Lester F. Aponte is a lawyer and an activist. He is a native of Puerto Rico and a 30-year resident of Los Angeles. He is serving his second term as President of the Stonewall Democratic Club and previously served as its Community Vice President. In addition, he is the Southern California Co-Chair of the LGBT Caucus of the California Democratic Party and an elected delegate, representing the 46th Assembly District. In his professional life, he specializes in the representation and counseling of employers in all aspects of employment law. He received a B.A. degree in Political Science from Haverford College in 1986 and a J.D. degree from the Columbia University School of Law in 1989.
Steering Committee (2019-2021)
- Barbara Steelman: Chair, Budget
- Edward Stapleton: Vice Chair, Budget
- Adam Kroll: Chair, Endorsements
- Xenia Vidal: Vice Chair, Endorsements
- Andrea Lipton: Chair, Leadership Development and Appointments
- Daniel Halden: Chair, Legislative Action
- Sarah Pinjo: Vice Chair, Legislative Action
- Alex Mohajer: Chair, Public and Media Relations/Brand Management
- Karen Eyres: Chair, Political Action
- Alana Roshay: Vice Chair, Political Action
- Freddy Puza: Chair, Major Events
- Amy Wiwuga: Chair, Membership Recruitment and Events
- Corey Jentry: Chair, Program
- Mackenzie Hussman: Chair, Social Media and Web Site
- Marcus Lovingood: Chair, Stonewall Spotlight Podcast
- Anna Kozma: Chair, Email Marketing and List Communications
- Jonathan Welch: Chair, Produced Media
- Devin Adante: Chair of Major Events
- Jerome Kitchen: Chair, Constituency Outreach
- David Hunt: Chair, Credentialing & Membership Renewal
- Tran Le: Chair, Donor Cultivation and Solicitation
- Matthew Contreras: Chair, Pride Festivals
- Nadia Sutton: At-Large Member
- Tai Sunnanon: At-Large Member
- Jerilyn Stapleton: At-Large Member/DPSFV Liaison
- Alec White: At-Large Member
Stonewall Steering Committee Members on Local, County, or Statewide Boards or Commissions and LACDP, CADEM, and DNC State/ County/City Boards or Commissions
- John Erickson, Commissioner, City of West Hollywood Planning Commission; and Commissioner, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
- Edward Stapleton, Commission, City of West Hollywood Public Facilities Commission
- Karen Eyres, Board Member, City of West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board
- Brandon Milan, Vice Chair, City of West Hollywood Public Facilities Commission
- Tai Sunnanon, Board Member, City of West Hollywood Public Facilities Commission
- Rick Watts, Board Member, City of West Hollywood Disabilities Advisory Board
- A. Lee Walkup; Board Member, City of West Hollywood Senior Advisory Board
- Nadia Sutton, Board Member, City of West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board
- Alana Roshay, Board Member, City of West Hollywood Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board
- Garry Shay, Member, Dental Hygiene Committee of California
- Freddy Puza, Member, Culver City General Plan Advisory Committee
- Thom O’Shaughnessy, Commissioner, City of Glendale Audit Committee
- Thom O’Shaughnessy, Commissioner and Past-Chair, LA County Veterans Advisory Commission
Stonewall Leadership Academy Members (Past/Present)
- Andrew Reback, Commissioner, City of West Hollywood Human Services Commission
- Matthew Contreras, Member, University Student Union Board of Directors, California State University, Northridge
California Democratic Party
Executive Board
- Drexel Heard II
- Garry Shay
- Thom O’Shaughnessy
- Jerilyn Stapleton
Members, Democratic State Central Committee, i.e., delegates
- Brandon Milan (AD50)
- Drexel Heard II (AD39)
- Steve Bott (AD50)
- Jane Wishon (AD54)
- Jerilyn Stapleton (AD46)
- Lester Aponte (AD46)
- Garry Shay (AD45)
- Taylor Bazley (AD62)
- Thom O’Shaughnessy (AD43)
Committees
- Jerilyn Stapleton, Co-Chair, California Democratic Party Legislative Committee
- Garry Shay, Chair, California Democratic Party Rules Committee
- Garry Shay, Member, Compliance Review Commission, California Democratic Party
- Thom O’Shaughnessy, Caucus Chair, Irish American Caucus
- Thom O’Shaughnessy, Member, Organizational & Development Standing Committee
- Drexel Heard II, Member, Credentials Committee
- Jane Wishon, Member, Credentials Committee
Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP)
- Garry Shay, Parliamentarian, Los Angeles County Democratic Party
- Thom O’Shaughnessy, Controller, Los Angeles County Democratic Party
- Jerilyn Stapleton, AD46 Delegate to LACDP and Legislative Committee Member
- Democratic National Committee
- Garry Shay, Member, Executive Committee Democratic National Committee
- Garry Shay, Member, Democratic National Committee
Local Neighborhood Councils
- Marcus Lovingood, Area Wide Director, Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC)
Misc.
- Jerilyn Stapleton, CD4 Representative, City of Los Angeles Domestic Violence Alliance
- Jerilyn Stapleton, Executive Board Member, Democratic Party of San Fernando Valley (DPSFV)
- Ari Gutierrez, Co-Founder, HONOR PAC
- Ari Gutierrez, Co-Founder & President, Latino Equality Alliance
- Ari Gutierrez, Organizational Representative, Eastside LEADS (Leadership for Equitable and Accountable Development Strategies)
- Ari Gutierrez, Member, L.A. County Health Innovation Community Partnerships (HICP) (Appointed by Supervisor Solis)
- Ari Gutierrez, Member LAC+USC General Hospital Reuse Feasibility Study (Appointed by Supervisor Solis)