Ruth’s List Florida Action seeks to increase the number of pro-choice women running for office in Florida through its state-wide training programs. For more information, view our training calendar page.
Ruth’s List Florida Action does not make candidate endorsements.
Ruth's List Florida Action Board
Erin Aebel, Chair
Tampa
Erin Smith Aebel is a partner at a Tampa law firm where she practices business and health law. A board certified health lawyer, she represents physicians, hospitals, dentists, pharmacies and other healthcare providers in their business and compliance needs. She is a member of the Athena Society and serves on various philanthropic boards in the Tampa Bay Area.
Erin is a co-founder of the Surly Feminists for the Revolution and works to advance women and diversity in business and in federal, state and local representation.
Stacy Estes Yates, Vice Chair
Tampa
Stacy Estes Yates is an experienced trial attorney and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator. She was named a 2019 Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine, a Top Lawyer in TAMPA Magazine, a 2019 Featuree in KNOW TRIBE Tampa Bay, and holds an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell. Stacy is a frequent public speaker on a variety of legal and non-legal topics.
As a litigator and former prosecutor, Stacy has tried over forty jury and non-jury trials and is admitted to practice in all State Courts of Florida, the Middle District of Florida and the Southern District of Florida. Her extensive litigation practice includes defending liability and coverage issues for automotive, homeowner, and commercial property insurance companies and their insureds.
Stacy is active in her Tampa Community. She’s a member of the Athena Society, a Girl Scout Leader, a member of Ye Loyal Krewe of Grace O’Malley, a member of the Krewe of Tronando, the Advocacy Committee Chair at Roosevelt Elementary PTA, a member of Tampa Bay Inn of Court, a member of the Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers. She serves on several philanthropic boards and loves to mentor young professionals.
Stacy consults for many local and state political campaigns and participated in the historic 2018 Florida election recount.
Penny Parks, Treasurer & Secretary
Tampa
Penny Parks is the president and founder of Links Financial. She has 35 years of experience in the financial industry, having held numerous financial leadership roles before starting her own firm, now in its 12th year. In her time at Links Financial, Penny’s areas of focus have been arranging over $2 Billion in corporate debt financings, real estate and corporate problem loan resolution and restructuring, and business acquisitions.
Marcy Hennecke
Tampa
Marcy is a passionate Democratic leader who served as chair of the PR committee for the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee (HCDEC) from 2018-2021.
She spearheaded a branding process, grew the HCDEC social media presence, revamped the county website, created swag, billboards and newspaper ads. In the 2022 cycle, the group began working closely with the Florida Democratic County Chairs Alliance to create state-wide marketing materials, including customizable, ready-to-run messaging for all 67 counties.
The Hennecke Family Foundation was created by Marcy and her husband Derek in 2016 to support causes that fight global warming. The Foundation considers electing Democrats vital to addressing climate change.
Born Canadian, Marcy became a CDN/US dual citizen in 2018. She has a degree in Journalism and Political Science and has worked in journalism, political speechwriting and management consulting.
Burnadette Norris-Weeks
Ft. Lauderdale
Burnadette Norris-Weeks is a partner in the law firm of Austin Pamies Norris Weeks, LLC. She serves as counsel to various corporations and governmental entities, including the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office and two Florida municipalities. In addition, the law firm also handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Currently serving her second term on the Broward County Charter Review Commission, she also serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Broward. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida and of Leadership Broward.
Burnadette is founder of the Women of Color Empowerment Institute, Inc. (WOCEI), a membership organization with the mission to enhance and expand leadership opportunities for women of color. WOCEI sponsors a yearly conference that brings together hundreds of women in leadership. Her extensive community and professional involvement has earned her the Above and Beyond Award from the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation, the Urban League’s Margaret Roach Humanitarian Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the T.J. Reddick Bar Association. She is a past honoree of the National Trumpet Awards Foundation and was recognized by Legacy Magazine as one of South Florida’s 25 Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business. Burnadette has also received a “Leader of the Year” award from the Leadership Broward Foundation, among other impressive awards and recognitions.
Burnadette is the Chair of the 17th Judicial Circuit’s Bar Leadership Committee. She is a past National Chair of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Litigation Section’s Minority Trial Lawyer Committee and a former Chair of the ABA’s Young Lawyer Leadership Team. She is also a Past-President of the Tallahassee Barristers Association. Burnadette is admitted to practice law before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.
Danielle Prendergast
Orlando
Danielle is an executive coach and founder of Empower Her Strategies, an empowerment and leadership development company that helps women of color who want to elevate their leadership by pushing through their limitations, navigating barriers, and defining a leadership journey that aligns with their values and strengths.
She has decades of experience as a policy specialist and advocate committed to addressing issues of access and equity on behalf of vulnerable and under-served communities. A professorial lecturer in political science, Danielle has taught and mentored traditional, non-traditional and under-represented students for over a decade. Her research and teaching interests focus on the intersection of race, politics, and public policy. Danielle has lobbied before Congress and state legislatures in Maryland, Florida, and Georgia on energy and the environment, civil rights and liberties, and K-12 and higher education issues.
Danielle earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from American University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Clark Atlanta University, and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maryland at College Park.
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state (800-435-7352 or online: https://csapp.fdacs.gov/
