Local Selection

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 sustainableCheck out our Website – localselectionpodcast.comWe 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: @LondonLamarTNSome 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.comWe 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 sustainableCheck out our Website – localselectionpodcast.comWe 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: @AnnaForFloridaFollow 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 AllamPlease consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainableHere'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.comWe 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: @nidaallamInstagram: @nidaallamFollow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):Twitter: @LocalSelectionInstagram: @localselectionpodcastFollow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:Instagram: @bhastertTwitter: @bhastert

Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of StatePlease consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainableCheck out our Website – localselectionpodcast.comWe 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-hitsMother 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.htmlFollow Jocelyn Benson on the socials! You will be glad you did.Twitter: @JocelynBensonInstagram: @JocelynBensonFollow US for more local democracy info around the country (and pictures!):Twitter: @LocalSelectionInstagram: @localselectionpodcastFollow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:Instagram: @bhastertTwitter: @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 HaswoodPlease consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainableCheck out our Website – localselectionpodcast.comWe 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: @HaswoodforKSTikTok: @HaswoodforKSInstagram: @HaswoodforKSHere is a link specifically to the TikTok from the swearing in ceremonyAnd 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: @LocalSelectionInstagram: @localselectionpodcastFollow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries and doing chores:Instagram: @bhastertTwitter: @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: @katierosenbergHere'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.comWe 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 GonzálezIf you like what you heard here today, please consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainableWe 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.comFollow Lorena González on the socials! You will be glad you did.Twitter: @cmlgonzalez (mayoral campaign account: @mlorenagonzalezInstagram: @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-AntonPlease consider supporting us on Patreon and help make this series sustainableCheck out our Website – localselectionpodcast.comWe 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: @MadinahForDEAnd 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: @bhastertTwitter: @bhastert

Santa Claus, North Pole City Council, Alaska"That whole love vs. fear dynamic that kept popping up through my different careers." - Santa ClausYou can't follow (this) Santa on social media, as awesome as that would be, but he does have a website you can visit: santaclausnorthpolealaska.comFor 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 factorsUninsured children rates riseTrying minors as adults (and why it is bad)Follow US for more local democracy info around the country:Twitter: @LocalSelectionInstagram: @localselectionpodcastFollow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries:Twitter: @bhastertInstagram: @bhastert

Follow on Twitter: @LocalSelection and Instagram: @LocalSelectionPodcastToday'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 SoldierA Little Radical: The ABCs of ActivismA 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 HerodFollow Leslie on the socials! You will be glad you did.Twitter: @LeslieHerodInstagram: @LeslieHerodFollow US for more local democracy info around the country and bts shots:Twitter: @LocalSelectionInstagram: @localselectionpodcastFollow our host for his v feisty political thoughts and/or videos of him eating pastries:Twitter: @bhastertInstagram: @bhastert

"The courage given to others to do what feels scary, and uncomfortable, and unpopular."Follow us!Instagram: @LocalSelectionPodcastTwitter: @LocalSelectionMegan Hunt, Nebraska State Senator for Nebraska's 8th District (Omaha)Twitter: @NebraskaMeganInstagram: @nebraskamegan (gov't)@402meg (all purpose)@shopfivenine (her business which you should totally check out because it is fabulous and also support small businesses!)IntroThe 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 electionA brief explainer of how Ernie Chambers, legendary Nebraska public servant, is responsible for that one electoral voteThe impact of local voices - like in Omaha and in Georgia - in shaping national politicsInterviewFood 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 lifeMegan's legislation allowing NCAA athletes to profit on their own "name, image, and likeness", and the institutional racism behind keeping them poorThe legend and legacy of Ernie ChambersRacism in Omaha policing during the summer's protests (and beyond)Closing thoughts 

"Indigenous Woman Coming Through!" - Gabriella Cázares-KellyFollow us!Instagram: @LocalSelectionPodcastTwitter: @LocalSelectionGabriella Cázares-Kelly, candidate for Pima County Recorder, ArizonaTwitter: @gabriella_forInstagram: @gabriellaforrecorder(you should totally follow her, she is active and endearing)IntroThere 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.InterviewGabriella 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 JonesWelcome to Local Selection!Follow us!Instagram: @LocalSelectionPodcastTwitter: @LocalSelectionShevrin Jones, candidate for Florida state senate in district 35Twitter: @ShevrinJonesInstagram: @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

A Podquest to Make Local Representation Sexy