Candidate for
Member, Democratic Party County Central Committee; County of San Diego; Assembly District 76

Jess Durfee has been active in Democratic Party politics for 19 years, the past 11 of those in San Diego.

He had a fifteen year career as a high school teacher and administrator. During his tenure as a teacher he served as a negotiator and president for his local teachers union and served at the state and national level as a political action leader within his union. While teaching he took leaves of absence to serve as a political field director for the National Education Association and Washington Education Association and to serve as a congressional aide for education and labor issues on Capital Hill.

Since coming to San Diego he has been a full-time activist. He is currently the Chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party. During his tenure as chair, the SDCDP has developed a five year strategic plan which is now being implemented. Key components of that plan include the Grassroots Organizing program (GO Team), restructuring of the Central Committee governance system and bylaws, improvements to the internal and external communications program, redesigning the fundraising program and developing a system for candidate recruitment and support.

Jess held several positions with the San Diego Democratic Club where he served as president from 2001 through 2004. He has been on the executive board of the San Diego County Democratic Party since 2002. He served two years as Director of Clubs. Mr. Durfee has been a member of the California Democratic Party Executive Board since 1999. In 2000 he served as the field director for Councilmember Toni Atkins' successful run for the San Diego city council.

Jess lives in the San Diego neighborhood of University Heights.