Leadership of the Shawnee County Democrats
Jason Peters, Chair
Jason Peters’ entry into campaigning began with Pete Buttigieg’s presidential run in 2020. He was co-lead for the Kansas volunteer team which canvassed for Pete in southwest Iowa ahead of his primary caucus. Canvassing with his daughter really inspired him to get more involved locally. He has advised local candidates, served as both a Precinct Committee Person (PCP) and Chair of the PCP Committee in Shawnee County. He was also chosen by the Kansas Democratic Party to oversee Shawnee County’s field strategy for the 2024 elections. Jason is married with one daughter, and is the Infrastructure Manager for a Kansas bank.
Jessica Porter, Vice-Chair
Jessica Porter found the Shawnee County Democrats on the night of the 2020 inauguration. She joined the Communications Committee helping with social media posts and soon after became the Chair of the Communications Committee. Jessica was elected to be a Precinct Committee Person (PCP) in 2021 and shortly after began door-to-door canvassing for womens’ reproductive rights and various candidates. She then chose to run for State Representative of District 50 in 2024. Jessica graducated from the University of Kansas and works for the Kansas Department of Labor as the Social Media and Web Coordinator.
Karen Rooney-Cuevas
Karen Rooney Cuevas retired in 2018 from Bcbsks after 22 years of service where she worked in Medical Management as a Nurse Disease/Case Manager and Certified Diabetes Educator. She attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia where she studied Business Administration and ultimately graduated as a Registered Nurse from Stormont Vail Nursing School in Topeka in 1978. Karen and her husband Ignacio have been married 43 years and have 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren. She learned from her Dad early on the importance of being politically savvy and especially the importance of voting. A neighbor planted a seed that she may enjoy becoming involved with the Shawnee County Democrats. So she wrote her name in and was elected as a Precinct Comitte Person(PCP) of Ward 3 Precinct 4.
Sherri Camp, Secretary
Sherri Camp has a BA in History, a BA in Sociology, and a Masters in Liberal Studies with a History and Technology focus from Washburn University; she also holds a Certificate in Genealogy from Brigham Young University. She is the founding president of Kansas Network to Freedom, author of African American Topeka, is the founding and current president of the Kansas Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and served as the society’s National Vice President for five years and its president for two years. Sherri is currently a Precinct Committee Person (PCP), and past Chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee. Sherri works at the Topeka Shawnee County Library as the Geneology Librarian.