Our moderator, Justin Butler, is MDP's Party Affairs Director. He started with the Party during the 2018 Coordinated Campaign and has served in various roles at MDP since then, including Field Organizer & Regional Organizing Director for CD-01, Deputy Organizing Director, and, most recently, as Organizing Director. A proud Easton native, you can find Justin enjoying the charming small towns of the Eastern Shore when he isn’t traveling across Maryland supporting our County Parties and Democratic Clubs.

Mayor John Carroll was first elected to office in 2013, serving as Council Member, Vice Mayor, and two terms as Mayor of the Town of Galena, located in Kent County on the upper Eastern Shore of Maryland. He is also the Immediate Past President of the Maryland Municipal League, serving as an Executive Board Member. During his tenure as President, Mayor Carroll visited all 160 incorporated cities, towns, and villages across the great state of Maryland. A feat not accomplished by any other previous President of the League. He believes this unique opportunity to meet with the diverse set of elected leaders across the state in a non-partisan fashion, and to listen to their unique stories, struggles, and successes allowed him to better advocate for their needs in both Annapolis and Washington DC. In addition to being Mayor of Galena, John also serves as the de facto city manager for daily Town operations and owns a real estate brokerage specializing in land development and corporate owned properties. In his free time, John enjoys boating on the Chesapeake Bay, traveling to new places, and making new friends.

Ashley Kaiser resides in Centreville with her husband, Harry and their children, Zebulon and Finnegan. Ashley has been a member of the Centreville Town Council since 2021 and currently serves as its President. A former Anne Arundel County Democratic Party Chair and 2014 graduate of Emerge Maryland, Ashley has been involved in politics and campaigns for many years. Professionally, Ashley works for a national non-profit in a multi-state government relations role and is admitted to the practice of law in Maryland.

Crystal Woodward, MPS, is a member of the QAC Democratic Central Committee, past president of the QAC Democratic Club, and the 2018 Democratic nominee for D-36 House of Delegates. Crystal is the Managing Director of Advocacy for the American Diabetes Association where she has advocated on behalf of people with diabetes for almost three decades, and is the author of many journal articles, studies, and other publications. Crystal and her husband, Kevin, live in Stevensville and are proud Eastern Shore natives. When not politicking, Crystal enjoys cycling, dancing, gardening, painting, and live theater and music.