Rep. Anna Eskamani Talks About Persian Roots and Nowruz: My Campaign Logo Inspired by Faravahar
Iranians in Diaspora, Politics Blog, Kodoom.com Editorial:
In November, by defeating a Republican Businessman in a hotly-contested race for Florida House District 47 (including Orlando) seat, Anna Eskamani became the first Iranian-American to hold any elected office in the Sunshine state and one of the three Iranian American women elected to State legislatures across the US (news link). Her tough and relentless campaign was even the topic of a VICE documentary titled She's Running!. Last week, we had an opportunity for an informal chat with Anna Eskamani before her visit to the Annual Nowruz Festival in Daytona Beach (Event link). A summary of the informal chat follows:
Kodoom: Anna, What was your motive to run for a public office and strategy to win in a majority white district?
Anna: Some 85 percent of residents in Orlando are white. I was born in Orlando but was motivated by my Iranian roots for public service, you know the culture of trying to do things for others, the Persian culture of taroof, Giving, giving, giving! which is part of our cultural identity. Me personal story is also what to drove me to get involved in politics. I remember my Mom talking about politics in Iran and how bloody it was and she didn’t get to see her sisters before she passed away of cancer in 2004. After lost her, I started reading a great deal of literature about Iranian women to get to understand her better. Because I also lost my mom at a young age, I made it my mission to honor her by empowering other women. I started this manifesto about women’s issues.
In high school I had to navigate through my own womanhood and found Planned Parenthood as a provider of reproductive health and obtained birth control at 18 years old. So I began understanding the personal is political. I have this framework of my mom and politics in Iran and losing my Mom and having to find answers on my own. It was difficult to do that as a young woman of color in Florida, a state that lacks the resources for mental or reproductive health particularly for working families. So those personal experiences gave me the opportunity to get more involved in civics. When I went to the University of Central Florida (UCF), I got really involved in environmental issues and Iranian human right issues.
When I decided to run for the office, we noticed an incredible level of support among voters in my district who trusted my work and stance on women issues, planned parenthood, public education, gun safety, etc. People knew I worked for non-profits. They also knew of my Iranian roots because I embraced and shared my story when my Republican opponent tried to attack me as an Iranian immigrant! I even wore my Faravahar (The ancient national Persian symbol signifying The Zoroastrian motto of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds) and used the concepts in our campaign logo.
We also knocked on 50,000 doors, were endorsed by national leaders like Obama and raised $523000 from 4000 donors without help from the fossil fuel or big sugar industries. We also had 600 volunteers and interns in the campaign including some Iranian Americans.
Kodoom: What are your top legislative agenda and victories:
Anna: Education, good public schools, protection of environment in light of climate change, Gun safety and security for all regardless of race, religion and personal lifestyle (including people of color, LBGTQ and immigrants, As you know The Pulse nightclub was in our district). I have sponsored a bill to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. We do face an uphill battle because the Florida legislature and governorship are controlled by Republicans. We flipped a battleground House District but most other districts are drawn for one party or other.
I believe in baby steps: Yavash Yavash (meaning Slowly [but surely] in Persian)! There is huge public support for gun safety laws as well as community activism by groups like Moms Demand Actions. I will build bridges when I can. Last week we had a Republican-led education reform bill which I supported. To find common grounds with Republicans is not easy in gun reform issues but on the environment we may find some common grounds, for example regulating septic tanks inspections and holding municipalities accountable for sewage spills in coastal communities. But the bills will not address agricultural and urban run offs because of the resistance by Republicans donor base such as Big Sugar despite Governor's rhetoric and hot air!
Kodoom: How would you respond to Libertarians and Republicans questioning the funding of Democrat-sponsored legislation?
Anna: The budgeting and funding issue is not a fiscal but leadership issue. There are too many corporate tax loop holes and give-aways. We can increase state revenue from new industries such as Cannabis and by closing tax loopholes for other industries such as car rental and out of state online vendors (I support remote sales and use tax for online sales). With proper tax reform, even a net-neutral tax legislation that will cap state expenditure will help small businesses with rent tax burden. Unfortunately, however, The Florida Department of Revenue is understaffed and not equipped to enforce sales use tax.
Kodoom: Any message for the Persian community?
Anna: My office with help of the Iranian Student Association at Florida State University (FSU) has sponsored the first ever Nowruz celebration in Florida State Capitol with Haft Seen, Persian music (Event Link). I also have proposed a Resolution declaring March 28 as Honoring the Persian New Year and the Contribution of Iranian Americans. The news about the Nowruz event has already created a buzz with a front page story on the Tallahassee Democrat.
I also believe in inspiring and empowering the next generation. We have 15 interns in our legislative office including one Iranian American.
[Anna also shared a short personal video message shown here and on KodoomDotCom Youtube channel].
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