• Audio Statement: Download or Stream to Media Player (mp3 format)
• Nomination Statement
• Candidate Questionnaire

I first encountered Pacifica in 1970 when I was attending Rice University in Houston, Texas. At the height of the Vietnam War, an amazing new station came on the air broadcasting anti-war progressive voices.

It was exhilarating and at the time a somber experience because the station was bombed off the air shortly after it began its broadcast.

But it crystallized for me why Pacifica needs to be on the sir.

In an era when corporations own the media and control both the Democratic and Republican parties, the efforts to silence Pacifica are more subtle and subversive. So it is critically important that we are ever more vigilant to defend and strengthen this vital source for voicing progressive ideas.

1. I believe the health of Pacifica depends on transparency in all station affairs to prevent future anti-democratic takeovers of its operations.

2. I believe that the strength of Pacifica depends on building a strong progressive membership by providing engaged and engaging programs.

The KPFA LSB can play an important role to cultivate a strong progressive membership and to ensure the transparency of station operations.

I came to the United States in 1957 as a ten year old not speaking a word of English. It was a short time after the end of WWII and I encountered many racist incidents, but was also heartened at how the white working class neighborhood of Yonkers, NY welcomed us, the only Japanese family in the neighborhood, and helped us become part of their community. It left an indelible impression on me of the basic kindness of people and the possibilities of bridging the cultural divide.

I have been a pro-earth anti-corporate progressive since the '60's. My most recent involvement has been working on the referendum petition drive to stop Oakland's Oak-To-Ninth project. This project is one in which the elected officials of Oakland sold off the last remaining public water front land, which the citizens had voted to convert into a major park, to a developer to build condo units. It is a textbook example of the corrupting influence of corporate money on politics.

I have worked as a manager and a director for a number of Silicon Valley start-ups, where I learned that the biggest challenge to any endeavor is not the technical obstacles, but rather getting a group of individuals to all work for a common goal.

My daughter is finishing her last year of college, and I would like to be given the opportunity to help strengthen the network which I first encountered in my college days.

Endorsed by Social Justice Committee, Berkeley Fed of Unitarian Universalists, Anne Fagan Ginger, Carl Halstadt and Cynthia Johnson, Todd Chretian, Peter Camejo.

1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?

I believe the future of our planet depends on moving towards a more pro-earth, non-consuming society. Pacifica is a crucial resource for promoting those progressive ideas. I want to help defend the network from corporate influences and strengthen the network by increasing the number of progressive listeners.

2. How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, KPFA and the community?

I think the focus of the LSB should be to ensure transparency at our local station and to help strengthen the local membership. I believe by working to have a strong, healthy local station, we can in turn help the other members of the Pacifica network.

3. How could the station better serve its listeners?

One way for the station to serve its listeners is for the station to provide an avenue for the listeners to provide direct feedback to the station. In this day of the Internet, the station should have a website where listeners can have an online dialogue concerning programs and issues that were aired.

4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in under-represented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?

I believe that the most effective type of programming for underrepresented communities is one in which they are provided an opportunity to share a point of view with the wider listening audience. The station should actively recruit highly competent individuals from such communities to arrange programs and interviews with relevant members of their communities. I think that we should learn from our own success.

For example, Voices of the Middle East is another example of good programming and the type that truly typifies what KPFA strives to be. In this program, we are given a perspective on the Middle East unavailable elsewhere. We learn the impact that US policies are having. I believe similar views are critical for understanding things going on in South America, Indo-China, etc.

5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFA should solicit?

KPFA should solicit funds from individuals and organizations only if there are no strings attached. KPFA should never succumb to the temptation of meeting its financial needs by becoming dependent on corporations or wealthy individuals.

6. Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board?

My most relevant experience is as a dedicated listener who believes in progressive causes.

I have always been involved in working for the progressive agenda, most recently working on the referendum petition drive to overturn the corporate giveaway by the Oakland City Council where they gave away public water front property to a private developer.

I have also been a manager and director for numbers of companies in Silicon Valley where I learned that the most difficult task is not the technical obstacles, but getting groups of individuals to all work together for a common goal.

7. Do you anticipate missing any Local Station Board meetings due to family or job-related problems or inadequate transportation?

No.

8. On which Local Station Board Committees are you interested in actively serving?

I would initially like to work in the Outreach committee. I would like to help increase the number of KPFA listeners.