Ask A Voter – Midterm Elections 2022

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

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

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 Tom Chomyn Candidate for Irvine Mayor AND Meet Congresswoman Katie Porter

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

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

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

Gerrymandering; Sobering Trends AND Cleaning Up A Santa Ana Workplace

Cal. Poly San Luis Obispo political science professor Michael Latner, who returns to the show brings the heft of his Gerrymandering research to the latest processes underway-this includes CA. He co-wrote with Anthony Charles Smith, Alex Keena, and Anthony McGann, their latest, “Gerrymandering the States; Partisanship, Race, and the Transformation of American Federalism.”

In the second segment (minute 28:00), air quality scientist Shahir Masri monitors indoor air quality documenting workplace hazards in Santa Ana. He describes a tool among many, the AtmoTube Pro.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; The Encore Saxophone Quartet, “All The Things You Are,” Encore Saxophone Quartet – album; Adam Deitch Quartet, ” Progression,” Egyptian Secrets – album. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/LatnerMasriPOD10-26-21.mp3

Burning Down the Woods AND “Inside the 45th” Part 4

Returning to the show is Shane Coffield, UCI Earth System Science PhD Candidate, bringing his latest findings about how California’s forests are losing their capacity to stash our carbon emissions. This recent UCI study on how higher heat will limit ecosystem’s role in removing atmospheric CO2, was published in the American Geophysical Union Journal. Joining Shane and James Randerson on this project were: Kyle Hemes, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University; Charles Koven, Climate & Ecosystem Sciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; and Michael Goulden, UCI professor of Earth system science and ecology & evolutionary biology.
“Inside the 45th” Part 4 (minute 38:44) is Evan Duran, Irvine resident and soon to be graduate of Cal. State Fullerton University business administration major. Listeners are invited to contact the host at: cshambaugh@kuci.org to participate in the “Inside the 45th” segment, or comment on the show’s programming.

Music credits: Greg Foat, “Symphonie Pacifique;” Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, “More Bad Weather,” Rare Bird Alert; Kamasi Washington, “Final Thought,” Epic – album. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/CoffieldDuranPod7-27-21.mp3

Redistricting Commissioners Seeking Your Comments AND CA 45th Consituent Speaks Part 2

Returning from their March 23rd appearance on AAL are Commissioners: Linda Akutagawa of Huntington Beach and Trena Turner of Stockton, two of the fourteen CA Citizens Redistricting Commissioners, appointed last summer, now in full swing with their community outreach duties toward mapping both federal and state legislative districts throughout CA. https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org.
In the new segment, “Inside the 45th,” Irvine resident David Ehrlich offers his views as a constituent (minute 39:27). Listeners living in the 45th CA Congressional District, are encouraged to email the host, cshambaugh@kuci.org to appear on future shows in this weekly segment in the future.

Music credits: Greg Foat, “Symphonie Pacifique;” Hermanos Gutiérrez, “Esperanza;” Hiromi, “Spectrum,” Spectrum – album. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/AkutagawaTurnerEhrlichPod6-22-21.mp3