Today I want to talk about a Kossak running for state assembly in New York. This is a real opportunity to help a candidate begin a career that could lead to higher office and that will make a difference for people. Jereimiah Frei-Pearson will represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic party and will stand up to the powerful forces that currently run the state government in Albany, New York.
He's a strong supporter of marriage equality, unions, and working people. Here, he talks about how his marriage once was illegal and why there should be marriage equality:
See Jeremiah's diary earlier this week for more: JeremiahFP: Still PROUD to represent the DEMOCRATIC wing of the Democratic party
Jeremiah's campaign is people power; it's real grassroots and netroots. In some ways, it is like the insurgent campaigns of Joe Sestak or Bill Halter, albeit on a smaller scale. And I think the result with be the same: a victory for the people.
Albany - like D.C. in 2003 - isn't broken: our government works very well for the political insiders and the powerful interests who buy them. Even though most New Yorkers are disgusted by our broken government, there was a higher turnover rate in the Soviet politburo than there is in the New York State legislature. We can change this, but we have to stand up and fight to take our government back. I have spent my entire life fighting powerful interests on behalf of children and regular people; and I am looking forward to fighting to take back New York's government.
JeremiahFP: Still PROUD to represent the DEMOCRATIC wing of the Democratic party
Taking back government. We need to make it happen on the local, state, and national levels. We've made some progress nationally with the election of Barack Obama and a Democratic majority in Congress, but there is still much work to be done to reclaim the Democratic party for the people. Jeremiah is doing that work in Astoria, Queens in New York City.
In a race like this, for a state assembly seat, netroots power can make a big difference. Bluntly put, our money goes a lot farther in races like this. Giving $25 here matters a lot and makes a bigger difference than in national of statewide races.
Contribute here
Not sure yet? Let's hear some music first while you think and I'll tell you more about Jeremiah:
Here's a brief jam to "Jeremiah was a Bullfrog" at the campaign announcement on April 26, 2010, in which his wife Karla Mosley sings wonderfully:
Maybe a little more information about Jeremiah will convince you:
As a law student, Jeremiah was a Public Interest Fellow and Senior Symposium Editor of the Stanford Law & Policy Review. He organized and supervised a program providing direct legal services to poor people, taught children in prison, worked in a legal clinic for the mentally ill, and co-founded the Stanford Chapter of the American Constitution Society.
In 2001, Mr. Frei-Pearson interned for the Honorable Shira Scheindlin of the Southern District of New York. As a college student, he interned for Senator Ted Kennedy and for several organizations that provide services to children.
snip
As a lawyer, Jeremiah has spent his career fighting to give voice to foster children and others who have been shut out and shoved aside by our political system. He uses the courts to fix broken government foster care agencies and to give opportunities to disadvantaged children. Jeremiah knows how to make government work. He strongly believes that New York state government must work because our children need better schools, we all need quality health care, and we need a government that can tackle the serious economic problems we are facing.
Jeremiah is a strong supporter of unions, of working people, and that support comes from his life circumstances:
I was raised by a single mother who put food on our table because of her union job.
He has received awards for his work for justice:
Jeremiah is active in numerous civic groups in our community. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2008 New York State Thurgood Marshall Representation Award and a 2009 award from the New York City Council honoring his work with children.
HuffPo by Jim Luce
Here is his website where you can learn much more about Jereimiah, his views on the issues, and his plans for New York: Jeremiah Frei-Pearson For State Assembly
As noted above, Jeremiah also is a strong supporter of marriage equality:
As a founder of Western Queens for Marriage Equality, and the Straight Allies coordinator for Marriage Equality New York, I have been a leader in the struggle to promote equality and justice for all. I will not just be a vote for marriage equality, but its greatest champion. It is time to end the injustice felt by millions of New Yorkers, and provide basic protections for families.
Here is a link to his facebook page:
Jeremiah Frei-Pearson
Contribute here
Here is his campaign annoucement:
You must be convinced by now. Our support for Jeremiah, a fellow Kossak, can make a difference. Please give $10, $25, $50, or more: Contribute here
Let's make a difference. We need to be fired up and ready to go now!