         About Hans Riemer
He worked as a senior advisor at AARP, the consumer advocacy organization for Americans age 50+. Hans helped AARP members impact their communities through service to others, and he brought generations together. 
As Vice President of Montgomery County's Action Committee for Transit, Hans has been a fearless fighter for the Purple Line, one of the most critical transportation projects in the Washington region. He has fought for the Corridor Cities Transitway in the upcounty; adequate funding for the Metro system, a backbone of Montgomery County's economy; and RideOn buses, which serve many residents who have no other option for getting to work and home to their family. Hans has a deep understanding of how Montgomery County can use transit to improve our quality of life and to ensure that we can add new jobs without overwhelming our roads with more and more cars. Energizing the Democratic Party 
Promoting Citizen Engagement Whether getting young people out to vote for Obama or leading citizen coalition campaigns to protect Social Security, Hans has brought people in who don't often have a voice in the process. Now he wants to apply his organizing experience to engage Montgomery County residents, not just in elections, but in all aspects of the policy-making process. Hans believes that full participation is key to progressive politics and outcomes. 
Most of Hans' career has focused on issues rather than politics. An experienced advocate on fiscal policy and retirement security, Hans is widely recognized for his lead role in the campaign to protect Social Security from President Bush's proposals for privatization. Hans has also achieved victories on issues such as health care, voting reform, and higher education. His work has helped millions of people live a better life, including right here in Montgomery County. Hans has testified before Montgomery County policy boards, Maryland legislative committees, and the United States Congress, on issues ranging from after-school programming, to the Purple Line, to tax and budget policy. In his neighborhood, Hans served on the Silver Spring Advisory Board Neighborhoods Committee and the Long Branch Advisory Committee -- calling for measures to improve the quality of life in an underserved area of the county. Hans grew up in Oakland, California and graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1995. Hans Riemer's Track Record of Progressive Leadership"Hans played a critical role organizing the coalition that stopped George Bush from privatizing Social Security"-Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Kennelly, President, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare "Hans is one of five people in the country most responsible for protecting Social Security from George Bush." -Tom Matzzie, MoveOn.org "Obama did something unusual in politics: he made [young people] a genuine priority... He also hired as his youth-vote coordinator Hans Riemer." -Time Magazine, Jan. 31, 2008 AARP Senior Advisor, September 2008-June 2010 As Senior Advisor, responsibilities included engaging AARP members in community and volunteer service through Create The Good campaign; and developing advocacy strategy to achieve legislative victory on retirement policy ("Automatic IRA"). Continuing consulting role. POLITICAL CONSULTANT March 2008-September 2008 Worked with MoveOn.org on election strategy, among other projects. OBAMA FOR AMERICA National Youth Vote Director, March 2007-March 2008 From Chicago HQ, responsible for building programs to engage young people and turn out the youth vote. Built and managed 50-state grassroots organization with 800+ chapters that served the campaign's field program. Closely advised Iowa state operation on building young voter program targeting high school and college students. Contributed to campaign on health care and Social Security policy and strategy; lobbied campaign policy team to include health provision for young adults, which is now implemented through national health reform law. ROCK THE VOTE Political Director, March 2003-March 2007 In 2005, partnered with AARP to oppose privatization of Social Security, conducting polling, grassroots actions, media outreach, Congressional testimony. In 2003-2004, election programs registered approximately one million young voters, with 80% verified turnout rate. Conceived and implemented Democratic presidential "Rock the Vote" debate live on CNN. CAMPAIGN FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE Director, Social Security Information Project, 2001-2003 Launched a national coalition campaign dedicated to protecting Social Security from Bush privatization plans, starting with special Bush White House Commission. Worked with dozens of organizations representing seniors, labor, women, civil rights, etc., to shape policy agenda, mobilize grassroots, including hundreds of events around the country as well as national press conferences. Testified to Congressional Committees (Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, Senate Aging) and Task Forces on various policy issues. Generated press coverage in New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, hundreds of state/local print outlets, network, cable TV and radio, creating movement to stop Bush on Social Security. 2030 CENTER Founder/Director, 1996-2001 Founded and directed public policy organization for young people and played a leadership role in fight to protect Social Security. Highlights included conducting influential polls on Social Security policy strategy, helping revive and re-organize Social Security coalition; organizing grassroots events and media campaigns, providing testimony to Congress and White House panels, including a panel with President Clinton and Vice President Gore; a panel with Gore, Secretary Rubin, others. SAVE OUR SECURITY COALITION Policy Associate, 1995-1996 Staffer for national coalition of organizations focused on social welfare policy issues; worked directly with coalition chairman, Dr. Arthur S. Flemming. NATIONAL ACADEMY of SOCIAL INSURANCE Research Assistant, 1995 EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIESBoard Member, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and MedicareVice-President, Montgomery County's Action Committee for Transit Member, National Academy of Social Insurance BA, Politics; UC Santa Cruz, 1995 |
