When Great Work Leads to the Next Opportunity
Sometimes the strongest recommendation isn’t a referral or an advertisement. It’s seeing quality work firsthand.
While Digital Marketing Solutions International was launching a website for another client, Cassandra Johnson had the opportunity to see our team’s work, meet us personally, and learn how we approach digital strategy. She liked what she saw. Soon afterward, she asked DMS International to build her campaign website as she prepared to run for Queens Surrogate’s Court Judge.
That project became another example of how trusted relationships, collaboration, and thoughtful digital strategy can help clients communicate with confidence.
Meet Cassandra A. Johnson
Cassandra Johnson is a Queens-born judge who has dedicated her legal career to public service. After serving on the New York City Civil Court and later the New York State Supreme Court, she announced her campaign for Queens Surrogate’s Court in 2024.
The Surrogate’s Court handles matters involving wills, estates, guardianships, and family inheritance issues that directly affect many Queens families but are often unfamiliar to voters.
Cassandra had the qualifications, experience, and community involvement needed for the position. What she needed was a professional digital presence that clearly explained who she was, why the election mattered, and how voters could participate.
The Challenge
Like many campaigns, Cassandra Johnson faced a common obstacle. Many voters simply didn’t know enough about the Surrogate’s Court or the role it plays within the judicial system. Based on what we learned from our previous clients running for office, this is a similar case across policial campaigns.
Her campaign also faced a well-funded opponent, making it important to use every available resource wisely. Rather than trying to outspend the competition, the campaign focused on providing voters with clear, trustworthy information they could easily access before both the primary and general elections.
The goal wasn’t simply to build another campaign website. The goal was to make it easier for voters to understand the race, learn about Cassandra’s qualifications, and confidently participate in the election.
Our Approach
Digital Marketing Solutions International worked closely with Cassandra Johnson, her campaign manager, and campaign staff to create a website that supported the campaign’s communication goals.
Every decision was guided by one question:
How can we make it easier for voters to find reliable information and understand why this election matters?
Together, we developed a complete digital presence that included:
- A professionally designed, mobile-friendly campaign website
- Clear, voter-focused content explaining Cassandra’s experience and qualifications
- Search engine optimization to improve visibility for campaign and court-related searches
- Integrated voter resources, including registration, polling locations, absentee ballot information, and early voting details
- Consistent branding across the campaign’s digital platforms
Rather than overwhelming visitors with legal terminology, the website explained the role of the Queens Surrogate’s Court in plain language, helping voters understand how the court serves families throughout Queens.
The Results
The website quickly became a valuable resource throughout the campaign. Visitors used the site to learn about Cassandra Johnson’s background, understand the responsibilities of the Surrogate’s Court, and access official voting information.
Following the primary election, Cassandra Johnson advanced to the general election after defeating her opponent. On November 5, 2024, she was elected Queens Surrogate’s Court Judge with 420,801 votes, earning 63.7% of the vote. She officially began serving her fourteen-year term on January 1st, 2025.
While elections are influenced by many factors, the campaign website provided a trusted destination where voters could learn about the candidate and easily access reliable election information throughout the campaign.
Official Results: Queens Surrogates Court General Election, November 5th, 2024
| Candidate | Votes | Vote Share | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cassandra A. Johnson ★ | 420,801 | 63.7% | Elected |
| Stephen Weiner | 238,315 | 36.3% | Not elected |
★ Digital Marketing Solutions International client
What This Project Says About How We Work
This project reflects an important part of the DMS International philosophy. We believe strong digital solutions begin with listening.
Before building anything, we work to understand the client’s goals, the audience they need to reach, and the information people need most. In this case, our role wasn’t simply to build a website.
It was to help create a clear, accessible source of information that supported the campaign’s communication efforts while making it easier for voters to engage with the election process.
That same approach guides every project we take on, whether we’re supporting a business, a nonprofit organization, or a community initiative.
Client Testimonial
“The team at Digital Marketing Solutions International is top-notch. Not only do they work quickly, their work is professional and high quality. I would highly recommend Digital Marketing Solutions as your preferred vendor for all of your website, social campaigns, and digital needs.”
– Cassandra Johnson, Queens Supreme & Surrogate Court Judge
Works Citied
Queens Daily Eagle — “Johnson wins race for Surrogate’s Court” (Nov 7, 2024)
https://queenseagle.com/all/2024/11/7/johnson-wins-race-for-surrogates-court
St. John’s University — “Alumna Sworn in as Historic Queens Surrogate’s Court Judge” (Jan 24, 2025)
https://www.stjohns.edu/news-media/news/2025-01-24/alumna-sworn-historic-queens-surrogate-court-judge
NYC Board of Elections — “Statement and Return Report for Certification, General Election 2024, Surrogate (Queens)”
https://vote.nyc/sites/default/files/pdf/election_results/2024/20241105General%20Election/00401300013Queens%20Surrogate%20Queens%20Recap.pdf
NYC Board of Elections — “Statement and Return Report by Election District, General Election 2024, Surrogate (Queens)”
https://vote.nyc/sites/default/files/pdf/election_results/2024/20241105General%20Election/00401300013Queens%20Surrogate%20Queens%20EDLevel.pdf
Ballotpedia — “Cassandra Johnson” (term dates, general-election result)
https://ballotpedia.org/Cassandra_Johnson