Staff Directory

• Ilir Zherka - Executive Director
• Kevin Kiger - Communications & Development Director
• Eugene Dewitt Kinlow - Public Affairs Director
• Antonette E. Russell - Operations Director
• Jaline Quinto - Communications Manager
• Erica Spell - Public Affairs Associate
• Eli Zigas - Program Manager
• Kate Halloran - Administrative Assistant
• Jennifer Matson - Administrative Assistant
• Joel Donelan - Student Outreach Intern

Ilir Zherka - Executive Director

Ilir Zherka joined DC Vote as Executive Director in 2002. As Executive Director, Ilir leads DC Vote's national efforts to raise public awareness about DC's lack of voting representation in Congress, serves as the principal spokesperson for the organization, and manages the day-to-day operations.

Under his leadership, DC Vote has quadrupled in size, brought together a strong coalition of local and national organizations, and advanced DC voting rights legislation in the Congress for the first time in 30 years.

Ilir has testified before Congress and the DC City Council. He has made numerous appearances on local and national news programs and has served as a panelist for civic and academic programs focused on civil rights and equality. He currently serves as a Visiting Practitioner at Georgetown University's Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership.

Ilir brings award-winning leadership to DC Vote. In 2007, the Meyer Foundation recognized Ilir with an Exponent Award. As Executive Director, he has also received the Human Rights Community Award, the Vote Civic Leadership Award, and the Community Service Award, among others. Under his leadership, DC Vote was recognized with the Letelier-Moffitt Memorial Human Rights Award, the Urban League's Whitney M. Young Jr. Leadership Award, the Golden Dot Award, and the PACE Award.

Before joining DC Vote, Ilir was Co-founder and the first Executive Director of the National Albanian American Council (NAAC). NAAC is dedicated to promoting democracy and human rights in the Balkans. As President, Ilir led NAAC's advocacy and public relations campaign and helped convince the Clinton Administration to intervene during the Kosovo War. NAAC also helped secure peace in Macedonia through constitutional reforms. Additionally, Ilir created the Hope Fellowship Program which trained women leaders from the Balkans.

Before joining NAAC, Ilir promoted worker rights issues while at the US Department of Labor, where he served as a Senior Legislative Officer to Secretary Alexis Herman. Ilir also served as National Director for Ethnic Outreach for the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign in 1996, and was Legislative Counsel to Congressman George Miller (D-CA) for labor, judiciary, and foreign policy issues. Between 1992 and 1993, Ilir was an IREX Fellow in Albania.

Ilir Zherka graduated with distinction from Cornell University and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. He is married to Linda Kinney. They have two children.

Kevin Kiger - Communications & Development Director

Kevin joined DC Vote as Communications Director in March 2003. While at DC Vote, he has managed the creation of DC Vote's award-winning brand including its award-winning Web site and award-winning national public awareness campaign. His day-to-day responsibilities include developing and producing educational and promotional materials for the organization; working with coalition partners on advocacy and outreach projects; promoting DC Vote, its mission, and its events in the media; managing DC Vote's online presence and planning strategic communications efforts.

Having played an important role in securing foundation and other financial support for DC Vote's educational and outreach activities, Kevin added development to his official responsibilities in March 2008.

Inspired as a volunteer with DC Vote during Freedom Summer 2001, Kevin and a partner founded Monumental Impact Media, Inc. (MIM), to provide communications and media support to DC Vote and other non-profit organizations. While a partner at MIM, Kevin worked with DC Vote to help develop, plan and manage the DC Vote Champions of Democracy Awards, 2001 and 2002; plan and execute the 2002 DC Vote Tax Day Protest and Bonfire; and promote activities such as the DC flag redesign, the Declaration of Reunification with Great Britain and the Rally of the Hanging Chads. Through creative interaction with the media, Kevin and MIM helped bring the DC Vote message to millions of households around the world.

Kevin, an Ohio native, graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, in 1992. He studied in Europe for two years and worked in infectious disease research for several years before moving to Washington. Living in the nation's capital, he managed clinical trials and other research for the National Institutes of Health prior to working in communications. Kevin holds a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the George Washington University.

Eugene Dewitt Kinlow - Public Affairs Director

As Public Affairs Director for DC Vote, Eugene Dewitt Kinlow is principally responsible for managing the more than 85 organizations that are part of the DC Vote Coalition and recruiting new organizations and individuals to our cause. Eugene also oversees DC Vote’s efforts to engage residents in the greater DC area and is our principal liaison to local officials.

Immediately prior to joining DC Vote, Eugene served as principal of Kinlow & Associates, a community relations company, and was a Management Fellow at the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization. In 2004, Eugene was a Field Coordinator for Florida Victory 2004 and for 10 years served as the Legal Information Specialist for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In 2002, he ran for an at-large seat on the DC City Council.

Eugene is a native Washingtonian. He is a graduate of Ballou High School and received his BA from the University of the District of Columbia in Business Administration in 1987.

Eugene is deeply committed to improving the quality of life in his home town and is deeply involved in many local organizations. He serves as a Trustee and is Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia. Eugene is also a Board member and Vice Chairperson of the Washington East Foundation; an advisor to the Sierra Club’s Environmental Justice Program; and is President Emeritus of the Ward 8 Democrats. He is a columnist, photographer and editorial advisory member for the East of the River Community Newspaper and a member of the Mayor’s Environmental Council.

Antonette E. Russell - Operations Director

As DC Vote's Operations Director, Antonette E. Russell is responsible for financial management and administration. Antonette maintains the accounting system, provides budget reports and financial reports for grants to the Executive Director and monitors the results against budget. She also oversees the legal compliance of DC Vote’s finances and operations, maintains insurance policies, coordinates payroll, and administers benefits.

Prior to becoming DC Vote’s Operations Director, Antonette was first an intern and later the organization’s part-time Financial Consultant. Her other experiences include interning for Washington DC elected officials, The Hill newspaper and for the Assistant Corporation Counsel of Washington DC.

As a third and fourth generation Washingtonian, Antonette and her family have long endured the affects of having no representation in Congress; however, she has been dedicated in advocating for congressional representation for District residents. She is an active community participant in her neighborhood by being the ANC Commissioner for 6B09 (currently serving her second term) and the President of the Barney Circle Watch Association.

Antonette has a B.A in English Arts from Hampton University and she recently completed a joint Masters Degree program at Regent University in Public Administration and Finance. The topic of her graduate thesis focused on the history and the continuing struggle for representation in Congress.

Jaline Quinto - Communications Manager

Jaline Quinto is originally from the "other Washington." A longtime resident of Seattle, Washington, she lived most recently in Massachusetts where she helped establish an alumni program for Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and also assisted the Director of Marketing and Communications during the organization’s $100 million campaign.

Previously, Jaline managed a successful campaign for a Washington State Representative, John McCoy, and assisted Speaker Frank Chopp in the Washington State Legislature. A graduate in communications and American Indian studies from the University of Washington, she also volunteers her time planning fundraising events for cancer charities.

As a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, Jaline feels that casting a vote is one of the most powerful ways for a disenfranchised population to express itself. She is passionate about securing full voting rights for the 600,000 residents of the District.

Erica Spell - Public Affairs Associate

As Public Affairs Associate for DC Vote, Erica is responsible for spearheading ongoing efforts to ensure the subject of DC voting rights is taught in DC Public Schools by visiting classrooms to help facilitate lesson plans, coordinating and expanding Students for DC Vote, and providing support to the Public Affairs Director in coalition outreach efforts.

A native of South Carolina, Erica moved to the DC area to attend Howard University where she received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science concentrating in International Relations in 2008. At Howard, Erica participated in numerous social justice and advocacy programs including Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans, LA, to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Engineers Without Borders, Howard university Chapter at a group home for girls ages 8-18 in Coclé, Panama. Erica's commitment to public service began while studying abroad in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where she volunteered for Instituto de Acción Comunitaria, a local nonprofit organization.

Erica is excited to be a member of the DC Vote team and is devoted to bringing democracy home to residents of the District.

Eli Zigas - Program Manager

Eli Zigas, Program Associate, helps with both the outreach and communications efforts at DC Vote. He has been involved with organizing media events to raise the profile of DC Voting Rights nationally and building coalitions with activists in other states.

Born and raised in the District, Eli is a proud graduate of Woodrow Wilson SHS. After high school, Eli worked for DC Vote as an executive assistant in 2001 before taking a cross-country gap-year journey. Afterward, he earned a B.A. in Policy Studies from Grinnell College. For his senior thesis, Eli examined the history of movements to expand democracy in the District of Columbia and conducted focus groups in Iowa studying how people outside Washington think about DC voting rights.

Before returning to DC Vote, Eli worked as Communications Manager for the Udall Legacy Bus Tour and as the Clean Energy Intern at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Eli looks forward to the day when DC residents have equal voting rights and he can happily remove the “Taxation Without Representation” bumper sticker from his ever-present water bottle.

Kate Halloran - Administrative Assistant

A native of Connecticut, Kate recently moved to the DC area to pursue a law degree. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.A. in anthropology, concentrating in the study of healthcare systems across cultures. Kate always has been active in efforts to raise awareness of political and social justice issues, from participating in United Nations simulations to registering college students to vote.

Kate was inspired to move to the nation’s capital after working as a summer intern for a local nonprofit organization, and is honored to be a member of the DC Vote team.

Jennifer Matson - Administrative Assistant

Originally from Massachusetts, Jen moved to the DC area after an internship at a local nonprofit organization. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in sociology, concentrating on social movements and the nonprofit sector. Her final senior project was a study of local nonprofit organizations in Burlington, Vermont where she focused on the efficiency of the development departments based on their internal structure.

Jen is excited about joining the DC Vote team and looking forward to a success for DC voting rights.

Joel Donelan - Student Outreach Intern

Joel joined the DC Vote team in June 2008. Originally from Michigan, Joel relocated to DC to attend Howard University. Where he participated in many movements for social change, such as Gentlemen’s Scholars and the Escape to Capstone program. During these initiatives he realized that advocating for social change was more than a hobby, it was a passion.

Before becoming a member of the DC Vote team, Joel served as a corps member with City Year Washington, DC. During His time with City Year, Joel taught tutored and mentored over 250 DC public school students in HIV/AIDS awareness, literacy, and math. It was during his time at City Year that he became aware of the lack of political representation in the District of Columbia and is very pleased to serve as a member of the DC Vote team.

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