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Contact Sean Kelly McPherson
Listener Candidate for the KPFT Local Station Board
Statement
I probably first heard KPFT in 1970, because I heard about its bombing and figured anything worth being bombed was worth finding and listening to- I was 12 years old.

I made my first of many contributions when I was in high school, drawn by the live benefit shows at Liberty Hall. It has introduced me to everything from blue grass to Elvis' gospel back in the day to Generasian Radio and Connect the Dots today, with so much in between.

Even as a regular member and contributor, I will admit to having taken it somewhat for granted, confident that the alternative voices would be there for those who cared to listen.

The last few years have thrown that into much doubt,and now the dissension and division we see in the national and state politics are reflected in Pacifica- and I hate it. Paciica and KPFT will not, cannot, survive at this rate, and you and I cannot take it for granted.
Answers to Candidate Questionnaire
1. What experience, connections, skills or traits would you bring to the local station board to advance the station's mission?
  Thirty plus years of practicing law, which - in my case, anyway - largely consists of problem solving for folks faced with problems greater than they can deal with by themselves- legal, financial, family, personal.
2. What do you appreciate and value in the station's current operations?
  Just about everything- even the stuff I don't listen to, even the stuff I listen to without necessarily agreeing; From "Thinkwing" to Brother Muhammad connecting the dots in his way, it's valuable and informs my own thinking- even if/when I disagree with something in particular. We need more of that, not less.
And there's not enough room here for me to go off on all the music which will likely never reach commercial radio.
3. What would you like to see improved or changed in the station's current operations?
  I've advocated for some time to renew live remote broadcasting. I would never have found Liberty Hall, much less sneaked in underage to see Fever Tree or Roky Erickson, without KPFT. More recently, Joe's Roadhouse which, for reasons of politics I still don't understand, was discontinued, when it, too, could have been used effectively for membership drives. Why we don't remotely broadcast live from St. Patrick's Day parades, or from the International Festival, or from the Westheimer Art Festival, etc., is beyond me.
4. Describe what you anticipate would be your top three priorities or areas of focus if you were elected to the local station board.
  1. New membership. Our listenership is aging, and not being replenished with younger, new members.
2. Fiscal management. We are in dire straits, and it's not only because of the downturn in membership.
3. Not to beat a drum which I may have already worn out- but did you read my comments about remote broadcasting?
5. Sustainability is an important part of any nonprofit operation. What are your thoughts on how the board can help to improve the station's financial footing?
  I would be lying if I said I had the answer. And my comments regarding fiscal management notwithstanding, I stand in the shoes of most listeners, in that I have an imperfect understanding of the minutia of the budget. As with most listeners, "I only know what I hear on the radio." Clearly, what we're doing is insufficient. As a member of the LSB, I believe I can help.
6. Is there anything else you would like prospective voters to know?
  I'm only sorry that it's taken me this long to try to become more involved. Don't hold it against me- I'm here now.
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