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In this episode of Beyond the Ballot, hosts Ariana Corbu and Warren Li sit down with Silja Paymer, candidate for Mountain View City Council. Tune in as Silja shares her accidental entry into politics, her grassroots work in community activism and local environmental protection, and her vision for the future of Mountain View.

From bridging the gap between developers and green spaces to rethinking transportation safety, active mobility, and educational equity, Silja offers a pragmatic and optimistic roadmap for sustainable urban growth. Whether you're a parent, a student, or a lifelong resident, discover how community-led solutions can transform local politics.

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On this episode of Beyond the Ballot, hosts Ariana Corbu and Warren Li sit down with California State Senate candidate Scott Sakakihara to discuss his vision for California’s future. Drawing on his experience in the U.S. Navy and Union City government, Scott shares his perspectives on affordable housing, economic inequality, public safety, immigrant rights, climate action, and responsible AI regulation. He also reflects on the importance of local politics, empowering young people to get involved in civic life, and building a more inclusive future for all Californians. Tune in to hear why meaningful change takes perseverance, community engagement, and a commitment to leaving no one behind.

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Join hosts Warren Li and Ariana Corbu on the Santa Clara County Democratic Party podcast, Beyond the Ballot, as they sit down with California State Assemblymember Ash Kalra to discuss his journey from public defender to landmark legislator. Tune in as Kalra dives deep into the fight for the California Racial Justice Act, single-payer healthcare, local housing solutions, and actionable advice for young people looking to get involved in grassroots politics.

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In this episode, hosts Ariana Corbu and Andrea Wong sit down with Lyseria Phillips—a union electrician, NorCal representative for the CDP LGBTQ Caucus, and President of Pride at Work’s San Francisco Bay Area chapter. Lyseria opens up about her personal journey as a transgender woman navigating the building trades, surviving suicide ideation, and embracing "defiant, witchy joy" as a tool for political and social activism. The conversation explores the crucial intersection of organized labor and LGBTQ+ representation, the push for equal healthcare and fair wages, and why non-traditional, rank-and-file voices are essential in local government and school boards.

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In this episode of Beyond the Ballot, hosts Warren Li and Ariana Corbu sit down with Santa Clara County District 2 Supervisor Betty Duong to explore her journey from community advocate and county employee to elected office. Supervisor Duong shares her personal story as the daughter of immigrants, her work on language access, affordable housing, immigrant services, and the Vietnamese American Service Center, and what local government means for everyday residents. She also discusses civic engagement and why young people have a powerful role to play in shaping their communities and democracy.

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In this episode of Beyond the Ballot, host Ariana Corbu sits down with San Jose District 3 Councilmember Anthony Tordillos to discuss his journey from software engineering and grassroots neighborhood organizing to taking action on City Council. Tordillos shares his hands-on approach to tackling the Bay Area's housing affordability crisis, expanding transit-oriented development, and making local streets safer. He also breaks down key city budget wins for District 3 while offering advice on how everyday residents can get involved to make a tangible impact on local government.

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From high school troublemaker to the youngest Mayor in Los Gatos history, Mayor Rob Moore joins hosts Ariana Corbu and Caroline Zhang for a candid look at local leadership. Mayor Moore opens up about taking on big oil in college, balancing a full-time job with a $6,000 mayoral stipend, using social media to champion small businesses, and why the real power to change your community happens right in your own backyard.

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In this episode, Ariana Corbu and Warren Li sit down with Mountain View Councilmember Ellen Kamei to discuss local government, community engagement, housing, small businesses, racial equity, and getting young people involved in politics. Councilmember Kamei shares lessons from her time in office and explores how meaningful change can start with small actions.