Author Archives: Claudia Shambaugh

Ask A Voter – Midterm Elections 2022

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Welcome to the Nov 8, 2022 edition of “Ask A Voter.” We made it, today is the Midterm Elections 2022. As our tradition goes, this program morphs into Ask A Voter. On general elections we fan out across the nation. This year we visit battleground states; heading from the east going west. We open with Ngozi Nnaka, mental health care counselor in Macon, GA and Dawn Walker, non-profit consultant in Athens, GA (minute 1:46). In the next segment (minute 13:13) is Tamina Rawls, retired trauma care professional, now fully a political organizer, based in Detroit, MI. We move on to Madison, WI with Sue Jones, water management retiree, returning with her canvassing experience (minute 20:26). Next is UCI earth system science Ph.D candidate and KUCI public affairs host, Audrey Odwuor (minute 31:40). Closing out the show, staked out in Yuma, AZ is journalist/writer/attorney Sharon Lieb, reporting on her canvassing and poll-watching activities (minute 42:44). They pack this hour with intention and insight, all in the thick of campaigns across the nation!

Music credits: Aaron Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Leonard Bernstein conducting New York; Charlie Haden/Liberation Music Orchestra, “Blue Anthem,” Not In Our Name – album; Berklee We Will Rise Summit, “Lift Every Voice.”

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/AAV11-8-22.mp3

School Boards On The Frontline AND Irvine Mayor Khan Is Invited To Speak

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One week til the midterm elections, folks. After the tsunami of October surprises, we seem to be experiencing November surprises, so keep your critical thinking caps on ever snugly. Today my guests are Allyson Muñiz Damikolas, Tustin Unified School Board member with insights about the trends afoot in Orange County school boards’ composition. Think tectonic plates moving under our feet.

In the second segment the planned guest, who committed to this segment, and despite repeated attempts to reach her live, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan was unavailable. She is running for another term. The host pressed on with election advisories.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Zélia Barbosa, Sertão & Favelas; ”Conga del Fuego” composed by Arturo Marquez, Gustavo Dudamel conducting Simon Bolivar of Venezuela; “Minor Swing,” Black Market Trust, Songs – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/DamikolasKhan1-1-22.mp3

Meet Irvine City Council Candidates: Larry Agran and Navid Sadigh

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Two weeks to go before the election day; so much activity with early voting. Today we hear from two gentlemen running for Irvine City Council, incumbent Larry Agran and Navid Sadigh (minute 36:54). On the menu: Orange County Power Authority, All American Asphalt Co, the Great Park, broadband services, and municipal elected districts.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Elisa Bee, “A Sun That Never Goes Down;” Weather Report, “Young and Fine,” This Is Jazz – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/AgranSadigh10-25-22.mp3

Meet Ryan Dack South OC Comm College Dist Area 6 Candidate AND Meet Irvine Mayoral Candidate Simon Moon And “Nina Simone: Four Women” at So Coast Rep

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Voters around the country, California included, are beginning to vote; the Elect Project Monday posted over 2 million votes have already been cast. Continuing our coverage of down ticket races in the Irvine area, we hear from Ryan Dack candidate for Trustee Area 6 of the South Orange County Community College District.

In the second segment (minute 21:38), pastor and US Army Reserve officer and chaplain Simon Moon will speak about his bid for the mayor of Irvine.

And as time allowed (minute 45:06), a few words from playwright Christina Ham about the current run of her play “Nina Simone: Four Women,” at the South Coast Rep at the Argyros Theater in Costa Mesa. Performances conclude on the evening of 10-23rd. Details for this production are available at: https://www.scr.org/plays/productions/22-23-season/nina-simone-four-women/.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; John Beasley, “Played Twice,” Monk’estra Vol. 2 – album; Silk Road Ensemble with Yo Yo Ma, “Saidi Swing,” A Playlist Without Borders – album; and Nina Simone, “Ain’t Got No – I Got Life.”

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/DackMoonHam10-18-22.mp3

Part 2 of the Dack interview, taking up the college district map and the process of succeeding the recently resigned incumbent: http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Dack210-18-22.mp3

Meet Tom Chomyn Candidate for Irvine Mayor AND Meet Congresswoman Katie Porter

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Voting has already begun in California, among other states – it’s now 27 days til the midterm elections. The first guest on this show is tech sales executive and Irvine mayoral candidate, Tom Chomyn. The Orange Co. Power Authority, city council districts, and the Great Park are topics in tight rotation with city council candidates on this show.

In the second segment (minute 28:10) is Congresswoman Katie Porter, representing the 45th and running in the new 47th CA Congressional Dist. Assuming folks’ familiarity with the Democratic Party’s standard talking points, it’s a fine time to head into some other policy areas for a teachable moment covering: the Inflation Reduction Act, federal flood insurance, and the child tax credit.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; #9 Balsam Range, “Marching Home,” Marching Home – album; Carlie Simon, “Let the River Run,” Working Girl Soundtrack – album; Darryl Taylor performing, “Dreamer” – Eric Santos composer, DREAMER; A Portrait of Langston Hughes – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/ChomynPorter10-11-22.mp3

OC Registrar of Voters on Our Midterms AND Meet Scott Hansen, Irvine City Council Candidate

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First guest will be Orange County’s newish Registrar of Voters Bob Page for our ritual coverage of election logistics as vote by mail ballots will be shipping their way to Californians’ homes. He offers a shopping list of tabs on https://ocvote.gov/ to register to vote, track your ballot, apply for voting center poll work, report improper activities pertaining to elections, and follow the results at 8:05 p.m. 11-8th. Hotlines to keep handy: 714-567-7600 or 888-OC VOTE.

In the second segment (minute 30:13) is Scott Hansen, one of six Irvine City Council candidates running for two seats; one open and the other challenging incumbent Anthony Kuo, who’s been invited to this show, but has not responded.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Brahms Symphony No.1, Marin Alsop conducting London Philharmonic Orchestra; Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, “Outbound,” Outbound – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/PageHansen10-4-22.mp3

Pregnancy in CA, in the US, in 2022 AND California Propositions on the 11-8 Midterm Ballot

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Today’s guest roster opens with Krista Hollinger, Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Orange and San Bernardino Counties, covering what is at stake regarding reproductive public healthcare infrastructure, in the moment we are in.

In the second segment (minute 26:42), Stephanie Campbell, as a volunteer for the League of Women Voters’ Speakers Bureau, speaks in an educational versus an advocacy capacity, speaks about California’s seven statewide propositions: Prop 1, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Chick Corea and Béla Fleck, “Senorita,” The Enchantment – album; Tété, “Par Monts et Vallons (le Long de la Route),” Le sacre des Lemmings – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/HollingerCampbell9-27-22.mp3

Meet MWDOC Division 5 Candidate Randall Crane AND Meet Irvine Mayoral Candidate Branda Lin

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Today we crowd three plus hours worth of civics in under 1 hour! There won’t be a quiz after the show, but voters must complete all their ballots, which includes these two races. First, Randall Crane, Professor Emeritus at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs and Irvine resident, is running in Division 5 of the Municipal Water District of Orange County. In the second segment (minute 35:13), Branda Lin, co-founder of Irvine Watchdog, this time dons her candidate hat, in her bid to run for Mayor of Irvine. She is one of 4 candidates challenging the incumbent mayor.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Bill Beach, “Aqua de Beber,” Letting Go – album; Magwinya, “Magwinya Mangola neWhite Liver,” Spaza – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/CraneLin09-20-22.mp3

CA National Women’s Caucus in the Midterms AND Meet Kathleen Treseder Candidate for Irvine City Council 

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Karriann Farrell Hinds, CA President of the National Women’s Political Caucus, examines state and local races with women running in the Midterm elections 2022. Lots of ground moving under the campaigns with all the red dot blue state action here.

In the second segment (minute 28:17), returning to the show is UCI professor Kathleen Treseder, this time as a full-on candidate for Irvine City Council; energy, climate goals, and democracy are on the City Council ballot. An Irvine candidate forum will be hosted by Irvine Watchdog and moderated by our very own Prof Richard Matthew, Sept 29th 7pm. That might be necessary since not every candidate makes it possible for me to reach them for these nice little interviews I do over here. Kathleen Treseder will be our first look under those local candidates’ hoods.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Angélique Kidjo, “Sweet Lullaby”; Sinne Eeg & The Danish Radio Big Band, “Samba Em Comum,” We’ve Just Begun – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/HindsTreseder9-13-22.mp3

One Ukrainian Voice Rising to This Moment

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For the full hour is Andriy Strekhaliuk, Ukrainian entrepreneur, consultant in HR & organizational development, and instructor at local business school – currently assisting his country’s military. He paints a personal picture of one Ukrainian man and his family, as well as show particular intersections between Ukrainian and American institutions, while taking every opportunity to bring us along with Ukrainians’ rich culture. Along with this broadcast, the host urges a listen to the accompanying Part 2 below. Andriy offers a host of resources for listeners who want to be more than by-standers to the horrific invasion of Ukraine. Those include: https://prytulafoundation.org/en https://savelife.in.ua/en/; https://spendwithukraine.com/; https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatArtiStudio?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1209255865; https://www.facebook.com/valerii.pekar – thinker and entrepreneur; https://www.facebook.com/andrij.bondar – author https://www.facebook.com/volodymyr.yermolenko – philospher, journalist

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Jazz Kolo, Ukrainian Jazz Melody. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/StrekhaliukPart1_9-6-22.mp3

Part 2: This is a continuation of Andriy Strekhaliuk’s personal accounts of his participation in the EuroMaidan movement and how that contributes to the capacity that is rallying in Ukraine’s nation building – before, during, and after the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. He closes with some family notes. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/ASPart2.mp3