J.L. Mealer of Mesa is the First Arizona Americans Elect Party Candidate to File for Governor, Party Leader Trey Young Announces

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz., May 3 -

Arizona Americans Elect Party leader Trey Young today called a press conference to announce that the party's first gubernatorial candidate has filed.  

J.L. Mealer, a Mesa business leader and sportsman, is one of three candidates to have filed formal declarations of candidacy for Governor in 2014 with the Arizona Secretary of State's office, along with former Arizona Board of Regents Chairman Fred DuVal, a Democrat, and ex-Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, a Republican.

"We in the Americans Elect Party are proud to have one of the first candidates for Governor of any party to be in our 2014 primary," said Mr. Young, flanked by other party leaders, including First Vice-Chairwoman Buffy Lehman Auchincloss, his aunt, and party Treasurer Dr. Irina Tereshkova, his girlfriend.  "We are expecting Mr. Mealer to run a dynamic, progressive race and we're looking forward to hearing the ways he will protect the rights and fortunes of Arizona's silent majority who've been ignored by our current right-wing Republican governor and legislature."

"We're confident he'll help the Americans Elect Party fight the Tea Party scum who've turned Arizona into a shithole," Dr. Tereshkova added.  "Mr. Mealer will appeal to those Arizonans who own catheters, colostomy bags, authentic replicas of Obama’s original Kenyan birth certificate, adult diapers, bomb shelters, survivalist manuals, Ayn Rand coloring books and souvenir Krugerrands -- and in this state, that's a majority of the voters."

Jaden Parascandola and Myrtle Willoughby Named Co-Chairs of Maricopa County Americans Elect Party

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz., Apr. 29 -

Jaden Parascandola and Myrtle Willoughby have been named as co-chairs of the Maricopa County Americans Elect Party by Trey Young, Supreme Leader of the Arizona Americans Elect Party, the state's fastest-growing 2014-ballot-qualified political party.

"The party is now big enough so that we can have county affiliates," Mr. Young, 26, a Scottsdale entrepreneur, said at a press conference today in Paradise Valley at the party's new headquarters, which coincidentally is also the home of Mr. Parascandola, stepbrother to Mr. Young, and his girlfriend Ms. Willoughby.

Mr. Parascandola is a lacrosse player, blogger and art collector who holds a B.A. from Swarthmore College.  Ms. Willoughby is an attorney who serves as staff counsel to the Très Jeune corporation, the holding company for Mr. Young's media, restaurant, and related business interests.

"We are excited to have Jaden and Myrtle heading our Maricopa County local party," said Mr. Young.  "They'll do a great job and are already planning a gala party for our party, putting it well on its way to becoming the cool political party for the Valley of the Sun's elite voters." 

Both Mr. Parascandola and Ms. Willoughby are active members of the Arizona Campaign to End Gun Violence. They hope to use their positions to support the Arizona Americans Elect Party's goal of achieving legislation to regulate dangerous firearms so as to prevent future mass shootings such as those at Sandy Hook, Tucson, Aurora, and elsewhere.

Buffy Lehman Auchincloss Elected First Vice-Chairwoman of the Arizona Americans Elect Party

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz., Apr. 28 -

Buffy Lehman Auchincloss, 93, the philanthropist and longtime social activist, today was elected First Vice-Chairwoman of the Arizona Americans Elect Party, the state's fastest-growing political party which will be on the ballot in 2014.

Ms. Auchincloss, a former fashion designer and airplane pilot who created scholarships for graduate students interested in studying feminist and environmental issues, lives in Paradise Valley, and also maintains homes in Palm Springs, Manhattan and Bermuda.  She has agreed to help raise substantial funds for the Arizona Americans Elect Party, according to Trey Young, the party's leader and her great-grandnephew, who announced her election.

"Aunt Buffy taught me so much about progressive politics, fashion and haute cuisine when I was growing up," Mr. Young said in a statement.  "I'm going to keep learning from her.  It is fabulous to have her at my side as we lead the Arizona Americans Elect Party into the next election."

Dr. Irina Tereshkova Selected as New State Treasurer of the Arizona Americans Elect Party

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz., Apr. 27, 2013 - 

Dr. Irina Tereshkova was today named Treasurer of the Arizona Americans Elect Party, one of Arizona's ballot-qualified political parties, and since its electoral debut last year, the fastest-growing party in the state. 

Dr. Tereshkova, 27, of Phoenix, was selected by the party's new Supreme Leader, Trey Young, who took office last night after winning a a leadership fight. She is also the Chief Financial Officer of Très Jeune, the holding company for various restaurant, media and financial enterprises of Mr. Young, who is also her fiancé. She graduated magna cum laude from Sarah Lawrence College and received her Ph.D. in art history from Stanford University. 

Mr. Young, 26, of Scottsdale, said he intends to make changes in the structure of the Arizona Americans Elect Party and part of that was bringing in someone versed in finance to be the group's first Treasurer.   Dr. Tereshkova also serves on the Board of Directors of The Buzzgawk Fund, the hedge fund where Mr. Young is managing partner.

"I'm sure Irina will do a magnificent job in terms of fundraising for Arizona Americans Elect," said Mr. Young. "Previously, the party was getting off the ground and we didn't pay much attention to money. But Dr. Tershkova can start the ball rolling in getting more high-powered donors to contribute to the party's coffers for the coming 2014 state and congressional elections." 

Richard Grayson, the party's Artistic Director, also praised Dr. Tereshkova from his hospital room at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, where he is being treated for a concussion. "Irina is filled with new ideas about how to raise money for the party," Grayson said. "I'm looking forward to seeing what she has mind to make the Arizona Americans Elect Party more effective."

In another change for Arizona Americans Elect, the party headquarters was moved during the night from Mesa to Paradise Valley and is temporarily being housed at the home of Jaden Parascandola, Mr. Young's stepbrother.