Evan Rodger Taking No Contributions

Evan Delaney Rodger, the 18-year-old junior at Cal State San Marcos, is running for a seat on the Carlsbad City Council and she’s not taking campaign donations from anyone: no individuals, no special interest groups, no developers, no hospitals, no businesses. No one.

While other campaigns are bragging about how much money they’ve raised, Rodger is keeping it simple.

She is refusing all contributions to be free of all special-interest influence, confident she will not need tens of thousands of dollars to run. She has embraced a “lean and green” online and grassroots word-of-mouth campaign as a viable alternative to landfill-destined roadside signs. . . . “Scaling things down makes sense in this economy, for the environment and most importantly in terms of rebuilding the community’s trust. It’s easy for the average person to become cynical and apathetic when big donations and campaign spending are spiraling out of control.”

The more we hear, the more sure we become that Evan is right for Carlsbad. Follow the jump for Evan’s entire press release.

[Editors’ Note: The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Logan Jenkins featured Evan in his column today.]

[Link: CleanCarlsbad.com]

Rodgers, 18, Running for Carlsbad, CA, City Council

Last week the San Diego Registrar of Voters verified the nominating signatures of Carlsbad’s—and, it is believed, California’s—youngest candidate on the November 4, 2008 ballot. Eighteen-year old college junior Evan Delaney Rodgers is running for Carlsbad City Council.

Miss Rodgers’ age is hardly the most non-traditional characteristic of her candidacy. She is refusing all contributions to be free of all special-interest influence, confident she will not need tens of thousands of dollars to run. She has embraced a “lean and green” online and grassroots word-of-mouth campaign as a viable alternative to landfill-destined roadside signs. Running a one-woman campaign via her website www.CleanCarlsbad.com rather than hiring consultants and speechwriters has made the low budget doable as well. “Scaling things down makes sense in this economy, for the environment and most importantly in terms of rebuilding the community’s trust. It’s easy for the average person to become cynical and apathetic when big donations and campaign spending are spiraling out of control.” Rodgers believes it has an impact on potential candidates, as well. “Last year, almost thirty people stepped forward in hopes of being appointed to a council seat vacated by Noreen Sigafoose. This year, only six are running for two seats. In 2010, how many will run for the two other council seats or mayor? Maybe so many that ‘lean and green’ campaigning will be the norm!”

When supporters get out their checkbooks, Rodgers asks them to instead write a letter to the current City Council in support of the long-awaited and currently-stalled Alga Norte Park and Aquatics Center, and to spend the money in Carlsbad this summer. An avid proponent of swimming and drowning prevention, Rodgers spoke again before the council in late July on behalf of the project. However, the council voted to postpone advertising for bids until it can evaluate the state budget’s impact on the city and the city’s sales tax receipts. Another vote on Alga Norte is scheduled in mid-October.

Everywhere she goes–during visits to the city skate park to discuss parents’ views on its demolition, while volunteering with young swimmers, or while visiting with seniors–Rodgers hears and sees the need for Alga Norte. “Carlsbad has doubled in population since 1990,” she said, at a recent youth sporting event where supporters gathered around her. “Kids can’t get into swim lessons because the city has simply outgrown the Monroe pool. It’s a public safety issue.” At another event at Orion Skate Park, parents eagerly encouraged her run for office and shared their concern about issues ranging from open space to underage smoking to cyberbullies to municipal WiFi in the Village.

An honor student, competitive athlete and community volunteer, Rodgers already has two Associate’s degrees under her belt as well as a certificate in American Indian Studies that was motivated by family heritage and local events. In late August she begins her junior year at Cal State San Marcos, majoring in Criminology and Justice Studies. In 2006, San Diego County named her the year’s sole County Champion for Student Fitness for her health-oriented volunteer leadership. San Diego Family interviewed her for their Family Fitness issue regarding the benefits of sports and fitness to academics and life in general.

No stranger to the limelight, Rodgers was one of 65 young people with varying forms of autism interviewed a few years ago by teen film director Taylor Cross, who also has autism. The award-winning documentary, “Normal People Scare Me”, has been shown at film festivals world-wide and is used by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and many universities, high schools, and middle schools throughout the United States in a variety of classes. Following the premiere of the film, Rodgers was selected by People magazine to appear in its five-page article about Taylor Cross, the film and autism. Not surprisingly, she chose to have her photo shoot at the Monroe pool in Carlsbad and during the interview spoke passionately about swimming.

Diagnosed with a mild form of autism called Asperger’s Syndrome at age 8, Rodgers explains, “I know that many kids with more profound cases are trapped by their autism and I’m glad that research is finding new ways to help them and their families. But personally, I feel like I’ve grown into my brand of autism called Asperger’s and that, for me, it’s a gift. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I were neurotypical because I would have been interested in social things. Having a little autism helped me achieve my goals and not miss what most people thought I was missing out on. I’m not really ‘driven’ in the sense of being a wound-up over-achiever—marching to my own drum just happens to cover a lot of ground.” Rodgers was also among the young people featured in a second documentary, currently in post-production, titled “Disabilities, Possibilities, and the Arts” about the power of mentorships.

Born in Grand Prairie, Texas, Rodgers has lived in North County for 11 years: two in Encinitas and nine in Carlsbad. “I wasn’t born here,” she admits, “but I got here as fast as I could! This is my hometown. Carlsbad has so much to be proud of and so much potential. We’ll work together to find solutions to our challenges. Like getting that new pool built so kids can learn to swim properly! When Alga Norte starts moving forward, corporate sponsors and foundations will want to be a part of it: ‘seeing is believing’. To make the city wealthier and everyone happy and healthier, we can apply for grants, develop new programs and plan new community events. Alga Norte will have something for everyone. The city council that brings it to life will unite Carlsbad before, during and after construction because the park and pools will never see an empty day. Best of all,” she says with a huge grin, “100% of the kids in Carlsbad who are ready for swim lessons will then be able to have swim lessons in Carlsbad!”