Deirdre Macnab Explained

Deirdre Macnab
Birth Date:14 December 1955
Birth Place:United States
Known For:Voting Rights Activist, Solar Energy Advocate, Sustainable Ranching

Deirdre Macnab (née Coulson, born December 14, 1955) is an American women's rights and voting rights activist and sustainable agriculture rancher. She is former president of the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL)[1] and member of Florida's Federal Judicial Nominating Commission.[2] [3] She served as a Knight's Fellow-in-Residence[4] at the University of Florida Bob Graham Center for Public Service and is a solar energy activist in Florida, acting as chairperson for LWVFL solar energy[5] initiative, and in Colorado, where she is on the Solar United Neighbors advisory board.

Early life and education

Macnab was raised in Manhattan and moved to Florida in 2004.[6] She graduated with an M.B.A. from Columbia University in marketing and finance and a bachelor's degree from New York University in history and political science. After moving to the greater Orlando, Florida area, Macnab joined the board of MyRegion,[7] a seven-county visioning coalition in Central Florida and WMFE's Community Advisory Board,[8] in addition to joining the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL).[9]

Political career

Macnab became president of the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL)[10] in 2009, where she spearheaded petitions for fair voting districts in Florida, tax reform and voter protection,[11] and worked towards opening a dialogue with Cuba by organizing several delegations to the country.[12] During her tenure as LWVFL president, two state constitutional amendments ending gerrymandering were finally accomplished, after 60 years of work by the Florida League.[13]

Under her presidency, the LWVFL announced a lawsuit in April 2014, protecting Florida voters from being purged from voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election,[14] and she was asked to talk about it on The Daily Show.[15] The state eventually decided not to purge the voter rolls.[16] During her leadership, serious restrictions on voter registration drives were imposed[17] and eventually removed because of the League's work.[18] It eliminated roadblocks to voting by demanding the Florida Legislature re-institute early voting days, and the Sunday before election day,[19] following long delays, including eight-hour lines in Miami, that voters faced during the 2012 Presidential election.[20] The LWVFL also pushed for fairly-drawn congressional districts and saw fair districting upheld and implemented in 2014.[21] [22]

Deirdre Macnab was nominated for the National Slate of the League of Women Voters of the United States in 2014, and was then nominated to be their National President in 2015. Although her bid for the presidency was unsuccessful,[23] she is generally credited with having transformed the Florida League of Women Voters, as well as many state policies, during her long tenure as president.

Her initiatives include; lobbying for the implementation of civil citations[24] as a way to curb the school to prison pipeline and reduce youth arrests;[25] heading the campaign to take Florida to the number one position in rooftop solar and[26] harness the sun[27] to truly make Florida the "Sunshine State"; educating the voting public about two 2016 ballot amendments, successfully helping defeat one and pass the other;[28] creating "The Next Car Pledge"and advocating for the benefits of zero emission electric cars or "EVs".[29]

In 2020 Macnab left Florida to start a regenerative cattle ranch in Colorado, becoming one of the first Audubon Certified ranches in Northwest Colorado. She co-founded the Meeker Mustang Makeover, an event designed to find homes for wild horses in BLM holding areas, the White River Alliance, a stakeholder group working to promote citizen engagement for the protection and conservation of the White River basin, and continues her alternative energy work with Solar United Neighbors of Colorado.

Honors and awards

In 2012, Macnab was awarded the 2012 Florida Achievement Award by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.[30] The Orlando Sentinel named her the Most Influential Central Floridian of the Year the same year.[31]

In 2013, she was recognized by La Prensa Florida as a Community Champion during their annual Mujeres Destacadas Awards.[32] She was recognized for her leadership and placed in the Congressional Record in 2014.[33] In 2015, Audubon Florida honored her with the Women in Conservation award.[34]

In 2021 Winter Park Magazine honored Macnab as an "Influential" due, in part, to her legacy of inspiring other strong women to follow her lead.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: As president of... -Deirdre Macnab . Orlando Sentinel . 2014-01-06 . 2014-05-09.
  2. Web site: United States District Court: Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission 2013–2015. United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. 2014-05-09.
  3. News: About Deirdre Macnab. 8 October 2015. Orlando Sentinel. 15 August 2016.
  4. Web site: Fellows In Residence. Bob Graham Center. University of Florida. 10 April 2018.
  5. News: Macnab. Deirdre. Lynn Nillsen and Deirdre Macnab: Future bright for solar in Florida. 10 April 2018. Herald Tribune. 19 March 2017.
  6. News: Central Floridian of the Year Deirdre Macnab: League's Leader, Inspired by History, Fights for Votes. Owens. Paul. 20 January 2013. Orlando Sentinel. 15 August 2016.
  7. Web site: Connecting Our Communities: MyRegion.Org. MyRegion.Org. Central Florida Partnership. 10 April 2018.
  8. Web site: Community Advisory Board. WMFE.org. 90.7 WMFE. 10 April 2018.
  9. Web site: LWV Of Florida. League of Women Voters. 2014-05-09.
  10. News: Commission honors outstanding women for volunteer work in their communities. 4 April 2018. Florida Commission on the Status of Women. 9 November 2012.
  11. News: Executive Profile: Deirdre Macnab. Rew. Jenna. 12 October 2009. Orlando Business Journal. registration . 15 August 2016.
  12. Web site: Delegation from US's League of Women Voters Visit Cuba - CubaMINREX. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba.
  13. Web site: Florida House maps draw near to spirit of Fair District amendments. https://web.archive.org/web/20120114150429/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/florida-house-maps-draw-near-to-spirit-of-fair-district-amendments/1205479. dead. January 14, 2012. 2011-12-08. Tampa Bay Times. Klas, Mary Ellen. 2014-05-09.
  14. News: In Florida, Bid to Cut Voter Rolls Is Set Back. Alvarez. Lizette. April 2, 2014. The New York Times.
  15. PURGE OVERKILL - FLORIDA'S VOTER REGISTRATION LAW. The Daily Show. https://web.archive.org/web/20160109200003/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/dvbp3s/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-purge-overkill---florida-s-voter-registration-law. dead. January 9, 2016.
  16. News: Gov. Rick Scott's Administration Retreats From Latest Plan to Purge Voter Rolls. https://web.archive.org/web/20160827160046/http://www.latimes.com/sfl-rick-scott-purge-voter-rolls-20140327-story.html. dead. 27 August 2016. Man. Anthony. 27 March 2014. Los Angeles Times. 15 August 2016.
  17. News: Allen. Greg. Florida Law Tightens Voting Rules, Angers Advocates. 4 April 2018. WNYC News. 10 October 2011.
  18. News: Gray. Kevin. Judge to lift restrictions on Florida voter registration. 4 April 2018. Reuters. 29 August 2012.
  19. Web site: GOP's "Block the Vote - 2012" - Politics Nation w/ Al Sharpton. YouTube. MSNBC Politics Nation. 4 April 2018.
  20. Web site: Bills would reinstate early voting Sundays before elections. 2013-01-08. The St. Augustine Record. 2014-05-09.
  21. Web site: Ross. Melissa. League Of Women Voters Of Florida On The Implications Of Their Redistricting Suit Victory. news.wjct.org. 4 April 2018.
  22. News: Klas. Mary Ellen. Fla. judge orders new congressional map. 4 April 2018. Miami Herald. 1 August 2014.
  23. News: National Women Voters League Not Ready for Florida Brand Advocacy. Kassab. Beth. 16 June 2014. Orlando Sentinel. 15 August 2016.
  24. Web site: Florida Civil Citation. Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
  25. News: Welch. Catherine. CIVIL CITATIONS BRING JUVENILE ARRESTS DOWN IN ORANGE, OSCEOLA. 4 April 2018. 90.7 WMFE. 6 December 2017.
  26. Tampa Bay Times: Vote for Amendment 4 and Turn the Lights on for Solar https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/column-vote-for-amendment-4-and-turn-the-lights-on-for-solar-in-florida/2288373/
  27. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-harness-solar-energy-myword-071916-20160719-story.html harness the sun
  28. News: Pamela. Goodman. Amendment 1: Don't let utilities stunt sun power's growth in Florida. 4 April 2018. Orlando Sentinel. 15 September 2016.
  29. https://energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/electric-vehicle-basics "EVs"
  30. Web site: Florida Achievement Award . Florida Commission on the Status of Women . 2014-05-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140424124252/http://www.fcsw.net/FloridaAchivement.htm . 2014-04-24 .
  31. Web site: Orlando Sentinel's 2012 Central Floridian of the Year is Deirdre Macnab . Orlando Sentinel . 2013-01-20 . 2014-05-09.
  32. News: FERNÁNDEZ. MIGDALIA. La Prensa honra a mujeres hispanas. 10 April 2018. La Prensa. 12 March 2013. 10 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180410201708/https://laprensafl.com/2013/03/12/la-prensa-honra-a-mujeres-hispanas/. dead.
  33. Web site: Congressional Record, Volume 160 Issue 31 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014) . Government Printing Office . 2014-02-25 . 2014-05-09.
  34. http://audubonoffloridanews.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Audubon_AssemblyProgram_2015.pdf

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