Colton Dean – Chair
Colton Dean has been a resident of Albuquerque since 1992 – minus three years (2002 – 2005) in Ventura, California, for college. Always having an interest in government, Colton had listened to conservative talk radio for years, but it never aligned with his principles. Upon discovering Air America radio around 2007 and listening to hosts Thom Hartmann, Randi Rhodes, and Norman Goldman, Colton discovered progressive issues were in line with his morals and values.
For fun, Colton enjoys reading state constitutions to compare how other “laboratories of democracy” have chosen to govern. Colton hopes to help educate people on how accessible city, county, and state government is and how we should be open to trying new ideas to form the more perfect union the Founders intended.
Term: 2024 – 2025
Scotti Romberg – Vice-Chair
In her working career, Scotti Romberg was a residential interior designer and worked in the corporate world, small business world and eventually as an entrepreneur. She has been president to two different design associations and has organized over a dozen continuing education courses for designers to be able to fulfill their educational requirements for licensure and professional affiliation.
While in the working world, she volunteered for Democratic campaigns. After 2016, she felt compelled to get involved to improve lives by supporting the Democratic Party more actively. She first became a member of Adelante Progressive Caucus in the Spring of 2019. After a few years, she became more involved in the Caucus and worked with some very dedicated people in writing the “ Transparency Resolution 2023-07”. That is still working its way through the official channels.
Over the past year Scotti has been working closely with some members of the caucus and have gotten to appreciate everyone’s talent, knowledge and caring for progressive causes, making a more just Democratic Party.
When the position of Vice Chair fell open, Scotti decided to step up and run for the position. She looks forward to being able to create a greater impact on the Democratic Party of New Mexico by continuing the work in and through the Adelante Progressive Caucus.
Term: 2024 – 2026
Michael Sperberg-McQueen – Secretary
Michael is a New Mexican by choice, having lived in La Mesilla (unincorporated Rio Arriba County) since 1999. He is also a Democrat by choice, since his Republican parents tried to teach their children to think for themselves. Drawn into political work by the events of November 2016, he has helped organize (loosely speaking) a group called NM Resistance, he has made phone calls and knocked on doors for candidates, he has analyzed legislation for the legislative action network organized by Retake Our Democracy, and he has spoken in legislative hearings to support progressive bills. From 2019 to 2021 he served as a precinct chair and a member of the county central committee of the Democratic Party of Rio Arriba County, for which he also created the web site and ran it until 2021.
In his day job, Michael works as a consultant in information technology, focusing on the reusability of data and the use of document markup for publishing, scholarly study, and preservation of cultural heritage and other public data.
Term: 2023 – 2025
Term: 2020 – 2022
Carol Trujillo-Fay – Congressional District 1 Chair
Term: 2024 – 2026
Carol ‘Cricket’ Courtney – Congressional District 2 Chair
Carol “Cricket” Courtney presently serves as Vice-President of the Socorro County Federation of Democratic Women. For the past five years, she has been active in various political campaigns, the local Democratic party, and voting activities. Courtney works as a para-professional at Magdalena Schools utilizing some of the skills she developed during her career as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Cricket has been an active volunteer for various organizations since age 16. She supports maintaining and improving services for Elders/Senior Citizens in the county. In mid-2022, she and her husband became grandparents.
Term: 2024 – 2026
Nicole Olonovich – Political Director
An alumni of UNM, and earning two master’s degrees, Master of Social Work and Master of Business, from New Mexico Highlands University—Nicole has been focused on Government/Nonprofit Leadership her entire adult life. Nicole is a strong advocate for mental health awareness, LGBTQIA+ protections, mutual aid, equity for historically marginalized populations, the housing crisis, access to healthcare, disability rights, socioeconomic and environmental justice. Working in partnerships with grassroots communities, building coalitions of likeminded individuals, and demanding fundamental rights are at the heart of her calling.
Like her glorious flower room full of carnivores, creepers, succulents, and everyday embryophytes she looks forward to being part of the growth that is the blooming of the Adelante Progressive Caucus.
As the Political Director of the APC, Nicole looks forward to working in partnerships centered around equity and inclusion to promote progressive action.
Term: 2020 – 2022
Term: 2023 – 2025
