Candidate's Bio:

I am a passionate and committed advocate for the causes I believe in, and I
intend to keep that idealism, even after I'm elected. I am a homeowner, the parent of two little girls from my wife's first marriage, the husband of a Swedish immigrant and professional web designer, co-founder of two companies (I'm working on the third), a Unix Systems Administrator, a polyamorous bisexual queer, and a loving son.

My father is a priest in the Ecclesia Gnostica, a Vietnam Veteran, and has spent his entire career working in the Federal, and now California, Department of Veterans Affairs. He was elected 1st VP, 2nd VP, and chaplain of his AFGE local, and served as a shop steward for fifteen years. My mother is a lifelong community advocate and currently serves as President of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County.

I am a third generation graduate of Santa Monica High School, can trace my ancestry back to the Pilgrims, and my ancestors fought on both sides of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. One grandfather was a life-long farmer, the other worked for thirty years as a radio technician for the Police Department of the City of Santa Monica.

I am an American, and I love my country, and the ideals for which it stands. I know of no higher honor than being given the privilege to serve to my community in elected office.

Candidate's Statement:

The progessive community can win on the merits of our agenda: Sustainable Economic and Social Policies, Neighborhood Preservation and Empowerment, and Human Rights and Civil Liberties.

As the candidate with the strongest track record of community leadership on issues core to the progressive agenda: good jobs, affordable housing, homeless services, minority rights and civil liberties, I have has demonstrated my commitment to following through on the progressive agenda and have put it in writing in my ballot statement:

When elected, I promise to vote:

No on the Downtown Ordinances!
No on the privatization of public space!
No on massive buildings downtown!

Yes on Safe Sleeping Zones!
Yes on a permanent, multi-block Downtown Plaza!
Yes on affordable housing!
Yes on supporting the Living Wage!

My politics are founded on the these four pillars: ecological wisdom, grassroots democracy, nonviolence, and social justice.

I promise to stay true to the policies and principles which I profess during my campaign. I promise to cut the "military budget" and prioritize funding for social services; to not endorse or accept policies which target the poor and oppressed for harassment and criminalization; to loudly and passionately dissent from the passage of hypocritical and unjust laws; and to push for positive change that empowers and engages all sectors of the community, not just the rich and powerful ones.

More information about the Thomas Leavitt for City Council campaign, including a detailed platform that discusses the issues above in more detail, answers to various endorsement questionnaires (including the Progressive Coalition and the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council questionnaire), and more detailed information on my history of activism, can be found on the campaign web site at http://www.thomasleavitt.org/cc/

Information on how to volunteer and donate to the campaign may be also obtained through the web site, and will be accepted with gratitude.

Thank you for taking the time to read this statement, and if you have any further questions or comments, feel free to contact me.