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Tom Leighton
New York, New York
Cable Company: Time Warner Cable of New York

3/10/04: WASHINGTON, DC

In September 1991, I saw Jerry Brown address the California Democratic party on C-SPAN. Brown focused on the corruption of democracy caused by campaign finance laws that give wealthy contributors control of our electoral process. His eloquence and passion inspired me to embark on a journey into politics.

After being a major player in Brown�s New York primary campaign against Clinton, I co-founded a citywide political club in New York City and worked hard for passage of federal legislation to preserve our access to dietary supplements. Subsequently, I was the Green Party�s first federal candidate from New York in 1994 and 1996, won the 1996 Independence Party primary for Congress in New York City, and became the only federal candidate in the nation on the ballot simultaneously with both Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. For both campaigns combined, I raised less than $1,500.

Finally, I founded the Marijuana Reform Party of New York and was on the ballot for governor of New York in both 1998 and 2002. In the 2002 campaign I participated in televised gubernatorial debates and made medical marijuana an issue in the election. My 2002 campaign helped advance medical marijuana legislation in the New York State legislature and my simultaneous lobbying efforts resulted in the introduction of a medical marijuana resolution in the NY City Council.

My political journey required personal sacrifice and my career as a photographer has suffered greatly. But I remain deeply grateful to C-SPAN for airing a speech that changed my life.


ONLINE PRESS KIT >>

Contest Winners
Read the essays of the 25 contest winners.

Press Releases
Sep. 28, 2005 -- Winners Named in C-SPAN Viewer Essay Contest Marking 25 Years of Viewer Calls

Sep. 14, 2005 -- C-SPAN Marks 25 Years Of Viewer Calls-Ins With LIVE, 25-Hour Call-In Program On Oct. 7

Aug. 17, 2005 -- C-SPAN Marks 25 Years Of Viewer Calls-Ins With LIVE, 25-Hour Call-In Program On Oct. 7

News Articles
The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) - Oct. 10, 2005
Talkers Magazine - Cover Story Oct. 2005
Jewish World Review - Columnist David Brooks, Nov. 1999

History of Call-Ins on Radio and Television
A timeline of call-in programs

Evolution of Call-Ins on C-SPAN
A timeline of call-in programs at C-SPAN

More about C-SPAN's 25 Years of Viewer Call-Ins
Background information on C-SPAN call-in programs

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