Board Members
Marna Sanford
Co-President - 2023-2024 - Officer
Marna Sanford is a lifelong Alaskan and self-proclaimed civics nerd. She works with Alaska Tribes in policy development, advocacy and implementation, and is an attorney with years of litigation experience. Marna spent over a decade working for indigent Alaskans as a public defender and guardian ad litem. She enjoys cross country skiing and is an avid reader.
Sue Sherif
Co-President - 2023-2024 - Officer
Sue has served as president or co-president of both LWVTV and the state League. Voter education events and collaborations with other community groups are at the center of her LWVTV activity. She shares a legacy of League activity with her late mother and sisters. After a long career in all types of libraries, Sue retired as head of Library Development for the Alaska State Library, a position that involved extensive travel throughout Alaska.
Helenmarie Matesi
Vice President - 2023-2024 - Officer
I have been a member of the LWVTV for approximately 10 years. Born in St Louis Missouri I grew up during the civil rights era and as part of a family seeking racial equality, participating in the movement from a very young age. I moved to Alaska in 1976 and as a black American Alaskan women it is my belief that voting is the most powerful peaceful method we have for effecting change. LWV is a champion for the security of our right to vote. I have served on the board, as a vice president and chair the Diversity Committee.
I love Alaska and here I have worn many hats, but the constant thread has been teaching. My students have ranged in age from three to eighty three. I have lived in the bush, retired from U of A and currently work with the NAACP Criminal Justice Committee. My newest interest is metal smithing.
David Weissman
Treasurer - 2022-2024 - Officer
Originally from the Philadelphia area, David was a partner of a 90-person engineering firm there before coming north. In 2008, he sold his shares and, with Ellen, moved to Alaska. It was supposed to be for two years, but they fell in love with Fairbanks and are still here. David worked for Design Alaska, retiring from there in 2017. He has been the volunteer treasurer for several local non-profit boards. David has always been interested and involved in the voting process, serving as a poll worker for his local voting district in PA and here in FNSB for many years. He is passionate about getting more people involved in elections and voting. His father said to him, as a child, “If you don’t vote, don’t complain.”
Diane Lyon
Secretary - 2023-2025 - Officer
I’m a 30+ year resident of Alaska. I’ve been a member of LWVTV for several years and this is my second term on the Board. When not volunteering for LWV and other organizations, I work part-time at Fairbanks Drama Association and help care for my two grandchildren. LWVTV is the best thing I’ve done for myself, giving me a chance to channel energy into issues of great importance to me.
Shari George
Past President = Web Master - Officer
Shari's career was in satellite image processing, remote sensing, and geographic information systems. Ventures into the Borough IT, distance education, Cooperative Extension and project management for a software development company kept things interesting. In League, she focuses on digital democracy, website management, hot topic organization and improving participation in local elections.
Phyllis Darrah
Director - 2023-2025
Phyllis Darrah joined the Tanana Valley League of Women Voters in 2018 and often refers to herself as a political junkie. She enjoys working on the candidate forums to keep the community informed and uses her sales abilities to encourage all people to vote. She has lived in Fairbanks for over 42 years and wants to see the Interior thrive and grow.
Sarah Evans
Director - 2022-2024
Sarah has lived in Fairbanks for the last eight years and joined the League of Women Voters of the Tanana Valley to remain apprised of current policies relevant to our borough, as well as advocate for the health and wellness of our community. Her favorite part of living in the Fairbanks North Star Borough is the shared spirit of adventure and passion for life in the interior.
Mary Galvan
Director - 2023-2025
Mary is an Alaska transplant, an Army Veteran, and a CPA. She assists the treasurer in financial record keeping for the LWVTV, checks the PO Box, and lends a hand when needed at League events.
Gayle Garrigues
Director - 2022-2024
Gayle Garrigues, born and raised in Alaska, has lived in Fairbanks since 1987. She has been a member of the LWVTV since 2019 and a board member since 2020. Gayle is a retired state prosecutor. She enjoys talking politics, gardening, and woodworking.
Bernardo Hernandez
Director - 2023-2024
Bernardo is retired from the Fairbanks North Star Borough Community Planning Department, where he worked as Deputy Director and Director for over twenty-five years. He has been on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters of the Tanana Valley for several years because he believes in the League’s mission of defending democracy and encouraging and empowering people to vote. Bernardo’s hobbies include cross-country skiing, playing guitar, and gardening.
Jean W. James
Membership - 2023- 24
Jean W James has been living in Alaska since 1982. She first came to Alaska with her sister in August 1964 from Ohio via the Alcan Highway in a VW Bug. Her background includes working in health care management and years in research administration preparing proposals, budgets, managing grants and field stations.
She has been a LWVTV member since the mid-80’s and the treasurer/ membership person from 2012-2023. Voter education is one of her top priorities. She has a wide variety of interests, including skiing, kayaking, walking, swimming, reading, and loves being by the water.
Janna Miller
Director - 2023-2025
Janna Miller has been a member of the League of Women Voters since shortly after reading Democracy in America by Alexander de Toqueville, which caused her to appreciate even more our unique and cherished system of government. She recently retired from a long career with Alyeska Pipeline and now enjoys taking OLLI classes, walking her dogs every day, playing her harmonica, and helping to educate voters.
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