Green Tree Democratic Committee
Candidates
Green Tree Democrats - Moving Forward
We believe a strong Democratic Committee starts with listening, welcoming new voices, and creating real opportunities for neighbors to get involved.
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
GREEN TREE DISTRICT MAP
Democratic Committees
election information
Dmitri woods
Committee Person Candidate
DISTRICT 1
Dmitri Woods is a lifelong Green Tree resident who believes deeply in the power of community, democracy, and public service. His commitment to progressive values took shape at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he emerged as a student leader, serving as President of his fraternity chapter, a Senator in student government, and Vice President of the College Democrats. Through these roles, Dmitri learned how to organize, listen, and fight for a more inclusive and equitable campus.
Driven to turn values into action, Dmitri gained real-world experience interning for State Representative John Inglis and Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, where he saw firsthand how political leadership can impact people’s lives. After graduating in 2025, he began pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Pittsburgh. That same year, he founded the Graduate Student Democrats and became its first President, continuing his work to expand civic engagement, political education, and student organizing.
Dmitri is running for the Democratic Committee to bring new energy, stronger communication, and a bold progressive vision to local politics. He will use his skills in social media and graphic design to better connect with residents, create meaningful opportunities for engagement, and help build a more inclusive, informed, and connected community where everyone has a voice.
Kaitlyn Khadem
Committee Person Candidate
DISTRICT 2
Kaitlyn Khadem is a long time Green Tree resident who spent the first 18 years of her life in this great community. After moving away for college and the early part of her career, she returned to Green Tree to raise her family. Kaitlyn is an active community member who you can often find with her husband and two kids at Aiken School activities or Green Tree youth sports events.
She believes in the power of information, education, and fostering a joy of learning. These passions led her to join the Green Tree Library Board as an officer last February which has helped her meet more neighbors and step up as a leader in the community. While this was her first role in community leadership, Kaitlyn is no stranger to positions of leadership and mentorship- leading teams, spearheading trainings, and acting as a champion of change management and problem solving in her 15+ year career in corporate retail.
Meeting new people and bringing them together through common interest is another passion of Kaitlyn’s. She believes that you can find common ground with most anyone through genuine curiosity and active listening. Whether by forming a marathon relay team with local moms or hosting summer gatherings with friends and neighbors of varying ages and interests, watching people come together brings a smile to her face.
As a Democratic Committee member Kaitlyn will focus on bringing community members together for fun and educational purposes. She will be a source of knowledge that residents can go to with questions and an open door for concerns. She will focus on the needs of all community members and a voice for the Democrats of Green Tree- understanding and elevating their concerns, always striving to bring Green Tree residents together, and making Green Tree the BEST place to live.
Marc Daffner
Committee Person candidate
DISTRICT 2
Marc Daffner has resided in Green Tree District 2 since 2006 and recently relocated his longstanding law firm, Daffner & Associates, from Downtown Pittsburgh to the Borough. Marc is 57 years old and lives with his wife, Randi, and their three children, two of whom are in the KO School District and one who is in college in New York.
He has served as the Chair of the Green Tree Civil Service Commission, overseeing personnel issues of the Green Tree Police Department, has been a member of the Democratic Committee since 2001, and is currently our elected State Constable, responsible for protection of our polling places on Election Day as well as serving in a general law enforcement capacity. He has also been both a sponsor and a coach for our GTAA soccer program, active in promoting KO youth cheer and football, and was instrumental as counsel for the Save Our Schools movement (when the district attempted to close Aiken Elementary in 2007).
A 1990 graduate of the University of Rochester (NY), Marc received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1993. Over the past 32 years, he has personally handled thousands of legal matters in a wide variety of jurisdictions, in state and federal courts and at both the trial and appellate levels. He has represented clients in numerous high-profile cases, including some which have received national attention, and he is well-known throughout Pennsylvania as a top trial litigator.
Among his numerous recognitions, Marc has been repeatedly selected as a Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer,” placing him in the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania, one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers, included among the Best Attorneys of America, and honored with the Martindale-Hubbell Client Service Award. He is a two-time honoree of the annual Pittsburgh Legal Excellence event and has been a judicial candidate.
An avid hockey player and USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach, Marc finally retired from the ice in his early 50s after nearly a lifetime of playing and left the hockey tradition to be carried on by the oldest of his children. When not driving his two youngest kids to their activities, Marc can often be found playing guitar, golfing, or riding his motorcycle.
Samantha Salopek
Committee Person Candidate
DISTRICT 3
Samantha (Sam) Salopek grew up in Pittsburgh’s South Hills and was inspired early on by her grandmother’s example of community service and civic involvement. That foundation shaped Sam’s belief in the power of collective action and the importance of advocating for those whose voices often go unheard.
Sam enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2009, where her service strengthened her commitment to confronting inequity and supporting marginalized communities. Her time in uniform deepened her understanding of systems, leadership, and the impact of purposeful communication.
After living abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam returned to Pittsburgh, settling in Green Tree, with a renewed focus on advancing equity and opportunity. She now serves as a Communications Manager in the nonprofit sector, supporting programs that help individuals build stability, economic mobility, and long term independence.
Sam is an active community advocate whose work centers on expanding inclusion, strengthening civic engagement, and promoting fair and equitable policy. Her efforts earned her the 2024 AAUW Gateway to Equity Award. She continues her work to build safer, more just, and more connected communities.
Sam is a member of the Green Tree American Legion and the Green Tree Woman’s Civic Club, and currently serves as Treasurer for Green Tree’s Aiken Elementary School PFO. Additionally, she is the co-founder of Democrats for Green Tree, a community-based, action-oriented advocacy organization.
Sam is committed to holding regular public Committee meetings, creating a clear and accessible endorsement process, and improving communication through website updates, active social media outreach, and a new Green Tree Democrat community newsletter.
Matthew Swartsfager
Committee Person Candidate
DISTRICT 3
Matthew (M.K) Swartsfager is a proud Green Tree resident, passionate outdoorsman, and environmental enthusiast who believes deeply in equity, justice, and public service. A recent graduate of Duquesne University School of Law, he now serves our community as an attorney in the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office, standing up every day for fairness and equal treatment under the law. His work spans family law, criminal defense, immigration, and housing justice — representing neighbors in landlord–tenant disputes, protection from abuse petitions, juvenile cases, and naturalization matters.
M.K.’s commitment to public interest earned him the Duquesne Law School Philanthropy Award, and he was selected to speak at the 2024 Eradicate Hate Global Summit, where he championed the power of community-centered advocacy. He also serves as Green Tree Borough’s volunteer Emergency Management Coordinator, stepping up to help keep our community safe and prepared.
A veteran leader, M.K. enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2009 and later commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 2017. He studied International Relations and Mandarin and served across multiple global commands, including time in Okinawa supporting regional COVID-19 emergency response efforts. His service reflects the steady leadership, discipline, and sense of duty he brings to everything he does.
From federal prosecutor’s offices to neighborhood legal clinics, M.K. has built a career rooted in protecting individuals, strengthening communities, and expanding opportunity. He lives in Green Tree with his spouse and two daughters and is running for the Democratic Committee to ensure our local Democratic Party reflects the values of inclusion, integrity, and service.
Jeff Natale
Committee Person Candidate
DISTRICT 4
Jeff Natale is a forward-thinking leader who brings decades of experience in operations, communications, and human resources to his work in public service. A 25-year resident of Green Tree, he has been twice appointed to the Green Tree Planning Commission, where he helps shape the future of the community he proudly calls home.
While Jeff has always cared deeply about politics and civic life, it was after retiring that he was able to fully devote his time and energy to creating meaningful, lasting change locally. During the 2025 election season, he worked tirelessly to support Democratic candidates and strengthen grassroots engagement. He now serves as the newest member of the Green Tree Democratic Committee, representing District 4.
Guided by the belief that strong communities are built through participation and unity, Jeff is committed to building a more connected, active, and inclusive local Democratic Party. He’s eager to build on the record-breaking engagement of 2025 and turn that momentum into lasting impact, expanding opportunities for Green Tree Democrats to take part in shaping their community. He is an active member of Democrats for Green Tree, a community advocacy organization dedicated to advancing progressive initiatives and deepening civic engagement. Jeff envisions a future where every Democrat feels empowered to participate, and where civic life is truly accessible to all.
A lifelong learner, Jeff is currently studying Spanish and is always looking for new ways to grow. When he’s not organizing or volunteering, he enjoys spending time with friends and family on the lake, gardening, and hosting gatherings on his patio, bringing the same warmth, care, and sense of community to his home that he brings to Green Tree.