Officers

Kristine Switt moved to Levy County with her husband, Joe, in 1989, from New Jersey where she worked for several years at Merck, Sharpe and Dohme Research Laboratories in Rahway doing basic biochemistry research.

Kristine earned a M.S. in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida while working as the Plant Manager at a local Dunnellon manufacturing plant. She retired from that facility in 2018 after nearly 25 years, having achieved the position of Chief Operating Officer. In her position as C.O.O., her leadership emphasized a balance between profitability, the environment, and the health and safety of the workforce while complying with all regulations. She fought for employee benefits like higher-than-average local wages, paid sick leave, vacation, and holidays, and offered health insurance knowing that these benefits create a healthier, happier, more productive workforce.

Since retiring, Kristine became active in the various activities of the Levy County Democratic Party. She served as Secretary of the Democratic Executive Committee from 2020 to 2022, became President of the Democratic Women’s Club of Levy in 2021, and Chair of the Levy County Democratic Executive Committee in December of 2022.

In her new role as Chair, she hopes to expand the outreach to county Democrats and the party’s role in addressing the everyday concerns of all Levy residents while contributing to their achievements.

Johnette Ross is a native of Levy County, graduating from Bronson High School. She traveled back and forth from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she attended San Francisco State University and was awarded a certificate in Project Management. She worked many years as a Project Management Analyst for Pacific Gas & Electric. She also received an Advanced Certificate for the Executive Assistant (ACEA) and supported C-suite executives at various organizations, leaving Crux Informatics, Inc. in 2020. Although Johnette enjoyed the climate of the Bay Area, the commute became too much and she returned to home to her family and hometown.

Johnette has always believed that service to others is the most rewarding work she can do. Her dad taught her that "We’re blessed to be a blessing."

In the fall of 2022, Johnette agreed to take on the position of Vice-Chair for the Levy County D.E.C. Her nomination came about because of her dedication to the party as shown by her attendance at the meetings, her participation in elections as both an election worker and a Voter Protection volunteer, and her neighborhood canvassing on behalf of various causes and campaigns.

Johnette has recently become Levy Rural Manager of the Levy County Safe At Home Program. She works with a team of service-minded people helping low-income seniors acquire home modifications that will enhance their daily functions and safety at home.

Johnette enjoys church work, bowling, traveling, and spending time with family.

Mignon Adamavage Craig was born in Pennsylvania, moved to Florida at age 11 and to Levy County in 1980.  She has five children, five grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and two great-great granddaughters.

Mignon is a senior bookkeeper and a real estate broker. She is a charter member of the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of the Williston Library and the Williston Garden Club. She is President of Williston Chapter #912 AARP and has been a Tax Aide volunteer since 2007.

Mignon has been actively involved in politics since 1976 and a member and treasurer of the Levy County DEC since 2019. She has also been a poll watcher during several recent elections.

Larry Arbeiter and his wife Karen had been living in Illinois and then New York for many years, and in 2015 they bought a winter home near Chiefland, a few hours north of where Karen grew up in DeSoto County. They lived full-time in Florida during much of the pandemic.

After the 2016 elections, they became concerned that foreign and domestic enemies of democracy were collaborating to damage America’s political institutions.

In 2020, Larry became politically active for the first time, feeling an obligation to stand against the fear, bigotry, and disinformation being used to justify regressive tax, voting, and environmental laws, and to undermine the authority of science, the press, and the judicial and legislative branches of government.

After volunteering over the summer with many enthusiastic Levy County Democrats, he was proud to be asked to serve as state committeeman for the group.

In that role he joined in candidate training and advocacy, canvassing and voter registration and campaigning. He has been a member of the Chiefland task force and recently has been supporting the efforts of historian Dr. Marvin Dunn, who has been working to promote Florida’s Black History in the face of state government efforts to suppress it. For 2023-24 he will serve as DEC Secretary.

Larry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics & Astronomy from the University of Wisconsin and worked as a science writer and later Director of Communications at the University of Chicago, and then as Associate Vice President of Communications at the University of Rochester in New York. In retirement, he is interested in helping to restore our true democratic and community values, and to pursue his hobbies of astronomy, music, and woodworking.

Stacey Peters is a native Floridian, as is her husband, Brandon and their five children. As a native, Stacey believes that Florida needs to find a political balance.

“There is a real sense of political distrust and hopelessness in our communities, one that can be remedied by electing trusted people with a good track record. Simply put, we need to get back to basics, engage with folks in our community and hear what’s on their minds. We need to build and in some cases rebuild relationships based on trust so we can overcome the rhetoric, stand together and get good things done for each other, our communities and our State.”

Stacey Peters works with several counties in her role as the chair of the Florida Democratic Small County Coalition (fldemsscc). She is dedicated to working hard on team building within the SCC and statewide to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to elect trusted leaders. Stacey believes that winning is all about infrastructure, relationships and getting out of our “silos” ... because real power comes from sharing power.

Stacey and Brandon, joined by other Democrats, reestablished the Levy County DEC. They also chartered the first ever Democratic Woman’s Club in Levy County in late 2018 - early 2019. She learned quickly that dedicated, rural Democrats often live in fear. Organizing a Democratic Party presence in her community has restored strength to the hands of the people — where it belongs.

Empowering our communities is what drives Stacey to keep pushing. Georgia didn't turn blue overnight. That achievement came about because hard working Democrats engaged consistently for years to build relationships and empower their communities.

 

Joe Switt came to Levy County in 1989 where he and his spouse purchased an 80-acre farm to raise cattle and horses.

Joe earned a B.S. in Animal Science from Michigan State University in 1969 after being released from active duty as a sergeant in the Marines. During his military career he was stationed at Marine Barracks, Washington D.C., as part of the Ceremonial Presidential Guard and security detachment of Camp David.

After his college, he spent several years in real estate development, management, and brokerage for large corporations and in private practice. For 15 years he was employed by the city of Ocala as its real estate officer and he was responsible for all real estate acquisitions, disposal, and eminent domain procedures.  This gives him a unique knowledge of local government operations.  After retiring from the city in 2008 he pursued his second passion as a licensed auctioneer.

In 2015 he was asked to return to the city of Ocala on a part-time basis to work with the city manager and growth management director on many diverse projects, including affordable housing, economic development, and downtown redevelopment.