OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES,
WHEN WE VOLUNTEER, WE WIN!!
At the Palm Coast Democratic Club, we are dedicated volunteers working to build an inclusive democracy in our community. Our different backgrounds guide our discussions and activities, empowering every voice in Flagler County. We believe in grassroots activism to drive change and create a space where ideas and friendships can grow. Join us in advocating for justice, equality, and progress, and find out how you can help shape a brighter future with fellow advocates.
Donna Harkins
President
Bio
I grew up in New York and received my bachelor’s degree from SUNY at Buffalo. My family moved to Palm Coast in 1998 and this is where we raised our 4 daughters. I worked for Flagler County Schools from 2009 until I retired in 2020. I have voted Democrat my entire life.
Dr. Federico Grosso
Vice President
Bio
I graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry and specialized in Pediatric Dentistry at
USC.
My wife, Dr. Ellen Harper and I practiced dentistry in partnership in Santa Barbara, CA.
After, a career-ending injury forced me to retire, I retrained. I graduated from Antioch
University in Santa Barbara with an MA in psychotherapy and became a licensed
marriage and family therapist. Ellen and I practiced in Santa
Barbara. I then obtained a PhD in psychology and expanded my practice to forensic
psychotherapist. My professional development included lecturing, authoring and
publishing textbooks, and consulting with attorneys regarding legal actions involving
psychotherapists.
Ellen and I moved to Palm Coast in 2005 and I continued my professional career by
authoring and publishing textbooks, providing educational lectures and consulting.
Now, we face threatening cultural and political challenges in our country that may
undermine democracy. I intend to contribute in order to combat these threats by serving
as vice president of the PCDC. I would like to integrate my enthusiasm and life
perspective to enhance the club’s outreach and expansion of the Democratic Party and
its influence in Flagler County.
Viviane Lindeolsson
Treasurer
Bio
have been the treasurer of the Palm Coast Democratic Club since 2017.
I was involved in planning many Democratic fundraisers and events in Flagler County.
I was born and raised in Waterloo, Belgium
Dr. Ellen Harper
Secretary
Bio
I grew up in the northeast but moved to California after college where I spent the
majority of my life. In California, I became a dentist, graduating from of UCLA School of
Dentistry. I practiced dentistry in Santa Barbara with my husband and partner, Dr Fred
Grosso, where I was the first woman to own her own Dental practice in the city.
After an auto accident which left me with a back injury, I retrained as a Marriage and
Family Therapist. Once again I practiced in Santa Barbara. My focus was on individual
and family interpersonal relationships and trauma.
Fred and I retired to Palm Coast 18 years ago. I have been a democrat most of my life
and am concerned about the undemocratic forces our country is facing. I hope to
contribute to protecting a healthy democracy by volunteering for Secretary of the PCDC.
I hope my unique life experiences and organizational skills will add to the club and the
Democratic Party of Flagler County.
Mary Lou Keener
Parlimentarian
Bio
In addition to the PCDC elected position above, Ms. Keener also serves as a member of the State Democratic Party Legislative Committee and Flagler County Precinct 31 Captain. Before retiring and moving to Palm Coast in 2005, her professional degrees in nursing and law provided her with unique cross-functional expertise and experience in law, healthcare, and executive management. She is a Navy Vietnam Veteran and a Retired Colonel in USAFR. She worked as a staffer on Capitol Hill, practiced law for several years in Atlanta, GA., and was honored to be nominated by President Clinton and confirmed by the US Senate as the General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs. She has received many awards, and appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees.
Jill Augustensen-Scott
Director
Bio
Registered Democrat all my life, enjoying politics with like-minded people from New Jersey.
Founded and served as the Office Manager of the Flagler Democratic Executive Committee in 2016-2020, Precinct Captain P-513, member of the Flagler Democratic Women’s Club, and former Officer of the Palm Coast Democratic Club overseeing Membership/Social Media/Fundraising.
Currently, serving PCDC as Board Member.
Dee Cocchiola
Director
Bio
Dee Cocchiola spent her working career in commercial and residential real estate sales and
commercial property management. Upon retirement, she moved to Palm Coast in 2003 with her husband Mike.
While “retired”, Dee served in many volunteer positions promoting the candidacies of
Democratic candidates for local, state, and national offices. In her spare time, she was elected
commodore of the Flagler Beach Yacht Club, vice president of the PCDC, and archivist of the
Flagler Bulls Investment Club. She also is an avid member of the local garden club.
In between her political and social activities, Dee spends her time mentoring her and Mike’s two
daughters – Rebecca and Amy, and her beloved granddaughter, Josie, She and Mike will
celebrate their 56th anniversary in May 2023.
Mark Reiter
Director
Bio
Semi-Retired after having been employed with Dentsply/Rinn and surviving cancer in 2016
Our family finally moved to Palm Coast from Northern Illinois in 2020 after dreaming about it for so long, I first visited Palm Coast in 1981. Yes it took 39 years to move here from that first visit and things have changed a bit, yet it’s still the same Palm Coast deep down that it was way back when.
Being part of the Palm Coast Democratic Club has allowed me to meet quite a few individuals from Palm Coast and Flagler County that share the same ideas and goals as well as other individuals who may not share those same objectives yet are still interested in what goes on around them in their community. I look forward to meeting and working with more individuals having the same ambitions for Palm Coast as well as our State and National interests.
Merrill Shapiro
Director
Bio
Activist and educator Rabbi Merrill Shapiro is a Past President of the National Board of Trustees of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU). He is the founding President of the Atlantic Coast Florida Chapter of AU and Chair of the Board of Directors of FlaglerLive.com.
Shapiro is the past president of the Flagler County Democratic Club, the Orlando Board of Rabbis, and the Flagler Area Ministerial Association. He currently serves as President of the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society.
Edith Campins
Director
Bio
I retired from ATT after 31 years as a Director of Marketing and have owned a home in Palm Coast since 1997. I have been a member of PCDC for a year. I am active in various community organizations such as the Corvette Club, Italian American Club, Giving Store, FRVP, Habitat and Friends of the Library. I would like to continue our board’s efforts to reach out to Democrats in Flagler County so we can be a more effective voice in our local government.
Lee Shaffer
Director
Bio
Lee Shaffer was born and grew up in Boise Idaho, then moved to Virginia finishing high school in Purcellville Virginia. He graduated from the University of Maryland.
Most of his work history was in finance as the Department of Veteran Affairs. He worked as a systems accountant for housing programs.
Although always interested in politics, his first volunteer activity was phone banking for Senator Carey’s campaign for the presidency in 2004. He has volunteered for every presidential campaign cents and the 2009 Governors race in Virginia. In these campaigns, he mostly was involved with voter registration and canvassing door to door. He moved to Florida in 2017 and joined the Palm Coast Democratic Club. He has been involved in all the political campaign since moving here. In addition to volunteering in the campaigns in 2019, he was appointed precinct captain in precinct 11 and then in 2020 elected coproducing captain in precinct 502.
Lee was elected to the Palm Coast democratic Board of Directors in 2020 then reelected in an expanded board in 2023