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My name is George Tennant, Jr. I am running for this board because
of what I see every day working as a Criminal Defense Attorney in
Harris County. We live in a post-democratic age in which the rhetoric
of a newly crowned imperial America hides the destruction of democracy
in America. KPFT is now the only independent voice of a dying democratic
ideal on the air, and I feel compelled to do my part to help this
station as a member of the Listener Board. Apathy is the worst enemy
of democracy and the greatest ally of the police state. The only
thing troubling about my candidacy is the fact that there are so
few willing to step up and get involved.
I am an African-American who grew up in a small
town in the Mississippi delta where race was never an issue because
everything, (including the school system) was segregated. There
are many hard working people at KPFT attempting to get the message
out to diverse communities throughout the greater Houston area;
however, the advocates have yet to truly consolidate into a more
coordinated resistance to the emerging police-state of the Empire
that was once America.
I would not dare say that my membership on this
board will become the glue that causes those among us who share
the same goals, to finally realize that together we are much stronger.
I can’t say that, by joining this board, I will get all the
apathetic members of my community so consumed by the American dream
that they still refuse to see the colonial scheme … to realize
we are playing a game we can’t win. However, I can say that
this station is the only entity attempting to bind all members who
share my passion, and I can help this station.
Now for the qualifications: Doctor of Jurisprudence,
South Texas College of Law, Master of Arts (Psychology) Louisiana
Tech, B.S. (liberal arts) Mathematics, Louisiana Tech, Licensed
Attorney, Member of the State Bar of Texas, Licensed Professional
Counselor, Certified Cold Fusion Developer, former database developer
at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Former Staff Service Administrator
and database billing system manager at MHMRA of Harris County.
The neo-conservative minority are not our enemy,
nor our problem. They have a right to feel and vote for whatever
dogma the machine tells them is now the latest fashion. Our real
enemy is the apathy and ignorance that allows a deceived minority
group to push the rest of us into fascism. KPFT is the only station
in this community trying to warn the majority of the deceptions
that are causing this minority to lead us down this path. Let me
help the station reach my community.
George Tennant, Jr.
attytennant@netscape.net
Candidate Questionnaire
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Why do you want to be on the Local Station
Board ?
Apathy is the ally of the neo conservative movement in America.
I have the ability to help KPFT and I feel obligated to contribute
more than money.
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How do you envision the Local Station
Board working with the Pacifica Foundation,KPFT and the community?
The Local Station Board must serve as a liaison between the
members, the community, and the Pacifica foundation. This board
provides voices that are vital to prevent groupthink from causing
a great organization (Pacifica) to drift gradually away from
the communities it attempts to enlighten.
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How could the station better serve its'
listeners?
The station does an excellent job of serving the listener base.
The real problem is question four.
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Describe some actions you would take to
increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities
and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
I would like to become a vocal mouthpiece for the station in
the African American community. I am constantly surprised that,
despite the diverse programming available, so many members of
my community are unaware of the stations existence.
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What sources of funding, other than listener
donations, do you feel KPFT should solicit?
Autonomy is the only reason this station has remained viable
for so long. The prospect of soliciting money from entities
other than individuals is a slippery slope that could rapidly
cause even the noblest goal to lose its focus. Ironically, the
only other sources of funding “safe” to solicit are probably
in need of funding as well!
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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?
I have a Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of
Law, Master of Arts in Counseling from Louisiana Tech, and a
B.S. (liberal Arts) Mathematics from Louisiana Tech. I supported
myself in Law School working as a Database Developer at MD Anderson
Cancer Center. However, none of those things are as relevant
to this station as my ability to communicate with a very diverse
population. I grew up in Tallulah La. (in the heart of the economic
wasteland known as the Mississippi Delta). I never attended
a class with a member of another Race until my freshmen year
at Louisiana Tech. While at Tech, I became involved in advocating
and speaking out against Crack Cocaine (which actually damaged
small towns far worse than cities if that is possible). I developed
a very dynamic voice which I fully intend to lend to KPFT regardless
of the outcome of this election. I am also a member of Alpha
Phi Alpha, which is the first Black Greek fraternity in America.
This is also the fraternity pledged by Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., and Hon. Thurgood Marshall (to name a few … I guess it's
the anti skull and bones)
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Do you anticipate missing any Local Station
Board meetings due to family or job related problems or inadequate
transportation?
No.
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On which Local Station Board committees
are you interested in actively serving? If you are a current
Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently
serve?
As a new board member, I would probably talk to each committee
chair to see where my abilities could be best utilized. I can't
assume that I know the goals and purposes of any committee at
this point.
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