa as the Democratic field director for Fair Tax.

     During the 2008 special election for Probate Court Number One he serve again as Judge Kathy Stone’s field director during the special nomination process and during the general electron.

     Following that from January 2009 through March 2010 he assisted Chuck Silverman in his race for the Harris County Civil District Bench.

     Beginning in March of 2010 he helped Judge Kathy Stone in her reelection bid for Probate Court One.