Hope for Democracy, Part 1
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Government institutions, the free press, the judiciary, the integrity of the election itself \\u2014 all face doubt and even attack, from both foreign and domestic sources.
What\\u2019s the way forward?
On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media.
Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more.
Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr.
Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry\\u2019s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County.
Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama\\u2019s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary \\u201cBlink.\\u201d He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.
