Pacifica Candidate Statement

Wesley Bethune - Elected

Listener Candidate for the KPFT Local Station Board

Statement

Hello Listeners, my name is Wesley Bethune and I am seeking a second term on the local station board. The fiscal well-being of the network is in jeopardy and I believe that seeking corporate under-writing is the wrong approach to our dilemma, and that the solution is being true to our mission of education and dialogue between diverse groups.

I currently sit on the national election and governance committees and on the local Management Selection and Review committee, and the local governance committee and the local finance committees. I also sit on the local program council and was the dissenting voice on approval of the new program changes. Although I approved of many of the changes made by management I disapprove of buying canned programs from NPR, PRI, and APM. These expensive corporate underwritten shows are given top spots and Pacifican programs such as Counter-spin and Flashpoints are relegated to the HD wasteland. I'll continue to struggle but I need your vote.

KPFT Candidate Questionnaire

1. Why do you want to be on the local station board?
To pursue the fulfillment of the Pacifica mission.

2. How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, KPFT and the community?
That is dependent on the outcome of this election. I hope that the listeners elect people who care about the educational aspect of our mission.

3. How could the station better serve its listeners?
By broadcasting more locally-produced and Pacifica network produced programs and relying less on PRI, APM and NPR network material.

4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
I support having town-hall meetings in minority communities to hear their concerns. "Underrepresented communities often mean groups who are facing oppression by our government and out social structure and given fuel by the mainstream (corporate) media. Education is the key. KPFT could be the catalyst for change, one listener at a time.

5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFT should solicit?
We appreciate the generosity of our community small businesses, without whom we would be in dire straits. I would like to see more foundation grants whose mission is compatible with our but I am wary of the non-profit industrial complex.

6. Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.
The past three years of service on the board has given me much insight into the working of the Pacifica Foundation. The network is full of warm, smart and dedicated people and I am fortunate to have worked with them. Although we may not agree on every issue and sometimes discussion might be a bit animated, by using the principles of non-violent communication, we eventually arrive at an outcome where everyone is heard. I believe honesty, sincerity and my communication skills are my greatest assets.

7. On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving?
I currenlty serve on national electons and governance committees and on the local level I am a voting member of the Management Selection and Review, Governance and Finance committees and on of the three LSB representatives on the Program Council.

Answers to Candidate Questionnaire
1.	Why do you want to be on the local station board?

2.	How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, KPFT and the community?
	That is dependent on the outcome of this election. I hope that the listeners elect people who care about the educational aspect of our mission.
3.	How could the station better serve its listeners?
	By broadcasting more locally-produced and Pacifica network produced programs and relying less on PRI, APM and NPR network material.
4.	Describe some actions you would take to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
	I support having town-hall meetings in minority communities to hear their concerns. "Underrepresented communities often mean groups who are facing oppression by our government and out social structure and given fuel by the mainstream (corporate) media. Education is the key. KPFT could be the catalyst for change, one listener at a time.
5.	What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel your station should solicit?
	We appreciate the generosity of our community small businesses, without whom we would be in dire straits. I would like to see more foundation grants whose mission is compatible with our but I am wary of the non-profit industrial complex.
6.	Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.
	The past three years of service on the board has given me much insight into the working of the Pacifica Foundation. The network is full of warm, smart and dedicated people and I am fortunate to have worked with them. Although we may not agree on every issue and sometimes discussion might be a bit animated, by using the principles of non-violent communication, we eventually arrive at an outcome where everyone is heard. I believe honesty, sincerity and my communication skills are my greatest assets.
7.	On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving?
	I currenlty serve on national electons and governance committees and on the local level I am a voting member of the Management Selection and Review, Governance and Finance committees and on of the three LSB representatives on the Program Council.

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