CO-GOV: Republican hardliner Tom Tancredo jumps into crowded Colorado race

After back-to-back losses in 2010 and 2014, immigration hardliner and former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo plans to try again in 2018 to become Colorado’s next governor — a move spurred in part by his anger at Republicans for not protesting when a Colorado Springs resort canceled a white nationalist conference where he was supposed to speak.

His entry into a crowded Republican field adds a combustible element to a primary already brewing with rivalries, and it could provide new insight into the mood of the Colorado GOP at the start of the Trump administration.

“I think people really are ready for somebody who is not a part of the establishment, and that is certainly yours truly,” said Tancredo in a phone call confirming his bid.

The last time Tancredo ran for governor, he lost by about 3 percentage points in the Republican primary to Bob Beauprez, another former congressman, in a four-way race.


http://www.denverpost.com/2017/10/31/tom-tancredo-joins-republican-governor-primary/

Hannity suddenly worried about Equal Justice Under Law

Candidates 2017: Liliana Bakhtiari for Atlanta City Council

My name is Liliana Bakhtiari, or “Leila” to my family, and I am proud to be running for Atlanta City Council, District 5. Our district is a diverse patchwork including: ADNA, Fourth and Sand, Central Atlanta Neighbors, Old Fourth Ward, Sweet Auburn Neighborhood, Fourth Ward West, Edgewood Neighborhood, Kirkwood, Cabbagetown, Reynoldstown, East Atlanta, Lake Claire, East Lake, Ormewood Park, and Grant Park.

I was born and raised right here in the heart of Atlanta. My father, an Iranian immigrant, was a pharmacist and my mother was a dental hygienist who worked hard to put him through medical school. I was born at Piedmont Hospital during a time when my father was working at Grady, going to school at GSU, and raising a family here in Atlanta, thousands of miles away from his Middle Eastern upbringing. All the while my tenacious mother balanced her dental career, publishing her writing, and raising me and my younger brother Sina. With such busy and driven parents, I learned from a young age how to pitch in and help, often taking care of my brother, who had asthma and needed to be looked after.

My father has owned a pharmacy on Edgewood Avenue across from the Sweet Auburn Market almost my entire life, and I grew up working there on weekends. It’s where I learned the value of hard work and what it takes to run a small business, and the difference between living on a street and being a part of a living, breathing community. Auburn Avenue was and is home to me.

My parents bought a bigger house in Lilburn when the pharmacy started to take off, and I graduated from Parkview High School in Gwinnett County before moving back downtown and becoming a GSU student just like my dad. I lived in the dorms and worked hard to pay my own way through college. I was very active in the district while remaining informed and active in international issues – for example, my friends and I began a non-governmental organization our first semester of college dedicated to protesting the tragedies in Darfur. I invested my time in student led coalitions and causes such as the Georgia Dreamers program and affordable education, and also fought for awareness surrounding gentrification, predatory lending, and the growing wealth gap in Atlanta throughout my time as a student.

I followed my passions for people abroad, fighting for every cause from student rights, to women’s rights, and the environment.

I followed these passions to Kenya for an archeological expedition where I also did independent cultural studies on multiple issues including female circumcision, food scarcity, and water accessibility. Soon after, I headed to Cambodia to study the cultural after effects of genocide, to work with women and children who were victims sex trafficking, and also to build housing and hygienic systems for different families in rural parts of the country. I spent additional time in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam working with refugees, volunteering in orphanages and schools for the disabled, organizing with various nonprofits, working in women’s health, studying public infrastructure, and volunteering with small businesses focused on job training and education. I backpacked through Australia for a month on my own, exploring at risk rainforests to the north, and witnessing first hand the destruction of the reefs on the coast. Back in the United States, I found my way to Washington D.C. and worked with The Pulitzer Center for Global Crisis Reporting as well as United Press International. While I was there, I honed my skills in film and photography, and began to focus on storytelling and giving a voice to the voiceless. I founded my own photography company and learned what it took to make ends meet while trying to make the world a better place.


https://www.lilianaforatlanta.com/from-liliana-for-atlanta/

Candidates 2017: Kirkland Carden for Duluth (GA) City Council

I grew up in Duluth and have lived in the city since 2004. I currently live in the Riverbrooke subdivision.

I am a proud graduate of Duluth High School. I regularly attend Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. Duluth is my home and the community in which those that I love have chosen to call home. Like you, I’ve chosen to invest in the future of Duluth.

I have had a long-standing personal commitment to the people of Gwinnett County and specifically the City of Duluth, which is why I participated in the Duluth L.E.A.D Academy (2011), The Duluth Citizens Police Academy (2016) and The Citizen's Budget Advisory Board (2016). Through these programs I gained an understanding from city staff on how our city functions and developed an understanding of how I could contribute to this city’s future development.

https://www.kirkland4duluth.com

Candidates 2017: Tay Anderson for Denver School Board

Auontai (Tay) Anderson is the former Student Body President of Manual High School, having served three consecutive terms. He also served as Chair of the Colorado High School Democrats and he is the former State Central Committeeman for HD9. Tay has been passionate about his education since he walked through the doors of Manual High School. He started his high school journey at the same time as the new principal Nick Dawkins, and soon discovered that they shared like-minded visions about where they wanted the school to go. Together, Tay and Principal Dawkins worked to ensure Manual High’s success in every way possible.

Tay dedicates his time to the students of Denver Public Schools because he knows that every student is bigger than the narrative told about them. Giving students the opportunity to have experiences that could foster their potential became a priority for Tay. Working alongside three other students, he helped to secure a grant that arranged for three Manual students and one staff member to travel to Washington D.C. to explore historical landmarks and colleges. These efforts created a newfound enthusiasm among students. Longstanding educators have supported him, and one even told him, “Tay, you’ve single handedly increased the school spirit here at Manual and I’ve been here since we’ve reopened.” Tay helped rebuild and reinvigorate interest in student government, increasing participation from 3 students in 2014-2015 to over 50 students in the last two years. Tay is a proud Thunderbolt, working hard to follow in the steps of Mayor Wellington Webb and other great alumni.

Tay has been a member of the Manual Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps (J.R.O.T.C), and will be ending his position upon graduation. He has proudly served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 5th Battalion. He was part of the staff that earned Manual the “Honor Unit with Distinction Award” or the “Gold Star Award.” Tay worked to restore the J.R.O.T.C Honor Platoon, otherwise known as the step team. He is also the recipient of the Purple Heart Award, which is known as a National Leadership Award within the program.

Tay passionately believes in and participates in social activism. He has taken a stand to support women’s rights, black rights, Latinx rights, LGBTQ+ rights, Native rights, Muslim rights, and disabled persons’ rights. He has participated in numerous public demonstrations as well as conversations and meetings with school district and state leaders on social activism. Because of his commitment to and determination to raise awareness about these issues, Tay helped bring light to these important causes and has rallied his community to stand beside him and take action. These efforts have garnered vital attention through various media outlets such as The Huffington Post, Denver Channel, Chalkbeat, Fox 31 Denver, Channel 9, Channel 7, Denver Post, Denverite and many more.


https://www.tayanderson.org

Candidates 2017: Suzy Brundage for Thorton (CO) City Council

Suzie’s childhood was not always easy, and she and her family had times in which they struggled. However, the support she received from her community in Thornton provided her with the opportunity to succeed and fostered a deep appreciation for the power of listening to others and acting with compassion. In fact, it is what inspired her to pursue a life of service. After college graduation, Suzie chose to move back to Thornton with her college sweetheart Chris for a simple reason: she loves this community!

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Suzie has dedicated her life to serving others. She currently works in hospice, supporting individuals and their families in what is often the most challenging time of their life. Suzie is also the youngest board member in the history of Thornton’s Active Adult Advisory Board, which promotes the wellbeing of Thornton’s older adults. Suzie’s expertise and professional experiences have fostered a deep understanding of how governmental policies affect individuals and families, and she will use that knowledge to advocate for all residents in future decisions on the council.

Suzie will bring to the council her intimate knowledge of the Thornton community. Suzie moved to Thornton with her family in 1994. She received a quality public education through Adams 12 schools and and is a graduate of Horizon High School. Suzie is proud to raise her daughter Avery in the same community that she was raised, and she will work hard to ensure Thornton is a place where everyone can have a fair shot at success, just as she did almost two decades ago.


https://www.suziebrundage.com

Candidates 2017: Christie Holstage for Palm Springs (CA) City Council

Prior to joining Gilbert & Bourke, Christy earned a Stanford Law School-Stanford Public Interest Foundation Fellowship and funding to establish a legal aid clinic for domestic violence survivors within the Coachella Valley’s only domestic violence shelter, Shelter From The Storm. Christy has also represented farmworkers in civil rights, housing, and employment litigation at California Rural Legal Assistance in Coachella, California.

Christy earned a J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from UC Santa Barbara. Christy serves on the board of directors for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, Well in the Desert, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, and Shadylane Mobilehome Park. She also serves on the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission and the Palm Springs Homelessness Task Force.

Christy is proud to live in Palm Springs, with her husband Adam Gilbert, who is a business owner and a third-generation resident of Palm Springs, and their dog Layla. They live in Sonora Sunrise in a home that their family has resided in for over 45 years.



http://www.electchristy.com

Candidates 2017: Kyra deGruy for Lakewood (CO) City Council

My vision for Lakewood is one of community. Where people come together regardless of what end of the political, religious, or social spectrum they identify with. Where we all value our land, our families, and each other. Where we have the best police, schools, and health in the state.

As a City Councilwoman, I’ll do my best to be an ally for all residents of Ward One. I’ll listen, and make decisions based on what the community wants, rather than the wants of vested interests or my own opinions.

I’m already working, and will continue to work on making the Sustainable Neighborhood Program even more effective. Making sustainability in Lakewood a priority gives future generations the gift that we’ve been so freely given, living in such close proximity to nature.

I’ll choose responsible development, rather than jumping the gun on building and expansion. Lakewood is growing, and we need a council who understands how to demand responsible and sustainable efforts from developers.


https://www.crowdpac.com/campaigns/258979/kyra-degruy

Candidates 2017: Noella Corzo for San Mateo-Foster City (CA) School Board.

I am a San Mateo native and graduate of our San Mateo-Foster City School District. I was an economically disadvantaged English Learner, and the dedication of my teachers at Park School, Abbott Middle School, and San Mateo High School have shaped the person I am today. These experiences imparted the value of education and my deeply held belief that all students should be empowered to reach their potential.

As a member of the school community, I am an involved parent and PTA-member. My six year old son attends Fiesta Gardens International School, where he studies English and Spanish. I am bi-lingual and Spanish is my first language. Today I support English language learners in our district by serving on the board of FGIS' PTA as the English Language Advisory Committee and as the PTA Liaison for the District English Language Advisory Committee.
​
I am a graduate of our local community college district and hold a Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology. For several years, I worked in the finance and business sector before turning to the nonprofit sector. Today, my work centers around providing services to children and adults with developmental disabilities as a Social Worker.

I value diversity in my friendships and community, and I enjoy working with people from all walks of life. I am a life-long volunteer and I currently serve on the executive board of the San Mateo County Latina/o Democratic Club. I appreciate the opportunity to interact with so many community members as an AYSO soccer coach, member at my church, and local YMCA.


https://www.votenoeliacorzo.com

Legal Analyst: Papadaoulos is likely flipping