Tanya Landry is a retired executive, with over 35 years’ experience in the areas of operations and human resources with non-profit and for- profit corporations. She and her husband are from Bethesda, Maryland, and relocated to Clearwater, Florida in 2019, after the sale of their software company.
Tanya is passionate about civic engagement and improving community access to quality health care and education. She currently serves as a board member with the League of Women Voters North Pinellas County and has been a member of the League since 2020. She is co-chair of the Membership Committee and is the Candidate Forum Chair, organizing and serving as moderator for several candidate forums. She is also a member of the Environmental and Voter Services Committees. Tanya has also participated in the research and preparation of the voter guides, represented the organization at voter registration events and is the coordinator of the LWVNPC, first year in the Adopt-A-Mile program with Keep Pinellas Beautiful.
Tanya believes “that the greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members” (Coretta Scott King)
Tanya has a B.S. in Health Education from the University of Maryland and a graduate degree in Health Care Administration, University of Maryland, University College.
She is also a member of 100 Women Who Care of Pinellas County. She is an avid reader, enjoys cycling, hiking, yoga, and beautiful Clearwater Beach.
Jacqueline Farrell has been a resident of Florida for 28 years. She originally hails from Buffalo, New York. Jacqui is a licensed speech pathologist and has worked in multiple educational and healthcare settings. She initially became interested in the League of Women Voters years ago, when she realized that there is nothing more fundamental to our democracy than our ability to vote. Since then, she has been on the Economic Equity Committee, Membership Committee, and the Board of Directors. She is also a co-editor of our newsletter, The Voter. Jacqui is also an exercise instructor for the YMCA and a long-time member of FAST (Faith and Action, Strength Together.)
Beth Hovind joined our League in 2015 and never looked back! People who know her have often heard her mantra:
“My goal is to eliminate childhood poverty in my lifetime.”
She continues to gather voices of support for low-income housing, one of four selected priorities. Beth, who led North Pinellas League’s Poverty, Health Care and Juvenile Justice Committee for seven years, has been a passionate advocate for the under-served. In 2016, she hosted hot topic meetings on local housing issues. In 2019, the Poverty, Health Care and Juvenile Justice Committee received grant funds to sponsor a conference “Reducing Poverty In Florida – Legislative Solutions.” More than 70 representatives of local and state organizations participated. Beth continues her good works toward her life goal.
Before moving from California to Florida in 2004, Beth was a child welfare worker and a residence director of low-income housing. In Wisconsin, she served as State Program Director for Health and Human Services including pregnancy prevention, teen parents, domestic abuse programs and teen youth. She’s also worked with aging programs and shelters for neglected youth. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Beth holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science in Social Work.
Currently Beth is Vice President of North County Community Council, responding to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, a member of the Advisory Board for the Florida Policy Institute, a volunteer with FAST: Faith and Action for Strength Together, Advocates for Race Amity, and the Pinellas Conservation Coalition.
Gayla Larson was born to Air Force parents in the Canal Zone of Panama. Her father’s career took her around the US, and her former marriage to an Army pilot took her to even more places and instilled in her a love of travel and faraway places.
After 27 years of service as a meeting planner to Nation’s Best Sports, a Texas based sporting goods buying group, Gayla retired to Florida to care for her mother following the death of her father. Subsequently and until her retirement in 2016, she worked as Executive Assistant to the President for Lighthouse of Pinellas, a rehabilitation center for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Gayla joined the League of Women Voters North Pinellas County in 2017 and served as Treasurer for a year prior to her retirement due to illness in 2020. She was highly active organizing the League’s Celebrating 70 anniversary fundraising event at the Fenway hotel in Dunedin, helping with ticket sales, program design, and creating gift baskets and treats for the silent auction. She attended Emory & Henry College in Virginia and Weatherford College in Texas where she worked on her declared English major.
Gayla is “mom” to two rescue fur-babies – Lily (a ShihTsu) and Loki (very affectionate black cat). She happily confesses that she is a lover of people, animals, and wine (not always in that order) and is eager to help in any way she can be of service.
Camilla holds a BS in accounting from USF and an MBA from the University of Tampa. She is a Certified Public Accountant with 20+ years of experience with ledger processes, account reconciliation, and streamlining accounts. She is a proven leader who helps companies make dramatic improvements in their accounting processes, and she is a manager accustomed to solving problems and meeting deadlines.
Ms. DiLoreto is a long-time active member of the League of Women Voters of North Pinellas County. She is the mother of 23 year old boy/girl twins, two cats, and a delightful pup. In her spare time she loves to travel, read, and exercise.
Vivian Posey has been a lifelong educator, having served as a teacher, curriculum specialist, school principal, university professor, and most recently, Chair of the Educational Leadership Department at Barry University in Miami Shores. After retiring from full-time teaching, she and her husband moved to Seminole in 2019, to spend more time with family, and enjoy the beauty and nature of Florida’s west coast.
Vivian was a member of the Broward County League of Women Voters before joining the North Pinellas chapter. While in Broward County, she participated in voter registration events, the Speakers Bureau, and several legislative forums. Vivian is the co-chair of the state legislative committee of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG) for Key Women Educators, and has traveled to Tallahassee and Washington, DC to advocate on issues related to women, children, and education.
Vivian continues to teach aspiring school leaders as an adjunct for Barry University and she currently mentors a PCSD student at Anona Elementary School. She and her husband Ward have two children and a very lazy rescue dog named McDuff.
Jeanne joined the League of Women Voters of North Pinellas County in 2021. She has been serving on the Education Committee and looks forward to serving as the Education Committee’s Co-Chair.
Jeanne retired as the Performing Arts Specialist for Pinellas County Schools. Her education includes piano performance studies at Boston University, a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Florida State University, a Master of Arts Degree from the University of South Florida, and an Educational Leadership Certificate.
In addition to her work with the League, Jeanne has served on the boards of several other local and state organizations and is a founding member of the Pinellas Arts for a Complete Education Coalition. Jeanne has served as the President of the Florida Music Supervision Association, the President of the Florida School Music Association, and the President of the Florida Music Educators Association.
Jeanne currently serves as the Advocacy Chair for the Florida Music Education Association and sits on the board of the Florida School Music Association. Jeanne is honored to have received multiple awards and recognitions, some of which include the National Society of Arts and Letters Annual Community Award, the Ruth Eckerd Hall Shining Star Award, and the distinguished alumni award from the USF School of the Arts. Jeanne was inducted into the FMEA Hall of Fame in January 2014 and in 2020 received the Florida Alliance for Arts Education Dr. Mary Palmer Trailblazer award.
Jeanne and her husband, Richard, enjoy traveling and spending time with their two daughters and two grandchildren.
Linda Metzkow was born in Keyser, West Virginia, but grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, from the 1960’s onward. As a young mother she was politically active and marched for clean waters in Tampa Bay, the rights of homeowners when the Interstate was built in St. Petersburg, the ERA, and the right for eighteen-year-olds to vote.
Linda has a BA in Legal Studies, Master of Public Administration, and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit management, all received at the University of Central Florida.
For more than 20 years she assisted individuals applying for Social Security disability where she implemented case strategy, developed evidence, and presented clients’ cases before the administrative law judges. She is currently serving on the Inspire Equine Assisted Center Board of Directors located in Clearwater.
Linda is the mother of three, grandmother of six, and great grandmother of one. She has been retired for two years, and is active with the local TNVR programs helping to stop the overpopulation of neighborhood cats.
Mina Harkins has had an impressive journey in healthcare and equity! Starting at a free clinic in Pittsburgh, PA, and participating in the Equal Rights Amendment campaign shows her long-standing commitment to these causes. Her career in the Washington DC area, managing medical labs and practices, and earning an MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business, highlights her dedication and expertise. Transitioning into leadership roles with non-profits focused on quality standards, multicultural healthcare, and population health further underscores her impact.
It’s wonderful to hear that even in retirement, she continues to support equitable access to fundamental rights and actively contributes to the League of Women Voters of North Pinellas County (LWVNPC) since joining in 2022, and now as a member of the board of directors. Her ongoing efforts are truly inspiring!
Bill Jonson’s contributions are indeed remarkable! His extensive involvement in both local and national initiatives, from serving on the Clearwater City Council to founding Citizens for a Better Clearwater and Citizens for a Scenic Florida, showcases his dedication to community improvement and environmental preservation. His leadership roles in various organizations, including the League of Women Voters of North Pinellas County and Scenic America, further highlight his commitment to making a positive impact.
His professional background in project management at Honeywell Inc., combined with his academic achievements and military service, adds another layer to his impressive profile. It’s also heartwarming to see his dedication to family and community through roles like Boy Scout/Cub Scout Leader and youth soccer coach.
Bill’s ongoing efforts, even in retirement, to enhance the quality of life in Clearwater and beyond are truly inspiring.
Marti’s journey with the League of Women Voters is truly inspiring! Her long-standing commitment, from her early days in Rochester, NY, to her multiple leadership roles in the North Pinellas League, showcases her dedication to civic engagement and community service. Her passion for moderating candidate forums highlights her commitment to fostering informed and active participation in local governance.
Her academic achievements and musical talents, along with her teaching career in Rochester, add depth to her profile. It’s wonderful to see how she continued her community involvement after moving to Clearwater, actively participating in her children’s education and various county-wide committees.
Marti’s love for activities like snow skiing, tennis, sailing, and family vacations in the Finger Lakes region, along with her musical contributions to her church, paint a picture of a well-rounded and dedicated individual. Her values of integrity and intellectual honesty are truly commendable.
General Questions: Contact Us
2024-2025 Nominating Committee
Marti Folwell, Chair
League of Women Voters
PO Box 8602
Clearwater, FL 33758