Congressional Candidate Elizabeth Lee, and SRP Board Presidential and VP Candidates Sandra Kennedy and Casey Clowes Discuss the Importance of Local Elections.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Broadcasting from the Civic Cipher Studios. Welcome to the QR
co where we share perspective, seek understanding, and shape outcomes.
I'm your host, Ramsey's jaw and if you've been paying attention,
you know the turning point. USA has been setting their
sites on local elections coast to coast. So ahead of
the midterms, we have our friend Elizabeth Lee back to
the show. We're also going to be talking about one
(00:21):
election that has been making national headlines. I'm talking specifically
about the election to a utility company board called SRP.
So let's get to the conversation, all right. First up,
returning to the show, Congressional candidate Elizabeth Lee is a
nationally recognized nurse, board certified patient advocate, and reproductive healthcare
policy expert with over a decade of experience advancing access
(00:44):
to care. She built a career helping thousands of patients
navigate complex medical, financial, and ethical barriers, while also advising
lawmakers on federal IVF and reproductive health protections. So, welcome
back to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Thank you for having me back.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
That's good to be yes, and we have a good
google folks, Yes we do, and we will continue with
the introductions. All right, next up running for SRP Board
President Commissioner. Sandra Kennedy began her public service career when
she was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in
November nineteen eighty six, where she served for six years.
In nineteen ninety two, Sandra successfully ran for a seat
(01:22):
in the Arizona State Senate, serving three terms. She has
sponsored legislation that was signed in the law concerning domestic violence, shelters,
foster care placement, the Prenatal Care Education Fund, and city
powers related to fairhousing. Sandra was also elected to the
Arizona Corporation Commission in two thousand and eight on a
platform of promoting solar energy and serving as a strong
(01:44):
consumer advocate. She was re elected to the Arizona Corporation
Commission in twenty eighteen with a focus on restoring integrity
and transparency, reducing unjustified utility rate hikes, and increasing solar
and renewable energy in Arizona, especially rooftops. And before we
go on, I want to say I had to edit
that down. Accomplished person, So welcome to the show. Well,
(02:08):
thank you for having me. Yes, it isn't an honor,
long time coming up the honors. Okay, and that wasn't enough. Listen,
you're in for a treat today, all right. Running for
SRP Board Vice President SRP Board at Large member, Casey
Klaus currently serves on the Salt River Project District Board
in an at large seat eleven and is running to
(02:28):
support healthy sustainable communities across the Valley SVP. She will
advocate for a fair transition to a renewable energy economy
and ensure AI data centers pay their fair share. She
is a graduate of ASU, where she earned a BS
in Public Service and public policy and a jd from
Sandra Dale O'Connor College of Law. While working at the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Casey represented the public interest by
(02:53):
ensuring reliable, safe, secure, and cost effective energy for again sooners.
That's another one that I had to edit down. So
welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to
be here.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Right. So, like we mentioned, local politics has become more
important than ever before. That was the immediate adjustment in
the progressive mindset once Donald Trump was reelected and we
(03:26):
knew that Project twenty twenty five was coming because for
a lot of us, that kind of was were ever
going to read through that. We knew that this was
going to be effectively a top down takeover of the government,
not in favor of something that is conservative per se,
but something that is more in the way of like
(03:47):
authoritarian right. And so again, local politics really matters, and
this is it's not just because of Project twenty twenty five.
You know, we've been saying time and again on the
show that people really have the capacity to shape the
goings on in their own communities and their own day
to day lives when they deal with local politics. Now,
(04:08):
I know that you are more working on I guess
it's a state politics, but also you know, national politics,
I guess. So I want to start with you. Talk
to our guest about why voting I guess the local
(04:29):
population is able to elect you, right, talk about why
it's so important. The reason I want to start here
is because so many people don't. There are more people
that vote in the presidential elections course, and when it
comes to voting for midterms and for congressional candidates and
(04:54):
things like that, you see a significant drop off. Now,
when we get to YouTube, we're going to ask about
why the people who are specific to your I think
there's a district that's able to vote, why it's important
that they vote, and perhaps why you think that people
are less motivated typically to vote in there, why they
(05:14):
should be more motivated now.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
But I want to say yeah, I mean, I think
in the years prior to Donald Trump, polities was not
this in everyone's face situation. I feel like pre Trump,
the midterms were not always a massive concern or in
people's view because the government wasn't violating their rights at
(05:37):
every turn. The government wasn't sort of taking over life
as we know it. So I think the unique place
we sit in this year is that people are so activated,
they are so mad, and they want people to hold
other people accountable. I think I predict we will see
(05:59):
potentially the record turnout in twenty twenty six minterm elections
and in this upcoming election for you.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Too as well. So I've been noticing the Nurse Leaf
for As campaign, and I do want to do this
at the beginning and the end of the show. So
do me a favor, Please plug your website and your
social media. I'm gonna ask the same with.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
You absolutely so we can be found all of our
social media at Nurse Lee the number four a Z
that's on every platform that exists, but you can also
find us at our website, which is Nurse Lee foraz
dot com.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
And for folks that aren't in your district, folks that
aren't able to vote for you, they can still support
I want you to make that without a doubt.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
And that is something else I hope we get to
talk more about how local elections all the way to
federal elections depend on all of us to get invested in.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Gotcha, right, yeah, okay, all right, So now with you two,
there's a this is sort of a strange development, quite
an understatement. I was like, because this is to be fair,
(07:16):
you know, we're talking about local elections. Yes, but all
three of your campaigns are making national news, right, and
I've never seen anything like it. I was reading the
New York Times talking about an SRP, a local energy
company running a race, and I think the reason for it.
(07:41):
I'd like for you to kind of articulate why it's
making national news. But let's start with the question at hand.
Why is it that you think there's such a lower
turnout typically with local elections, and why do you think
think that people should be more engaged will start what
(08:03):
you saying.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
You know, with the number of years that I've been
in politics, it's been you know, quite interesting to see
from one year or one election to the next election
how people kind of fall off, whether we're talking about
a local election or whether we're talking about a presidential election.
(08:26):
And you have to really be able to engage the voters.
If it's not a subject or something that will really
affect them, they don't want any parts of it. But
if it affects their livelihood, if it affects the economy, utilities,
(08:49):
you know, housing, then you got their attention. And because
we have seen more of that recently, just as she stated,
you know, with you know being you know, we're seeing
more of an opportunity to have conversations with individuals. Are
(09:10):
the voters to talk about everyday lives in touch every
day life?
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Yeah, So a little background for listeners. SRP is the
largest public utility in the country. But voter turnout in
twenty twenty four, when Sandra and I were both first elected,
we ran together, voter turnout was about one percent, and
so I think I would be remiss if I didn't
say that voter suppression is a huge part of why
(09:38):
voter turnout is so low in local elections. In our elections, specifically,
you have to request a ballot separate from Arizona's regular
Secretary of State process or so folks who get their ballot,
you know, for every election, most of Arizona votes by
mail won't get it automatically. They have to request separately
through SRP, through a different They make it incredibly difficult
(10:01):
for folks to just gain access to why this selection,
like that the selection is happening, Why it's important. You know,
your utility bills are going up, and like this is
the election where you could make a change. So I
think why people are, you know, participating is not necessarily
that people don't care. I think people definitely care about
(10:23):
the bill that comes every month, Like I care about
my housing, my utility prices. I think a lot of
people care about you know, like kitchen table issues of
paying the bills as they come. But the system is
also set up to make sure that people don't participate
to benefit the folks in power.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Right now, yeah now, as promised, I need you to plug.
We're going to do it again at the end, but
plug your social media's and websites and things like that,
because we're going to explain to people why a utility
company in Arizona, where many folks that listen don't live,
is important to them. So so please uh casey will
continue to do all right.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Well, So, as I mentioned, Sandre and I are running
on a slate we ran together two years ago and
now we're running for president and vice president. So you
can find us online at s Rpclean Energyteam dot org.
And then my personal social media you can find me
at Ksey Clouds a z on all accounts.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
And I think I'm just you know, I'm not really
It's Sandra Kennedy.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
For s RP. Got Okay dot org. Now, a big
part of the reason why this conversation has taken center
stage nationally is because of Turning Point USA.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yes, that's the the group that you know has that
that the means of pulling certain individuals, getting their attention
to become involved in the political process. But what I
have seen lately, and I mean this is just no,
(12:09):
it's not against Turning Point, but I appreciate, you know,
them doing everything they've done and trying.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
To get people involved.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
People don't want them involved in their utility company, but
They don't only just want them involved in their utility company,
they want them out of their everyday lives period. And
it has given us kind of that booth to reach
(12:41):
out to people with the enthusiasm to get them involved.
This is why it's important, and we talk to them
about why it's important to be knowledgeable about it. Knowledgeable
about it. Now, here's the thing. Not everybody can vote
in as a reelection. Have to own property. Okay, if
(13:03):
you don't own property, you cannot vote, but you still
have to pay bills, right absolutely, if.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
You pay a bill or your utility, you ought to
be able to cast about.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah, I'm right outside the district, so I'm an SRP customer,
not by choice, and two blocks outside of the voting boundaries,
so I have no say whatsoever.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
To make it worse, I am not an SRP customer,
but because I own my condo within SRP district, I
can not only vote, I can be on the board
and have a say for folks who like And I
don't even pay a bill, So the whole system is
definitely designed against folks.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Okay, yeah, Now I realize that there are a lot
of people who because Turning Point USA is a nationwide enterprise,
and this feels like the part of the plan where
(14:06):
they perfect the process and then they rent and repeat
around the country, and they gain control for the interests
of what many people consider an extreme authoritarian government. And
it further disenfranchises people who already are kind of up
(14:32):
to their neck regardless of what they say about how
the stock market is doing not I think less. I
forget the exact number, but very few people overall are
invested in stocks, and that's really a measure of how
wealthy people are doing right, not how everyday Americans done.
And so leave it to Turning Point USA and similar
(14:52):
organizations this country would have you believing that you're going
to be rich as you're starving to dead. Right now,
that's not the only danger that a Turning Point USA
takeover of your local utilities represents. I want to get
(15:14):
back to you in just a second, because you have
a different relationship with Turning Point USA. But for now,
while we're here, I want you to speak on those
additional dangers that this issue if left unchecked by the
(15:35):
voters here in your campaign or in other campaigns. As
they continue to roll this out around the nation. What
is really at stake, and why is this a dangerous
thing to consider because there's I'm sure there's people listen
like light buil whatever it goes up a couples, no problem.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
I think we have an opportunity as board members to
move the utility in a direction in global warming is
reel and we need to look at alternative technology rather
than fossil fuels to power the grid so that people
(16:15):
when they flip that switch, they want that power to
come on. When they flip that spigot, they want the
water to flow. So we believe our slate believes that
renewable energy is the best way to go. And all
we have been able to see in the last year.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Or so is just more fossil fuel, more natural gas,
with no alternative to follow.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
To miss say, I think you've hit the nail on
the head. That Turning Point is investing in this race
to perfect their process for every other race in the midterms.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
So they're using our races. April seventh, so this is
an off time election. It is before the primary, it
is before or the general in the midterm. They have
started They've hired hundreds of organizers for a race with
a one percent historical turnout. They're spending millions of dollars
against us, and as much as I'd love to say,
like Sandra and I are you know, the big bad
(17:16):
progressive enemies of Turning Point, they are doing this to
perfect their process. So they are training their folks, They're
getting organizers, they're talking to voters now so that they
can take over every other local election, your school boards,
your city councils. You know, whether your paho gets filled
or whether you're a book is banned in your kids' school.
(17:39):
They are doing this to take over every single election
and just using this as the training.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Grounds, you know.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I mean they also say they want to keep us
Green New Deal crazies off the board. But you know,
you've you've met you know, I think the nail on
the head saying that this is them training up their staff,
training their h team, and like getting folks involved now
so that they can take over other elections and keep
(18:06):
up you know, winning. And so were in our election,
Like this is the first time post you know this
new Erka Kirk Turning Point, this is the first time
that we're going to be able to give them a
big l and I would love to do that personally,
as you know, our names are on the ballot. But
I would also love it for what that means nationally
for other elections, for other federal elections to stop Turning
(18:30):
Point in their tracks, and you know, like basically stop
a lot of investments that's coming in and funding. You know,
they're trying to use this as a proving ground and
then they want to replicate it everywhere. We'd love to say,
you spent millions of valares against us, you know, I
know we phrased seventeen thousand dollars like and you're still lost.
(18:51):
And so folks won't invest in Turning Point, won't replicate
this across the country.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Yeah, Well, what did you want to ask them?
Speaker 4 (18:59):
I was just going to say talking about their investors
or people who are you know, investing in them and
in their candidates. You know, Google was one of their
uh supporters and put in money. And then they had
a local newspaper ask call them up and ask why
(19:21):
are you dibbling and dabbling in this race? Well, they
asked for their money back from Turning Point and they've
now asked their name to be removed from the list
of supporters.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Now I suspect The reason that they were able to
get so much money to throw at this campaign is
because there are a lot of big businesses that use
a lot of power. And I happen to know that
Arizona is a it's not a water rich environment. Water
(19:58):
is very vicious in Arizona and big businesses. When you
mentioned Google, I could see data centers right right, and
those use a lot of wetter. Having access to the
energy that you might need or through the board that
you've helped install, might be good for business and bad
(20:18):
for the average American living under the influence of an SRP.
And so if these businesses are able to use their
dollars to influence these elections, then it could conceivably could
starve out the everyday American and silence their voice or
weaken their voice overall. When the truth is that this
(20:41):
is supposed to be a government by the people or
the people, not by the business for the business right,
and so I can see why the New York Times
when they covered your campaign and all these other outlets
when they covered your campaign, they kind of gave those
optics to it. However, this is a battle being fought
on many fronts online, and you and I Elizabeth Lee
(21:05):
had a conversation about that not too long ago, and
you're not the only person that her feedback about that
chat that we had.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
You.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
To be fair, you're at a different part in the process,
and so Turning Point hasn't quite made it to your
doorstep in the way that they perhaps ultimately will. Yeah,
but this is still something that you have to bear
in mind. So talk to us a little bit about
what it is that they represent in terms of a threat, Yeah,
and what it is that you feel the voters will
(21:39):
vote for you over whatever candidate that their candidate ends
up being. Why would they vote for you?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Well, So to put into context the relationship the Turning
Point has with my race is that the Republican front
runner for this race is Turning Point and Maga endorsed.
So Turning Point has already gone publicly and said we
support Mark Lamb for the US House of Representatives in
Arizona fifth district. And that worries me. It concerns me
(22:09):
because not only are they trying to influence an election
where one percent turnout, you have to ask yourself why,
And you're both all three of you are correct in
that they are these local elections are, They're tapping into
people that typically aren't engaging and then those I think
that they think that they will then turn those folks
(22:31):
out and sort of shock all of us on the left,
you know, with their big win. But people are tired
of extremism. Every door I knock on, even Republican doors,
independent doors, democratic doors, no labels. Everyone is tired of extremism.
(22:52):
And when you think about somebody like Mark Lamb, who
represents extremism, he told his own Republican governor, you know,
to you know, I don't know what you can say
on the radio, but basically to buzz off with the law,
that he would determine how the law gets enforced. And
so I don't think that the people of the East
(23:12):
Valley want that. I think the people of the East
Valley want honest representation, representation that takes into consideration working people.
Working people have been so left behind. And a district
that's been held it's been a red stronghold for fifteen years,
it's never been held by anybody but a white man.
(23:34):
And this moment in time when people are activated, because
when you organize, you win, and that's how they are
accomplishing what they're accomplishing is is they're you're really well organized, right,
but we also have They're trying to organize a minority.
We're trying to organize the majority. If we let them
use all of their financial power to organize that minority,
(23:58):
then we will live under an aloraity rule. But if
we and I think that's why people are drawn to
what I am offering them, which is, look, we might
not always agree, but I am here to serve you, period,
end of story. Not the corporate millionaires, not the packs
that want to control politicians. But people want their they
(24:20):
want their representatives to actually represent them. And that's not
what they have right now and Andy Biggs, and that
is not what they will get with Mark Lamb. They
just won't.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Okay, Now, I want to stick with you for a
second because again, many folks that listen to this conversation,
they're not familiar with it. Andy Biggs in a Mark Lamp.
But I would guess that they would be familiar with
some of the talking points that's right of an Andy Biggs,
Mark Lamb. Yeah, people, I don't know, I probably should, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
But you know, Andy Biggs has national intention for being
a supporter of the January sixth Riot for anti COVID
COVID denier an election denier. He still supports the election
denying of the t twenty twenty election, and the same
for Mark Lamb. So while Mark Lamb might not be
the former sheriff of your county, he represents what this
(25:16):
minority wants for all of us.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
That's exactly where I was going. I want to, I guess, identify,
and you can't do all of them. So give me,
give me three and explain them. But maybe three of
(25:39):
the biggest pieces of disinformation that you feel might or
are plaguing your campaign, or three of the biggest myths
or the biggest whatever that would prevent a person from
voting for what to me, a reasonable educated person who
is a voter. To me, it seems like sense. How
(26:01):
is it that other reasonable people could look at what
makes the most sense and say, no, I'm going to
do what doesn't make sense for you two, I think
that might be a little easier, But I still want
you to kind of give me when we come there,
and give me a couple of things, because this is
the part of the conversation I think people need to
know about. So take your time, all of you take
your time with this, because we need to dispel these
myths and this disinformation. And if we're here with microphones
(26:23):
in an audience, I think we have an opportunity and
responsibility to do that.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
So you hit on it, Casey when you said the
progressive left lunatics or whatever you said. I think that
there has been a lot of dog whistling through COVID
and into the Trump years and beyond that activates people
into believing a narrative that's just simply not true. And
(26:47):
something that you said was sort of your average everyday people.
I think that the Democratic Party took advantage of your
average everyday voters in the last selection, assuming that they
would turn out. And I think one very compelling thing
we can do is to go to the people who
(27:08):
are always left behind. My campaign spent significant time in
one of the most rural parts of our district on purpose,
and they said, oh my gosh, you came here. Of
course I came here. So one of the most compelling
things that we can do to turn people out is
to let them be hurt. Is to go to where
(27:28):
they are, go to their houses and knock on their doors.
No one, no politician, has ever knocked on my door,
and yet I have knocked on thousands of doors, because
how else can we represent you if we don't know
what your concerns are. So I think part of our
magic or our secret sauce in this cycle is engaging
(27:49):
people where they're at, spending the time to understand their concerns,
and then helping them to understand that the radicalization of
things the left lunatic or the progressive or the let's
get rid of all those words, because if we have
a conversation and we don't say leftist, conservative, maga, you know,
(28:09):
we don't say those words. It's quite surprising how we
can come to a lot of similarities and a lot
of shared agreements. And so I think that we have
to we have to really invest time. And that's what
their money will not buy them. Their money will not
(28:33):
buy them. When Ruth out, you know city in Arizona
or whichever city you live in, I come to her
door and she says, nobody has ever come to my door.
Come in, Can I make you a cup of tea?
That's where we're at. And if we go to those
people money cannot buy.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
That stick around. We'll be back with more right after
this
Broadcasting from the Civic Cipher Studios. Welcome to the QR
co where we share perspective, seek understanding, and shape outcomes.
I'm your host, Ramsey's jaw and if you've been paying attention,
you know the turning point. USA has been setting their
sites on local elections coast to coast. So ahead of
the midterms, we have our friend Elizabeth Lee back to
the show. We're also going to be talking about one
(00:21):
election that has been making national headlines. I'm talking specifically
about the election to a utility company board called SRP.
So let's get to the conversation, all right. First up,
returning to the show, Congressional candidate Elizabeth Lee is a
nationally recognized nurse, board certified patient advocate, and reproductive healthcare
policy expert with over a decade of experience advancing access
(00:44):
to care. She built a career helping thousands of patients
navigate complex medical, financial, and ethical barriers, while also advising
lawmakers on federal IVF and reproductive health protections. So, welcome
back to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Thank you for having me back.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
That's good to be yes, and we have a good
google folks, Yes we do, and we will continue with
the introductions. All right, next up running for SRP Board
President Commissioner. Sandra Kennedy began her public service career when
she was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in
November nineteen eighty six, where she served for six years.
In nineteen ninety two, Sandra successfully ran for a seat
(01:22):
in the Arizona State Senate, serving three terms. She has
sponsored legislation that was signed in the law concerning domestic violence, shelters,
foster care placement, the Prenatal Care Education Fund, and city
powers related to fairhousing. Sandra was also elected to the
Arizona Corporation Commission in two thousand and eight on a
platform of promoting solar energy and serving as a strong
(01:44):
consumer advocate. She was re elected to the Arizona Corporation
Commission in twenty eighteen with a focus on restoring integrity
and transparency, reducing unjustified utility rate hikes, and increasing solar
and renewable energy in Arizona, especially rooftops. And before we
go on, I want to say I had to edit
that down. Accomplished person, So welcome to the show. Well,
(02:08):
thank you for having me. Yes, it isn't an honor,
long time coming up the honors. Okay, and that wasn't enough. Listen,
you're in for a treat today, all right. Running for
SRP Board Vice President SRP Board at Large member, Casey
Klaus currently serves on the Salt River Project District Board
in an at large seat eleven and is running to
(02:28):
support healthy sustainable communities across the Valley SVP. She will
advocate for a fair transition to a renewable energy economy
and ensure AI data centers pay their fair share. She
is a graduate of ASU, where she earned a BS
in Public Service and public policy and a jd from
Sandra Dale O'Connor College of Law. While working at the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Casey represented the public interest by
(02:53):
ensuring reliable, safe, secure, and cost effective energy for again sooners.
That's another one that I had to edit down. So
welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to
be here.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Right. So, like we mentioned, local politics has become more
important than ever before. That was the immediate adjustment in
the progressive mindset once Donald Trump was reelected and we
(03:26):
knew that Project twenty twenty five was coming because for
a lot of us, that kind of was were ever
going to read through that. We knew that this was
going to be effectively a top down takeover of the government,
not in favor of something that is conservative per se,
but something that is more in the way of like
(03:47):
authoritarian right. And so again, local politics really matters, and
this is it's not just because of Project twenty twenty five.
You know, we've been saying time and again on the
show that people really have the capacity to shape the
goings on in their own communities and their own day
to day lives when they deal with local politics. Now,
(04:08):
I know that you are more working on I guess
it's a state politics, but also you know, national politics,
I guess. So I want to start with you. Talk
to our guest about why voting I guess the local
(04:29):
population is able to elect you, right, talk about why
it's so important. The reason I want to start here
is because so many people don't. There are more people
that vote in the presidential elections course, and when it
comes to voting for midterms and for congressional candidates and
(04:54):
things like that, you see a significant drop off. Now,
when we get to YouTube, we're going to ask about
why the people who are specific to your I think
there's a district that's able to vote, why it's important
that they vote, and perhaps why you think that people
are less motivated typically to vote in there, why they
(05:14):
should be more motivated now.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
But I want to say yeah, I mean, I think
in the years prior to Donald Trump, polities was not
this in everyone's face situation. I feel like pre Trump,
the midterms were not always a massive concern or in
people's view because the government wasn't violating their rights at
(05:37):
every turn. The government wasn't sort of taking over life
as we know it. So I think the unique place
we sit in this year is that people are so activated,
they are so mad, and they want people to hold
other people accountable. I think I predict we will see
(05:59):
potentially the record turnout in twenty twenty six minterm elections
and in this upcoming election for you.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Too as well. So I've been noticing the Nurse Leaf
for As campaign, and I do want to do this
at the beginning and the end of the show. So
do me a favor, Please plug your website and your
social media. I'm gonna ask the same with.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
You absolutely so we can be found all of our
social media at Nurse Lee the number four a Z
that's on every platform that exists, but you can also
find us at our website, which is Nurse Lee foraz
dot com.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
And for folks that aren't in your district, folks that
aren't able to vote for you, they can still support
I want you to make that without a doubt.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
And that is something else I hope we get to
talk more about how local elections all the way to
federal elections depend on all of us to get invested in.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Gotcha, right, yeah, okay, all right, So now with you two,
there's a this is sort of a strange development, quite
an understatement. I was like, because this is to be fair,
(07:16):
you know, we're talking about local elections. Yes, but all
three of your campaigns are making national news, right, and
I've never seen anything like it. I was reading the
New York Times talking about an SRP, a local energy
company running a race, and I think the reason for it.
(07:41):
I'd like for you to kind of articulate why it's
making national news. But let's start with the question at hand.
Why is it that you think there's such a lower
turnout typically with local elections, and why do you think
think that people should be more engaged will start what
(08:03):
you saying.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
You know, with the number of years that I've been
in politics, it's been you know, quite interesting to see
from one year or one election to the next election
how people kind of fall off, whether we're talking about
a local election or whether we're talking about a presidential election.
(08:26):
And you have to really be able to engage the voters.
If it's not a subject or something that will really
affect them, they don't want any parts of it. But
if it affects their livelihood, if it affects the economy, utilities,
(08:49):
you know, housing, then you got their attention. And because
we have seen more of that recently, just as she stated,
you know, with you know being you know, we're seeing
more of an opportunity to have conversations with individuals. Are
(09:10):
the voters to talk about everyday lives in touch every
day life?
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Yeah, So a little background for listeners. SRP is the
largest public utility in the country. But voter turnout in
twenty twenty four, when Sandra and I were both first elected,
we ran together, voter turnout was about one percent, and
so I think I would be remiss if I didn't
say that voter suppression is a huge part of why
(09:38):
voter turnout is so low in local elections. In our elections, specifically,
you have to request a ballot separate from Arizona's regular
Secretary of State process or so folks who get their ballot,
you know, for every election, most of Arizona votes by
mail won't get it automatically. They have to request separately
through SRP, through a different They make it incredibly difficult
(10:01):
for folks to just gain access to why this selection,
like that the selection is happening, Why it's important. You know,
your utility bills are going up, and like this is
the election where you could make a change. So I
think why people are, you know, participating is not necessarily
that people don't care. I think people definitely care about
(10:23):
the bill that comes every month, Like I care about
my housing, my utility prices. I think a lot of
people care about you know, like kitchen table issues of
paying the bills as they come. But the system is
also set up to make sure that people don't participate
to benefit the folks in power.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Right now, yeah now, as promised, I need you to plug.
We're going to do it again at the end, but
plug your social media's and websites and things like that,
because we're going to explain to people why a utility
company in Arizona, where many folks that listen don't live,
is important to them. So so please uh casey will
continue to do all right.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Well, So, as I mentioned, Sandre and I are running
on a slate we ran together two years ago and
now we're running for president and vice president. So you
can find us online at s Rpclean Energyteam dot org.
And then my personal social media you can find me
at Ksey Clouds a z on all accounts.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
And I think I'm just you know, I'm not really
It's Sandra Kennedy.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
For s RP. Got Okay dot org. Now, a big
part of the reason why this conversation has taken center
stage nationally is because of Turning Point USA.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yes, that's the the group that you know has that
that the means of pulling certain individuals, getting their attention
to become involved in the political process. But what I
have seen lately, and I mean this is just no,
(12:09):
it's not against Turning Point, but I appreciate, you know,
them doing everything they've done and trying.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
To get people involved.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
People don't want them involved in their utility company, but
They don't only just want them involved in their utility company,
they want them out of their everyday lives period. And
it has given us kind of that booth to reach
(12:41):
out to people with the enthusiasm to get them involved.
This is why it's important, and we talk to them
about why it's important to be knowledgeable about it. Knowledgeable
about it. Now, here's the thing. Not everybody can vote
in as a reelection. Have to own property. Okay, if
(13:03):
you don't own property, you cannot vote, but you still
have to pay bills, right absolutely, if.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
You pay a bill or your utility, you ought to
be able to cast about.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah, I'm right outside the district, so I'm an SRP customer,
not by choice, and two blocks outside of the voting boundaries,
so I have no say whatsoever.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
To make it worse, I am not an SRP customer,
but because I own my condo within SRP district, I
can not only vote, I can be on the board
and have a say for folks who like And I
don't even pay a bill, So the whole system is
definitely designed against folks.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Okay, yeah, Now I realize that there are a lot
of people who because Turning Point USA is a nationwide enterprise,
and this feels like the part of the plan where
(14:06):
they perfect the process and then they rent and repeat
around the country, and they gain control for the interests
of what many people consider an extreme authoritarian government. And
it further disenfranchises people who already are kind of up
(14:32):
to their neck regardless of what they say about how
the stock market is doing not I think less. I
forget the exact number, but very few people overall are
invested in stocks, and that's really a measure of how
wealthy people are doing right, not how everyday Americans done.
And so leave it to Turning Point USA and similar
(14:52):
organizations this country would have you believing that you're going
to be rich as you're starving to dead. Right now,
that's not the only danger that a Turning Point USA
takeover of your local utilities represents. I want to get
(15:14):
back to you in just a second, because you have
a different relationship with Turning Point USA. But for now,
while we're here, I want you to speak on those
additional dangers that this issue if left unchecked by the
(15:35):
voters here in your campaign or in other campaigns. As
they continue to roll this out around the nation. What
is really at stake, and why is this a dangerous
thing to consider because there's I'm sure there's people listen
like light buil whatever it goes up a couples, no problem.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
I think we have an opportunity as board members to
move the utility in a direction in global warming is
reel and we need to look at alternative technology rather
than fossil fuels to power the grid so that people
(16:15):
when they flip that switch, they want that power to
come on. When they flip that spigot, they want the
water to flow. So we believe our slate believes that
renewable energy is the best way to go. And all
we have been able to see in the last year.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Or so is just more fossil fuel, more natural gas,
with no alternative to follow.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
To miss say, I think you've hit the nail on
the head. That Turning Point is investing in this race
to perfect their process for every other race in the midterms.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
So they're using our races. April seventh, so this is
an off time election. It is before the primary, it
is before or the general in the midterm. They have
started They've hired hundreds of organizers for a race with
a one percent historical turnout. They're spending millions of dollars
against us, and as much as I'd love to say,
like Sandra and I are you know, the big bad
(17:16):
progressive enemies of Turning Point, they are doing this to
perfect their process. So they are training their folks, They're
getting organizers, they're talking to voters now so that they
can take over every other local election, your school boards,
your city councils. You know, whether your paho gets filled
or whether you're a book is banned in your kids' school.
(17:39):
They are doing this to take over every single election
and just using this as the training.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Grounds, you know.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I mean they also say they want to keep us
Green New Deal crazies off the board. But you know,
you've you've met you know, I think the nail on
the head saying that this is them training up their staff,
training their h team, and like getting folks involved now
so that they can take over other elections and keep
(18:06):
up you know, winning. And so were in our election,
Like this is the first time post you know this
new Erka Kirk Turning Point, this is the first time
that we're going to be able to give them a
big l and I would love to do that personally,
as you know, our names are on the ballot. But
I would also love it for what that means nationally
for other elections, for other federal elections to stop Turning
(18:30):
Point in their tracks, and you know, like basically stop
a lot of investments that's coming in and funding. You know,
they're trying to use this as a proving ground and
then they want to replicate it everywhere. We'd love to say,
you spent millions of valares against us, you know, I
know we phrased seventeen thousand dollars like and you're still lost.
(18:51):
And so folks won't invest in Turning Point, won't replicate
this across the country.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Yeah, Well, what did you want to ask them?
Speaker 4 (18:59):
I was just going to say talking about their investors
or people who are you know, investing in them and
in their candidates. You know, Google was one of their
uh supporters and put in money. And then they had
a local newspaper ask call them up and ask why
(19:21):
are you dibbling and dabbling in this race? Well, they
asked for their money back from Turning Point and they've
now asked their name to be removed from the list
of supporters.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Now I suspect The reason that they were able to
get so much money to throw at this campaign is
because there are a lot of big businesses that use
a lot of power. And I happen to know that
Arizona is a it's not a water rich environment. Water
(19:58):
is very vicious in Arizona and big businesses. When you
mentioned Google, I could see data centers right right, and
those use a lot of wetter. Having access to the
energy that you might need or through the board that
you've helped install, might be good for business and bad
(20:18):
for the average American living under the influence of an SRP.
And so if these businesses are able to use their
dollars to influence these elections, then it could conceivably could
starve out the everyday American and silence their voice or
weaken their voice overall. When the truth is that this
(20:41):
is supposed to be a government by the people or
the people, not by the business for the business right,
and so I can see why the New York Times
when they covered your campaign and all these other outlets
when they covered your campaign, they kind of gave those
optics to it. However, this is a battle being fought
on many fronts online, and you and I Elizabeth Lee
(21:05):
had a conversation about that not too long ago, and
you're not the only person that her feedback about that
chat that we had.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
You.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
To be fair, you're at a different part in the process,
and so Turning Point hasn't quite made it to your
doorstep in the way that they perhaps ultimately will. Yeah,
but this is still something that you have to bear
in mind. So talk to us a little bit about
what it is that they represent in terms of a threat, Yeah,
and what it is that you feel the voters will
(21:39):
vote for you over whatever candidate that their candidate ends
up being. Why would they vote for you?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Well, So to put into context the relationship the Turning
Point has with my race is that the Republican front
runner for this race is Turning Point and Maga endorsed.
So Turning Point has already gone publicly and said we
support Mark Lamb for the US House of Representatives in
Arizona fifth district. And that worries me. It concerns me
(22:09):
because not only are they trying to influence an election
where one percent turnout, you have to ask yourself why,
And you're both all three of you are correct in
that they are these local elections are, They're tapping into
people that typically aren't engaging and then those I think
that they think that they will then turn those folks
(22:31):
out and sort of shock all of us on the left,
you know, with their big win. But people are tired
of extremism. Every door I knock on, even Republican doors,
independent doors, democratic doors, no labels. Everyone is tired of extremism.
(22:52):
And when you think about somebody like Mark Lamb, who
represents extremism, he told his own Republican governor, you know,
to you know, I don't know what you can say
on the radio, but basically to buzz off with the law,
that he would determine how the law gets enforced. And
so I don't think that the people of the East
(23:12):
Valley want that. I think the people of the East
Valley want honest representation, representation that takes into consideration working people.
Working people have been so left behind. And a district
that's been held it's been a red stronghold for fifteen years,
it's never been held by anybody but a white man.
(23:34):
And this moment in time when people are activated, because
when you organize, you win, and that's how they are
accomplishing what they're accomplishing is is they're you're really well organized, right,
but we also have They're trying to organize a minority.
We're trying to organize the majority. If we let them
use all of their financial power to organize that minority,
(23:58):
then we will live under an aloraity rule. But if
we and I think that's why people are drawn to
what I am offering them, which is, look, we might
not always agree, but I am here to serve you, period,
end of story. Not the corporate millionaires, not the packs
that want to control politicians. But people want their they
(24:20):
want their representatives to actually represent them. And that's not
what they have right now and Andy Biggs, and that
is not what they will get with Mark Lamb. They
just won't.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Okay, Now, I want to stick with you for a
second because again, many folks that listen to this conversation,
they're not familiar with it. Andy Biggs in a Mark Lamp.
But I would guess that they would be familiar with
some of the talking points that's right of an Andy Biggs,
Mark Lamb. Yeah, people, I don't know, I probably should, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
But you know, Andy Biggs has national intention for being
a supporter of the January sixth Riot for anti COVID
COVID denier an election denier. He still supports the election
denying of the t twenty twenty election, and the same
for Mark Lamb. So while Mark Lamb might not be
the former sheriff of your county, he represents what this
(25:16):
minority wants for all of us.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
That's exactly where I was going. I want to, I guess, identify,
and you can't do all of them. So give me,
give me three and explain them. But maybe three of
(25:39):
the biggest pieces of disinformation that you feel might or
are plaguing your campaign, or three of the biggest myths
or the biggest whatever that would prevent a person from
voting for what to me, a reasonable educated person who
is a voter. To me, it seems like sense. How
(26:01):
is it that other reasonable people could look at what
makes the most sense and say, no, I'm going to
do what doesn't make sense for you two, I think
that might be a little easier, But I still want
you to kind of give me when we come there,
and give me a couple of things, because this is
the part of the conversation I think people need to
know about. So take your time, all of you take
your time with this, because we need to dispel these
myths and this disinformation. And if we're here with microphones
(26:23):
in an audience, I think we have an opportunity and
responsibility to do that.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
So you hit on it, Casey when you said the
progressive left lunatics or whatever you said. I think that
there has been a lot of dog whistling through COVID
and into the Trump years and beyond that activates people
into believing a narrative that's just simply not true. And
(26:47):
something that you said was sort of your average everyday people.
I think that the Democratic Party took advantage of your
average everyday voters in the last selection, assuming that they
would turn out. And I think one very compelling thing
we can do is to go to the people who
(27:08):
are always left behind. My campaign spent significant time in
one of the most rural parts of our district on purpose,
and they said, oh my gosh, you came here. Of
course I came here. So one of the most compelling
things that we can do to turn people out is
to let them be hurt. Is to go to where
(27:28):
they are, go to their houses and knock on their doors.
No one, no politician, has ever knocked on my door,
and yet I have knocked on thousands of doors, because
how else can we represent you if we don't know
what your concerns are. So I think part of our
magic or our secret sauce in this cycle is engaging
(27:49):
people where they're at, spending the time to understand their concerns,
and then helping them to understand that the radicalization of
things the left lunatic or the progressive or the let's
get rid of all those words, because if we have
a conversation and we don't say leftist, conservative, maga, you know,
(28:09):
we don't say those words. It's quite surprising how we
can come to a lot of similarities and a lot
of shared agreements. And so I think that we have
to we have to really invest time. And that's what
their money will not buy them. Their money will not
(28:33):
buy them. When Ruth out, you know city in Arizona
or whichever city you live in, I come to her
door and she says, nobody has ever come to my door.
Come in, Can I make you a cup of tea?
That's where we're at. And if we go to those
people money cannot buy.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
That stick around. We'll be back with more right after
this
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