Garrett Ferencz

Born 200 years after the birth of your nation (or close enough for government work), Sept. 12, 1976, I am a Washington native and lifelong resident. Growing up in Olympia, I attended North Thurston High School, where I realized that my lanky frame was much better suited for arguing politics and academics, rather than Olympic glory in the field of sports. After graduation, I attended the University of Washington, majoring in economics and — like Alex P. Keaton — found my way into College Republicans. After the University, I made my parents un-proud by attending Seattle University School of Law. Since graduation I have worked for a large defense firm as a criminal prosecutor, and have recently settled down as a civil-rights attorney in downtown Seattle.

I am originally from the San Francisco Bay area and moved to Seattle to accept a position in the Spanish Department at the University of Washngton after having taught in Oklahoma for several years. While I work on topics related to the Renaissance, I am fascinated by the ways in which many of the same debates that animated the minds of the 16th century still resonate today. I'm an avid follower of local politics and find that the contrasts between Seattle and Tulsa, where I lived before, could not be more extreme. In my free time, I go for long walks in the countryside.

Take a look at my picture. You're looking at a rare breed around these parts: a young, conservative, free-market loving, African-American. I was born and raised in Seattle and graduated in 2001 from Western Washington University with a degree in political science. Since then, I've worked for a couple of think tanks, Washington Policy Center being the latest. I love Seattle despite its imperfections and tendency to accommodate special interests to the detriment of most of its citizens. Family, hard work, integrity and honesty are what I value most, which is why you'll find me commentating on politics instead of running for office.

I'm a first-generation Indian American and came to the U.S. at the age of six. I grew up in Long Island, New York in a small village called Port Jefferson. I attended Barnard College, the women's college at Columbia University and lived in Manhattan during my college years. I then went to Cornell Law School and worked in the nonprofit sector after I graduated. I moved to Seattle in March 2000 to work as an attorney at Graham & Dunn PC. Since January 2004, I've been working as an Airline Partner Management Executive at Expedia.

Though I called Spokane my home for four years while earning my degree in economics from Gonzaga University, I was born and bred in West Seattle. I've alternated between loving and loathing this city, but the music scene and my wonderful family members always bring me back. While at Franklin High School, I fancied myself a decent athlete and a mediocre filmmaker. At Gonzaga, I once accidentally fell from the top of a bunk bed onto my guitar, thus ending my short career as a one-woman Mazzy Star cover band. I lived in Florence, Italy, during my junior year of college and am currently traveling around the United States with one of my best friends, living on Power Bars and the kindness of strangers.

Born and raised in Bellevue, I still live in the same house I have lived in since elementary school. At the ripe old age of 25 and with a 4-year-old son, I still live at home with Mom and Dad (I know, I'm a mooch, but it's cheaper that way). Mom and Dad are steadfast Republicans, while my 22 year old brother and I are still sitting squarely on the fence. I've recently given up my horrible habit of reading supermarket tabloids to follow the 2004 elections.

Hi there! My name’s Will Mari, and I just graduated from high school in June. My family and I live in Snoqualmie on Snoqualmie Ridge, where I’m a young Republican surrounded by nice Kerry fans. My dad was a career U.S. Army officer, and as a result, this particular BRAT (Born, Raised, Army-Trained) has grown up practically everywhere, met all sorts of people, and seen a whole lot of our big and beautiful country. I’ve been going to Bellevue Community College for about a year now, and intend to finish my associate's degree in either environmental science or communications. I’m all set to blog away, and I invite you to talk and listen about our awesome privilege, voting this fall in the 2004 elections.

Having spent my first 18 byears with my parents and younger brother in dear, sweet, sleepy Edmonds and the past year in dungeon-like dorms at the University of Washington, I'm now in a joyous little house with friends just north of campus. I'm entering my second year at UW and I hope to graduate by the time the next election rolls around with degrees in painting and math. I love Seattle and couldn't imagine leaving for fear of losing the friendships and connections that my short lifetime has built. My politics are born of the city's vibe, years at Bumbershoot and Folklife, through WTO and Iraq war protests, its mountains, its coffee, the Sound and its streets.

Hey there, I am Michael Moretsky. I am 32 years old and have been married for four years. Kaddin and I just had our first child, Benjamin, this past May. Our world now revolves around him. Everything I do (and vote for), I would like to think, is in his best interest. I currently work as a client outreach representative for a nonprofit organization based in Seattle called the Committee for Children. I work closely with school systems in the Northeast as they implement our programs. This means I travel to the East Coast a lot. And yes, I feel guilty every time I leave my family for a work trip and elated every time I come home. I have been doing this for just over three years now. Before my present gig, I was a school psychologist. I am now a recovering school psychologist. Kaddin and I moved to Seattle from Boston in 1998. We bought our first home last year. We love Seattle. I cannot see us leaving for many, many years.

I grew up in a conservative religious family but came out as a liberal at age 15. Though we often disagreed, my folks encouraged discussion and debate. My blog nonfamous.com is basically an ongoing dinner-table conversation among my urban family. The blog is just a new medium for an old habit. My time at Yale was one big conversation, followed by more heated debates doing communications for Planned Parenthood in my hometown of Oklahoma City. I escaped to Seattle in 1999 and now do brand strategy for a public-relations firm in Bellevue. My partner David and I got married in B.C. this May and live happily in Leschi.

I was born and raised in Seattle. After graduating from Garfield High School in 1996, I decided to join the Air Force and see the world. Rather than seeing the world, they decided that I should see Illinois, and promptly sent me to Scott Air Force Base where I did a four-year tour as a systems administrator. After my first tour with the Air Force, I did some information-technology contracting, but I found that I liked the military more. I signed on for another tour and headed for Ohio, where I met my lovely wife. I am currently residing in Missouri, where I enjoy softball, boating and computers.

I was born in Seattle and grew up in the Madrona neighborhood. I went to high school on Capitol Hill and ventured across the mountains to get my bachelor of arts degree at Gonzaga University in Spokane. After a quick four years in eastern Washington, I came back. I enjoyed Spokane, but living there for college made me appreciate the uniqueness of Seattle’s people and communities. Right now I’m working on my master's degree in school counseling and living in a studio apartment on Broadway.

I am a 22 year old Republican who has lived in the Bothell area of Washington for the past year, though I've lived in Washington all of my life (and feel somewhat confined to the liberalistic viewpoints). I don't have any children of my own, but I am a Young Life leader in Snohomish County. When I'm not working at my job or with Young Life, I'm usually found with my friends and family. I am an avid reader who enjoys writing in my spare time and am currently working on my first fiction novel, which has proven to be an excruciating task.