Hello

Since coming to Portland I have been involved in the movement to get special interest money out of the political system. I am currently a member of the State Council of the Oregon Progressive Party.  I have recently been endorsed by the OPP and by Dr. Cornel West. 

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I feel uniquely qualified for this position in large part due to almost twenty five years as a training and organizational  development professional. A major focus of my career was working within public and private organizations helping leaders learn how to work collaboratively to achieve consensus on goals and succeed without conflict.  I am also a Project Management Professional (PMP), with extensive experience running large and small projects for a diverse set of clients including, The DC School Department the NYC School Department, the Department of Homeland Security, Reebok International, AT&T and Fidelity Investments.  

 

I am the grandchild of Russian immigrants. My mother's father was a sailor in WWI, my father fought in WW II, and my only brother was a naval officer in Vietnam. Although I wanted to serve my country, I could not accept being involved in the unjust and horrific war in Vietnam. I .served my country by being a leader in the anti-war movement to "stop the war".

 

My interest in politics began as a nineteen-year-old in the first draft for the Vietnam War, the only draft since World War II. I received a high draft number that would exclude me from being forced to choose to leave the country. I spent the next several years organizing student protests against the war. In 1972 I moved to SF., working nights at the US Postal Service while I attended San Francisco City College. State colleges were free for CA residents, a process which I whole heartedly support. I finished my BS degree in NY, and worked as a Vocational Teacher in Attleboro Massachusetts, before moving into corporate America as an HR and Training professional. 

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I joined the Rose Festival Clowns as "SIr Lafalot". in 2019 and love every minute of it.