Do you know ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) or the son of ALEC, ACE (Alliance for Choice in Education)?  ALEC represents a marriage between corporate interests and state and local legislators (mostly Republican) to produce some of the most egregious legislation of the past decade.  The "model" legislation provided by ALEC has been responsible for "stand your ground" laws, the denial of climate change in schools, more restrictive voter requirements, the privatization of education, as well as increasing the populations (and profits) going to private prisons.  Departing Seattle City Council Member Nick Licata attended the annual ALEC assembly last summer and blogged about it.  He joined us to share his observation on how ALEC operates.

Speaker:  Nick Licata

Nick Licata grew up in a working class family where neither parent graduated from high school.  Though he couldn't read until age nine, he was the first of his relatives to attend college.  At Bowling Green State University he led the local chapter of Students for a Democratic Society and was elected student body president. 

Despite being outspent and with the mayor, council and newspapers supporting his opponent, Nick was elected to the city council.  Elected to five terms, he was named by The Nation as "Progressive Municipal Official of the Year" and was twice named "Best Local Politician" by the Seattle Weekly.  In 2003 Nick authored the children's novel Princess Bianca and the Vandals.  Nick's newest book, Becoming a Citizen Activist: Stories, Strategies & Advice for Changing our World, will be available January 5th, 2016.

Many thanks to Nick Licata for taking time to speak to us and Pat and Dave Griffith for organizing and hosting this event.