Thinking about running for office? Wondering what it’s really like?
Join us for an engaging and candid conversation that focuses on the personal experiences of three women who have stepped up and run for local office. Learn what inspired them, what surprised them, and what they wish they’d known at the start.
Panel Members:
Lynn Anderson, originally from Brooklyn, NY, has lived in Madison County for over 40 years. After settling in Gurley, she became an environmental activist, joining the Alabama Conservancy and advocating for recycling in Huntsville and Madison County. She proposed a Bottle Bill for Alabama, modeled after New York’s, and helped stop several harmful industrial projects, including a chip mill in Decatur and a tank farm in Gurley. In the early 2000s, Lynn ran for Alabama House District 22 on an environmental and home rule platform, earning 22% in the Democratic primary. For the past five years, she has chaired Empowering Women’s Causes, working to elect more women and advance issues important to them in Madison County.
Cindi Branham is a committed political advocate who remains focused and engaged during this complex and often challenging period in American democracy. She strives to maintain a thoughtful and constructive outlook, consciously resisting the pull of cynicism. She has been a candidate for the State Democratic Executive Committee and has contributed to numerous political campaigns over the years, including serving as a campaign manager for several efforts. Cindi has also volunteered with a wide range of respected organizations in the Huntsville area, as well as with statewide initiatives. She has served as Communications Chair for the Madison County Executive Committee and is deeply appreciative of the insights and experience each opportunity has provided.
Jocelyn Broer ran for Madison City Council after encountering injustices in her community and witnessing rapid growth, much like what she experienced growing up in Central Florida. She came within 50 votes of unseating a local incumbent. After the campaign, she applied to and was accepted into the ACLU of Alabama’s Smart Justice program, where fellow changemakers came together to learn about and address problems such as police violence, inadequate reentry services, and violence in Alabama’s prisons, along with other critical issues. She has volunteered with the Madison County Democrats, Senior Meals on Wheels, I Vote Madison, and Madison Greenways & Trails.
Our discussion will explore:
✅ Personal journeys — what led them to run
✅ Motivation — what kept them going
✅ Barriers and challenges — what they faced along the way
✅ Strategy and support — what worked and what didn’t
✅ Encouragement and action — what they’d tell you today
🌱 Bring your questions for our panel and leave with insights, inspiration, and concrete ideas for your own path.
Date: Monday, August. 4
Location: Huntsville-Madison County Library, 915 Monroe Street, Huntsville, AL 35801
Time: 6-7:30pm
Let’s come together to support and empower women who are ready to lead.
👉 RSVP today — your voice matters.
