Deirdre Macnab

Early life and education

Macnab was raised in Manhattan and moved to Florida in 2004. 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.org, a seven-county visioning coalition in Central Florida and WMFE's Citizens Advisory Board, in addition to joining the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVF).

Political career

Macnab became president of the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVF) in 2009, where she spearheaded petitions for fair voting districts in Florida, tax reform and voter protection, and worked towards opening a dialogue with Cuba by organizing several delegations to the country. During her tenure as LWVF president, two state constitutional amendments to end gerrymandering were accomplished in 2010 after 60 years of work by the Florida League.

Under her presidency, the LWVF announced a lawsuit in April 2014 protecting Florida voters from being purged from voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election. The state eventually decided not to purge the voter rolls. Under her leadership, the LWVF eliminated roadblocks to voting by demanding the Florida Legislature re-institute early voting days, and the Sunday before election day, following long delays, including eight-hour lines in Miami, that voters faced during the 2012 Presidential election. The LWVF also pushed for fairly-drawn congressional districts and saw fair districting implemented in 2014.

Macnab was nominated for the 2014 National Slate of the League of Women Voters of the United States, and was nominated for national president in 2015. Her bid for the presidency was unsuccessful.

Her current initiatives include pushing for the implementation of civil citations as a way to curb the school to prison pipeline, and she heads the campaign to take Florida to the number one position in rooftop solar and, harness the sun to truly make Florida the "Sunshine State".

Honors and awards

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

In 2014, she was recognized by La Prensa Florida as a Community Champion during their annual Mujeres Destacadas Awards. In 2015, Audubon Florida honored her with the Women in Conservation award.