My good friend Jack Ricciuto writes a very provocative blog called Jack/Zen (www.jackzen.com) and recently he wrote about what the voters should look for in new public officials. I believe Jack is on the mark. Take a read at http://www.jackzen.com/2008/11/30/public-office-requirements/. A new era of progressives must make their way into office and challenge the status quo, especially in Cleveland. The old ways of the political machines just simply do not work in the new (and ever changing) economy.

I am not one for self-promotion (give me a second to stop laughing at that)…but seriously, the good people at I-Open are conducting a series of interviews at the grass-roots level about this fascinating convergence of the creative arts, economic development, social justice, technology and civics. I was honored to be one of the interviews. My interview is featured today @ 10AM I-Open E-News: National & Regional Updates on Open Source Economic Development. Go to  http://is.gd/5oSu.