Who Is Lesley Israel?

An Influential Woman

Lesley Israel has had a very extensive career in the political world. She served as Senior Vice President for over a decade at The Kamber Group, a public relations and advertising firm, with an emphasis on problem solving for clients faced with serious image challenges, image development and general public relations services. She also served as President & CEO of Politics, Inc., a full-service political consulting firm that worked extensively in local, congressional, and statewide races nationwide. She served on the national presidential campaign staffs for Hubert Humphrey, Scoop Jackson, Birch Bayh, and Teddy Kennedy.

On the international side, Lesley served as both Treasurer and Director for the International Foundation for Election Systems. She is also a former president of the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (formerly National Coalition Supporting Soviet Jewry) an organization dedicated to advocating for Jewish communities in countries of the former Soviet Union. Lesley is an international democracy expert having worked on elections and election training in countries around the world for over twenty years, from Afghanistan to Zanzibar.

Lesley is a member of the Presidential Commission on the Preservation of American Heritage Abroad, a former president of the Avalon Foundation, Director and Secretary of Bosnian Handicrafts, Inc., Director of Save a Child’s Heart, Vice President of the Cultural Exchange Foundation, an honorary life member and National Executive Committee member of the Anti-Defamation League, former board member at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and board member of Talbot Humane.

This biographical overview first appeared on Talbot Dems' website.

The Life & Career of Lesley Israel

1938

In 1938, Lesley Israel was born to Herman Albert Lowe and Florence (Segal) Lowe in Philadelphia, PA.

1959

Lesley earned a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College in 1959 (cum laude).

1960

On December 18, 1960, Lesley married the love of her life, Fred Israel.

1962

In 1962, Lesley Israel became a mother after giving birth to her son, Herman Albert. Shortly after that, in 1963, she had another son named Sanford Lawrence.

1967

Ms. Israel served the Humphrey for President campaign as director of media advance until 1968. Later, she served as director of political intelligence in 1972.

1971

Lesley Israel became the director of scheduling for Bayh for President in 1971.

1975

Lesley served as special assistant for Jackson for President, 1975-76.

1979

From 1979 to 1980, Ms. Israel served as coordinator of national labor for Kennedy for President.

1981

Lesley Israel served as senior vice president of the Kamber Group from 1981 to 1987. She sat on the board of directors for Adas Israel Congregation, 1981-83. She also became president and international election coordinator of Bender Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Washington, also 1981-1983.

1982

In 1982, Lesley Israel became a member of the Democratic Charter Commission and Democratic Delegate Selection Commission until 1984.

1984

In 1984, Ms. Israel received a Special Service Award from the Jewish Community Center.

1987

Lesley Israel founded Politics, Inc. in Washington, D.C. in 1987, where she held the position of chief executive officer and president until 1995.

1990

Ms. Lesley Israel was named to the 100 Most Powerful Women by Washington Magazine in 1990.

1991

From 1991 to 1994, Lesley served as chairman of the Washington Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League.

1995

Lesley was appointed chair of Bender JCC of Greater Washington in 1995.

1997

In 1997, Lesley Israel became an international election expert for the U.S. Department of State and director of IFES.

2006

Starting in 2006, Ms. Israel served as treasurer of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). This concluded in 2017.

2008

Lesley became president of the National Coalition Supporting Soviet Jewry (NCSEJ), serving from 2008 to 2009.

2009

Lesley became chair of the Avalon Theatre in 2009.

2016

In 2016, Lesley Israel was appointed to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad by President Barack Obama.

2022

Beginning in 2022, Lesley began hosting Work That Matters, a podcast focusing on current events, sociopolitical matters and her own life as a political consultant and family woman. Her official website, where you're reading this amazing life story, also began in 2022.