Endorsing Mike Slaton for KY House District 41
Having just moved to our first home, I am not certain that I am still part of District 41, but I want to endorse Mike Slaton of Phoenix Hill in the May 2010 Democratic primary. He’s a true progressive and we could use more in Frankfort. A Louisville native, he is a B.A. (cum laude) in History from the University of Louisville, and works for Louisville Metro Parks, coodinating volunteers. He formerly worked for the Fairness Campaign, a Louisville organization which advocates for justice for LGBT folk. He and his partner just purchased their first home in Phoenix Hill and this is Mike’s first campaign for elective office.
On the issues:
- Slaton advocates micro-loans to combat poverty in KY, community investing, and affordable housing. He will demand that drug addiction be treated as a disease, not a crime. He wants to tie prison terms to accomlishments like earning college degrees and he supports automatic restoration of voting rights for felons who have served their terms. He also wants to end for-profit prisons in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
- On social programs, Slaton wants to expand efforts to reduce poverty, reduce addiction, and prevent homelessness. He wants to help veterans to return to civilian life, demand government be responsive to those who need it the most. He brings the perspective that prevention saves lives and money.
- Slaton opposes mountaintop removal and wants to reduce KY’s dependence on King Coal–pushing for more renewable energy.
- He wants to bring the perspective that quality healthcare, decent jobs, quality education, and ecological integrity are human rights.
In the nearly 30 years that I have lived in Kentucky, I don’t think I have seen as progressive a politician as Mike Slaton in the state legislature. He is young enough that he could one day be a U.S. Rep., state or U.S. Senator, or KY gov. We need progressives in each of these positions, but I’ll gladly start with the state house.
His website is Mike Slaton for Kentucky House. He also has a Facebook Fan Page.
I urge all residents of District 41 to vote for Mike Slaton this coming May.
About
Michael L. Westmoreland-White, Ph.D. I live in Louisville, KY USA with my wife, Kate, and our two wonderful daughters. My wife, Kate, is a Baptist minister who works at a Catholic charity (the Society of St. Vincent de Paul) to provide assisted housing to homeless people. Our daughters are Molly (’95) and Miriam (’99). I am a former soldier converted to gospel nonviolence and a once (and future?) academic theologian turned peace activist, author, and peace educator. Contact me at [email protected]
The Levellers were a 17th C. movement during the English Civil War. They were a religiously-inspired political movement for democracy, human rights, justice for the poor, and peace. Their strongest leader was Richard Overton, a pacifist General Baptist influenced by Dutch Mennonites. Although I write on a wide range of topics, most often this blog deals with the intersection of faith, especially Christian faith, and work for social justice and peace. So, I have named the blog and dedicated it to the spirit of Richard Overton and the 17th C. Levellers.
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