🧭 Who I Am & Why I’m Doing This
I'm Nic Zateslo — a Tallahassee native, a father of two young kids, and someone who has dedicated over two decades to organizing, campaigning, and building the political tech infrastructure that movements depend on. I’ve knocked on doors in Florida heat, built and scaled national organizing tools, led diverse teams, and helped nonprofits raise millions to fight for justice, equity, and real progress. But after 20 years away, I moved my family back here — to raise my kids where I grew up, and to reinvest in the community I care most about.
Over my career, I’ve worked everywhere from local ballot initiatives to presidential campaigns. Most recently, I was Chief Operating Officer at a national voter tech startup — Votivate — building a next-generation alternative to VAN. We were ready to launch nationally in 2026. Then, like too many efforts, we watched our funding dry up the moment national donors turned off the faucet after 2024. I was laid off the day after Christmas.
That moment was painful — but clarifying. I realized the work I wanted to do, the work that matters most right now, is here. Not in a DC office. Not chasing donor whims. Not waiting to be told what’s strategic.
I don’t want to chase funding from people disconnected from our lived experience. I want to show up for Tallahassee.
Since returning, I’ve served as a volunteer Campaign Chair for the Leon County Democratic Party, helping lead events and raise over $45,000. I helped coordinate the Neal Dunn Town Hall — where over 450 people gathered in one room to demand accountability, share frustration, and spark action. That event got national attention, including a segment on The Rachel Maddow Show — not by accident, but because I helped make sure our local story broke through.
That night changed everything for me. I saw what this community is capable of when we come together. I saw the energy. I felt the urgency. I heard the call — not just to act, but to step up full-time.
So that’s what I’m doing. I’ve already begun — I just need your help to keep going. This is not a pitch for a new nonprofit or campaign. It’s a proposal for something more immediate, more direct, and more accountable: one person, fully dedicated to Tallahassee, working for you.
