Local Selection: Recent Episodes
Brian Hastert
Today's guest: Texas State Rep. James Talarico – district 50
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow James on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Instagram: @jamestalarico
Twitter: @jamestalarico
TikTok: @jamestalarico
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Follow our host for videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Ep. 24 – Helena Hernandez, Director of Public Policy at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC; and Karen Nelson, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Maryland
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then for goodness' sake wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)Learn more about PP Metro Washington DC here
Follow them on Instagram or Twitter
Learn more about PP Maryland here
Follow them on Instagram or Twitter
If you or someone you know needs abortion services and aren’t sure where to go, start here
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow Brian for more politics and (mostly) videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Ep. 23 – Georgia State Representative Park CannonRecorded in a living room in Atlanta, GA"This idea of queering politics – it’s been fun. We’ve had drag show fundraisers for campaigns. Yes we have." – Park Cannon
You can order a copy of Park’s book, The Universal Guide to Running for Office
Here’s more info on the recently enacted gerrymandered Georgia maps
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow Park on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @CannonFor58
Instagram: @parkcannon58
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Shiva RajbhandariRecorded via video conferencing
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
Check out the fabulous merch!
Follow Shiva on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @_Shiva_R
Instagram: @shiva_rajbhandari
Further reading:Idaho’s Far Right Suffers Election Loss to 18-Year-Old Climate Activist from The Intercept
Idaho librarian resigns over ‘atmosphere of extremism’ and ‘intimidation tactics’ from The Guardian
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Kurt Thigpen – First Out LGBTQ School Board Member in NevadaRecorded at Ace Studios, Reno, NV
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com for fabulous merchand our Patreon! It helps make this podcast sustainable!
Follow [guest] on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @KurtThigpen
Instagram: @KurtThigpen
Links:
Kurt’s resignation op-ed and link to buy his book about how to campaign for office
NPR article about the groups funding school board protests
National Education Association article about the school board protests
Politico article on conservative groups pouring money into school board races (Sept. ’22)
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Gabby Salinas, former candidate for TN state legislature*Recorded live at Moma BBQ, Memphis, TN
"I think people power is extremely important."* – Gabby Salinas
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.comand fabulous merch
Follow Gabby Salinas on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Facebook: @VoteForGabby
Twitter: @GabbySalinas
Instagram: @VoteForGabby
You can read more about the forces behind gerrymandering, fair districts, and flipping the Michigan State Legislature here. If you wanna read about the reality detachment of the previous leadership there, here ya go.
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Mauree Turner, Oklahoma State Rep. House District 88*Recorded live at Sincerely Coffee Roasters, Oklahoma City, OK
"Oklahoma’s not a red state, but its voice is real red."* – Mauree Turner
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow Mauree Turner on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Mauree’s Website – check it out!
Facebook: @MaureeTurnerOK
Twitter: @MaureeTurnerOK
Instagram: @MaureeTurnerOK
Mauree mentioned several individuals who were killed by Oklahoma police. Here are links if you want to know more about the circumstances around the violent deaths at the hands of law enforcement of Terence Crutcher, Bennie Edwards, Derrick Scott, or Isaiah Lewis. Here is the Mapping Police Violence Project, whose horrifying data I sighted. And here is Heather McGhee’s brilliant podcast, The Sum of Us.
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Kelly Krout, candidate for Arkansas Lieutenant Governor
Recorded live in Kelly’s home, Atlanta, GA“So much of the crap we saw go down in the Arkansas state legislature is not giving every single human equal dignity, and that bothers me at a core level,” – Kelly Krout
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow Kelly Krout on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Kelly’s Campaign Website – check it out!
TikTok: @KellyForArkansas
Facebook: @KellyForArkansas
Twitter: @Kelly4Arkansas
Instagram: @KellyForArkansas
Those TikTok’s I played in the intro? Here’s the Lt. Gov. song, and here is the response to the law banning abortions in AK.
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Bee Nguyen, Candidate for Georgia Secretary of State
Recorded live in Bee’s home, Atlanta, GA"We are battling efforts to subvert democracy." – Bee Nguyen
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow Bee Nguyen on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Bee’s campaign website – check it out!
Twitter: @BeeForGeorgia
Instagram: @BeeForGeorgia
Here is the APM Reports article on voter suppression tactics in the Georgia 2018 governor’s race I mentioned in the intro.
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Jecorey Arthur, Louisville Metro Council Member District 4Recorded live in Jecorey’s council office, downtown Louisville"I think of politics almost in the same way that I think of brushing your teeth. You should do it at least twice a day." – Jecorey Arthur
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow Jecorey Arthur on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Facebook: @jecoreyarthur
YouTube: @jecoreyarthur
Twitter: @jecoreyarthur
Instagram: @jecoreyarthur
More info on his website. Here are the links to the article in Capital B News, and here is the video of the press conference where Jecorey speaks to the public following a shooting death.
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Stephe Koontz, Doraville, Georgia City CouncilmemberInterviewed in English Oak Park, Doraville, Georgia“I became the first transgender person in the southeastern United States to win a contested,” – Stephe Koontz
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow Stephe on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Instagram: @stephekoontz
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Ep. 14 London Lamar, Tennessee State Representative, district 91"Two things that I always want us to go into 2022 having: Grace and Accountability." – London Lamar
Follow Rep. Lamar on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @RepLamar
Instagram: @LondonLamarTN
Some links to things we talked about:
--Tennessee’s redistricting that combines London Lamar’s district with her fellow youngest member
--In Tennessee, Trying to Help Voters Could Get You Charged With a Crime
--An elected county judge in Tennessee is responsible for this: Black Children Were Jailed for a Crime that Doesn’t Exist.
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Anna Eskamani, Florida State Representative District 47"When you’re most afraid to speak is when you must speak." –Anna Eskamani
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow [guest] on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @AnnaForFlorida
Instagram: @AnnaForFlorida
TikTok: @AnnaForFlorida
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Nida Allam, Durham County Commissioner"No one can tell you to wait your turn. No one can tell you that you can't do it." - Nida Allam
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Here’s an article about the study I mentioned about North Carolina no longer qualifying as a functional democracy.
The study’s author, Andrew Reynolds, a professor at UNC – Chapel Hill, taking a victory lap two years later:
Check out our Website! – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)Follow Nida on the socials!
Twitter: @nidaallam
Instagram: @nidaallam
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Articles on Ken Blackwell and 2004 Ohio voter suppression and election rigging:
Ken Blackwell’s Greatest “Hits”: Voting Edition – ACLU Ohio https://www.acluohio.org/archives/blog-posts/ken-blackwells-greatest-hits
Mother Jones on voting machines (pre-election) https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2004/03/diebolds-political-machine/
NY Times: Glitch Found in Ohio Counting https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/06/politics/campaign/glitch-found-in-ohio-counting.html
Follow Jocelyn Benson on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @JocelynBenson
Instagram: @JocelynBenson
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Christina Haswood, Kansas State Representative, House District 10"How many times in this room of the House of the Chamber are the discussions that try to take and dehumanize Indigenous peoples and Native Americans? I was like, man, whatever they tried to do in this room, it didn’t work. It failed. I’m here." – Christina Haswood
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow Christina on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @HaswoodforKS
TikTok: @HaswoodforKS
Instagram: @HaswoodforKS
Here is a link specifically to the TikTok from the swearing in ceremony
And here is the link to the FABULOUS video explainer of "The Kansas Experiment" (aka, "the Brownback Experiment") from Loud Light that Christina mentioned in the interview.
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Katie Rosenberg, Mayor of Wausau, Wisconsin"I know we have the philosophical debates, but at the end of the day it’s like: do we care about our neighbors or do we not?" – Katie Rosenberg
Follow Katie on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @katierosenberg
Here’s the website for Mayors for a Guaranteed Income.
Here’s an NPR article with the results I referenced from the Michael Tubbs’ foray into guaranteed income in Stockton, aka the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration.
Please consider supporting Local Selection on Patreon.
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Lorena González, Seattle City Council President and Candidate for Mayor of Seattle "Seattle is an example of how you can be reforming your police department for 12 years and still get a knee on the neck when you’re protesting." – Lorena González
If you like what you heard here today, please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
Follow Lorena González on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @cmlgonzalez (mayoral campaign account: @mlorenagonzalez
Instagram: @cmlorenagonzalez (mayoral campaign IG: @lorena4seattle)
Here is an article with more coverage of the police budget negotiations from Sept. 2020. The article includes a local King 5 news station video that features today’s guest – give it a watch.
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Madinah Wilson-Anton, Delaware State Representative - district 26"They thought we were joke candidates, they didn’t think we had a shot at all. And then to see all of us sweep out incumbants? People were like – oh crap. Maybe people actually want the things that are on their websites. Maybe we should act differently. And that’s real power." – Madinah Wilson-Anton
Please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainable
Check out our Website – localselectionpodcast.com
We now have fabulous merch! If you want everyone to know you think Local Representation is Sexy then you owe it to yourself to wear it on a t-shirt! (or mug or notebook or stickers etc)
Follow Madinah on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @MadinahForDE
Instagram: @MadinahForDE
And here's her website that I glowed about in the interview.
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:
Instagram: @bhastert
Twitter: @bhastert
Santa Claus, North Pole City Council, Alaska "That whole love vs. fear dynamic that kept popping up through my different careers." - Santa Claus
You can't follow (this) Santa on social media, as awesome as that would be, but he does have a website you can visit: santaclausnorthpolealaska.com
For more background on some of the stats I mention re: the challenges that adults have created for children in America:
Stats on children and teens killed by guns, more info on child gun deaths with more info on race and immigration factors
Uninsured children rates rise
Trying minors as adults (and why it is bad)
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country:
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries:
Twitter: @bhastert
Instagram: @bhastert
Follow on Twitter: @LocalSelection and Instagram: @LocalSelectionPodcast
Today's episode features gasp two guests who are not elected officials.
We're talking about activism, and moments of "gateway activism". How we encourage others and ourselves to notice our relative privileges and turn holiday charity aimed at the hardship of the moment into activism aimed at the systems that perpetuate these hardships year after year.
Megan Merrick is a nurse in Denver who works mainly with severely ill children and their families. In May she appeared with Brian on the 24+ hour filibuster Hold The Floor. More about that at holdthefloor.info, and videos of the event on Instagram - @bhastert.
Jonathan Judge is the Director of Youth Engagement at Rise Above Colorado, an organization founded to help empower teenagers to make healthy choices and avoid substance abuse. More info at iriseaboveco.org.
Some additional reading on the darker origins of Thanksgiving.
The books that Megan mentioned:
No One Ever Asked Me: The World War II Memoirs of an Omaha Indian Soldier
A Little Radical: The ABCs of Activism
A Child's First Book of Trump - by Michael Ian Black
Leslie Herod, Colorad State RepRecorded on location at Honey Hill Café in Denver, CO"The best of us looks out for each of us." - Leslie Herod
Follow Leslie on the socials! You will be glad you did.
Twitter: @LeslieHerod
Instagram: @LeslieHerod
Follow US for more local democracy info around the country and bts shots:
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Instagram: @localselectionpodcast
Follow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries:
Twitter: @bhastert
Instagram: @bhastert
"The courage given to others to do what feels scary, and uncomfortable, and unpopular."
Follow us!
Instagram: @LocalSelectionPodcast
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Megan Hunt, Nebraska State Senator for Nebraska's 8th District (Omaha)
Twitter: @NebraskaMegan
Instagram: @nebraskamegan (gov't)
@402meg (all purpose)
@shopfivenine (her business which you should totally check out because it is fabulous and also support small businesses!)
Intro
The swing district of Nebraska's 2nd Congressional district - which includes Megan Hunt's area - that sent one electoral college vote to Biden and very nearly was the deciding point for the entire election
A brief explainer of how Ernie Chambers, legendary Nebraska public servant, is responsible for that one electoral vote
The impact of local voices - like in Omaha and in Georgia - in shaping national politics
Interview
Food and housing insecurity amongst Nebraskans during COVID
"The Economy Is People"
Megan's thoughts on the dubious distinction of being the first LGBTQ+ state senator in Nebraska's history - and holding the door open for more representation in every sphere of life
Megan's legislation allowing NCAA athletes to profit on their own "name, image, and likeness", and the institutional racism behind keeping them poor
The legend and legacy of Ernie Chambers
Racism in Omaha policing during the summer's protests (and beyond)
Closing thoughts
"Indigenous Woman Coming Through!" - Gabriella Cázares-Kelly
Follow us!
Instagram: @LocalSelectionPodcast
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, candidate for Pima County Recorder, Arizona
Twitter: @gabriella_for
Instagram: @gabriellaforrecorder
(you should totally follow her, she is active and endearing)
Intro
There are few crimes I have more disdain for than voter suppression.
I can think of but one reason to deny people their voice in government -
So that you can exploit them to enrich yourself.
In this intro I introduce my thesis that the only reasonable goal regarding the franchise is:
100% voter registration, 100% voter participation.
If you are shooting for anything shy of that, you have to ask yourself who are you leaving out and why are you afraid to admit their voice into the process.
Interview
Gabriella talks about the structural barriers erected to prevent Indigenous folks from voting in this country, and how she plans to use the office of County Recorder to tear down those barriers in places like the Tohono O'odham Nation where she grew up.
She offers perspective about the inequities exacerbated in the COVID pandemic in places like Navajo Nation.
She talks about the way local budgets can spell life and death for people in Pima County in ways you may never imagine unless you lived there.
She offers advice for people who want to build diversity (hint - be intentional and be ready to pay for people's expertise and labor!)
And she has some beautiful words to help us keep changing the landscape even if every seed we plant doesn't become a tree.
"Even after Nov. 3rd, we have to make sure that civic engagement is at the top of our list" - Shev Jones
Welcome to Local Selection!
Follow us!
Instagram: @LocalSelectionPodcast
Twitter: @LocalSelection
Shevrin Jones, candidate for Florida state senate in district 35Twitter: @ShevrinJones
Instagram: @shevrinjones
(editor's note: Shev was a candidate for Florida State Senator at the time of this interview and has since been ELECTED!!!)
Why should I care about local representation? Don't we have bigger fish to fry?
The media focuses its attention - and therefore our attention - on a few national level offices like President and some Senate offices.
BUT!
Life happens at the local level! And the decisions made at the city, county, and state level have an ENORMOUS impact on our actual lives.
It's not just tax codes and jaywalking ordinances (not that those aren't exciting).
Housing discrimination gets encoded in city council meetings, and white supremacy is enforced by municipal police departments or county sheriffs.
By the same token, those laws, those rules, and those budgets can be unwritten and renegotiated in those same offices.
And the people who run for these offices are accessible! They live in your town, they get coffee from your favorite coffee spot. Sometimes they even check their own email!
And there is no shortage of awesome, inspiring people who are stepping up to run and occupy these offices, and to use their power to tear down oppressive structures and help make their communities more just, more equitable, and more compassionate.
We will never achieve justice at the national level until we can practice it at the local level.
We will never achieve equity at the national level until we can practice it at the local level.
What we have to work on is our imagination. We need to practice imagining what that society might look like if we practiced our values instead of believing them to be out of reach.
And we need role models of inspiration to activate our imaginations.
This podcast is on a quest to introduce you to these role models. They exist, right now, all over the country. They are regular people, but they are willing to exercise their imaginations and then do the work to make it real.
Before Shev joins the episode I spend a little time on a brief history of Florida's state level politics.
State level politics are local - until they are national.
Florida's state level politics are everybody's issue.
Enter Shev Jones.
Shev talks about what it means to be the first openly gay African-American member of the Florida state legislature - and what it doesn't mean.
He talks about what it is to be that person - and walk into local meetings of Florida Republicans. Because after all he represents them, too.
He talks about leading Bill Writing Workshops for his constituents, including one law he got passed that started with his constituents in one of the workshops.
He shares his workout tips (because I asked him - this guy has arms for days! Sorry not sorry)
And some tips for how to stay sane and stay grounded while s