Slate of Candidates; LWVGP Board of Directors
The following individuals have been nominated for the open positions on the LWVGP Board of Directors. The election will take place at the Annual Meeting on May 30.
We thank them for their willingness to step forward and serve in these important roles.
Special thanks to the Nominating Committee – Diana Domin, Holly Cory, and Judy Masserang – for their hard word in securing this slate of candidates.
Elizabeth Martin President-Elect 1-Year Term
Liz Martin is a lifelong Eastsider who now resides in Grosse Pointe Farms with her husband—and fellow LWVGP member—Loren Mannino.
Her interest in history, government, women’s rights, and politics took root early. Both of her parents were career civil servants, an example she credits with shaping her own passions.
Liz earned a B.A. in History from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Detroit College of Law. After eight years with the UAW Legal Services, Liz spent 14 years in private practice before completing her career with a decade of government service, writing decisions for Administrative Law Judges at the Social Security Administration’s Detroit hearing office.
Liz joined the League following a convergence of events—her retirement and the events of January 6, 2021. Since then, she has served as Observer Corps Director, leading the team in its monitoring efforts. She is also co-mentoring the Macomb League as it works to establish its own observer corps. In addition, Liz has helped develop questions for candidate forums, recruited new members, and continues to serve as an election inspector in Grosse Pointe Farms.
Liz views the League’s history and its mission—Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy—as a perfect fit for her lifelong interests and professional experience.
Deb Sloss VP for Voter Services 2-Year Term
Deb has been a member of LWVGP since 2016. She is active in the Observer Corps and has volunteered for numerous Voter Service activities over the years, including assisting with candidate forums. Deb also serves as an election inspector for the City of Grosse Pointe.
After retiring from a career in health care administration, Deb remains active in the community through The Helm, Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, and by spending time babysitting her six-month-old granddaughter.
Carol Lufburrow Treasurer 2-Year Term
Carol joined the League in December 2016, motivated by her strong commitment to protecting voting rights. In March 2017, she stepped in to serve as Treasurer—what she initially believed would be only a temporary role.
Carol spent 34 years as a civil servant with the Department of the Army, where her work centered on program management, budget analysis, and manpower allocation.
In her free time, she enjoys dining out and reading—especially murder mysteries, fantasy, and books about current events. She is also an enthusiastic gamer and avatar driver, always ready for a good urban fantasy adventure, whether on the page or on the screen.
Carol is pleased to put her skills to work in support of the League’s mission and looks forward to continuing another term keeping LWVGP’s books in excellent order.
Catherine Dumke. Director of Membership 2-Year Term
Catherine has lived in the Grosse Pointes since 1952. She worked for 45 years as a legal secretary in downtown Detroit and also served as business manager for her late husband, Michael Derbyshire, a professional artist.
Over the years, Catherine has relied on the League as a trusted source of nonpartisan information on candidates and issues. As a regular attendee of Grosse Pointe Woods City Council meetings, joining the League and its Observer Corps felt like a natural fit.
For the past two years, Catherine has served as Director of Membership and has been instrumental in helping our League transition to the new dues payment system through LWVUS.
She looks forward to continuing her involvement in League activities.
Kathy Cernok Chair, Nominating Committee 1-Year Term
Kathy grew up in Chicago and lived in Ohio for 15 years before moving to Grosse Pointe Farms in 1989.
In late 2020, she began working at local polling places, where she met members of the LWVGP who were also serving as election inspectors.
Witnessing increasing political polarization among family, friends, and neighbors motivated Kathy to become more involved.
Kathy is an active member of the Observer Corps, Youth Outreach Committee, and has also assisted with voter registration events at local high schools. Kathy also served on the Nominating Committee this year.
Jan Ryndress Nominating Committee 1-Year Term
Jan lives in Grosse Pointe Woods and has been a Realtor with Sine & Monaghan for the past 20 years. Earlier in her career, she worked in sales for several companies, working with Fortune 100 clients across the United States.
Jan joined the League in 2023 and has been active in a variety of activities, including staffing the table at the Pride March, assisting with voter registration efforts, and serving as a greeter at League programs. She believes strongly in the importance of civic engagement.