(bright upbeat music) ♪ ♪ Yeah, the simple things in life ♪ - My guest is Connie Leyva.

She was a California state senator, and now she's the first executive director for KVCR radio and television, which also includes FNX- First Nations Experience, our indigenous channel.

Welcome, and thank you for joining me!

- Thank you, Lillian.

I'm thrilled to be here with you and thrilled to be at KVCR.

- Okay.

So before we talk about your newest role here at KVCR, I'd like to step back a bit and learn about you, your youth, and kind of how your journey went to get into politics and then eventually public media.

So, where'd you grow up?

- I grew up in Chino.

I was actually born in Kansas because my dad was in the service.

- Oh!

- But, when he was out of basic training, we moved back to Pomona.

So, I was about a year and a half, and then moved to Chino and that's where I grew up.

And, that's where my husband and I currently live now.

Went all through public schools there, and, yeah!

That would-- Still live in Chino.

But, did a stint in Colton when we got married and bought our first house there, and did 10 years in Colton, which was great.

- Oh!

So, that was a little bit of time in Colton.

- Yes!

- You received your degree in communicative disorders from the University of Redlands.

What career path did you have in mind or were you planning-?

Or, what were you thinking when you made that your major?

- I love that question!

Thank you for asking me that.

So, I thought I wanted to be an attorney-- - Oh!

- when I first started in college.

And then, I quickly realized that people do not-- they will tolerate a lot in life, but they don't tolerate when people cannot communicate effectively.

- Hm.

- And I thought, I wanna be that person to make sure people can communicate with each other.

If there was some sort of an issue, I could help them with that.

So, I was at Cal Poly.

I had to transfer to the University of Redlands because they offered the program.

And so, I went there.

I got my degree.

I loved every minute of it, and I have, to date, not used my degree!

- [Lillian] At all?

- At all!

- [Lillian] Well!

- But, I jokingly say I used it when I started with the labor movement and I taught people how to speak-- find their voice in a different way on the job.

- So, you were at Cal Poly Pomona.

What were you studying there?

- Oh!

I was an English major at the time-- - Hm!

- because I thought if I was gonna be a lawyer, I should be able to write, and write effectively.

But, I should say that I started at Mt.

SAC.

- Okay.

- I had a very circuitous journey through college.

It took me five and a half years to get my degree!

(Lillian laughs) Halfway through I got married, and then almost at the end we decided to have a baby, which turned into twins.

So, it was a circuitous journey, but made it nonetheless.

But, I had my best English class at Mt.

SAC.

Went to Cal Poly, was an English major.

Then, when I decided I wanted to pursue communicative disorders, I went to an English minor.

- Oh, okay.

So, you still stayed in the English realm?

- Yes.

- Alright.

So, you worked at Alpha Beta.

- Yes.

- Which was a grocery store here in Southern California and beyond.

It was around from like 1917 to- I think they closed their doors or sold all of them by 1985.

- That is correct.

- What did you do there that would eventually lead you to your being a union rep and, later, the president of the union?

- Another great question, Lillian!

So, I grew up in a union household.

My dad was an operating engineer.

He was a teamster.

He was a retail clerk before retail clerks became United Food and Commercial Workers Union way back when.

And, my mom was a member of CSEA for 35 years.

- Oh!

- So, I grew up in a union household, and I always knew that we had good medical benefits and a good way of living because my parents were part of a union.

So, when I was 18, I went to Alpha Beta in Ontario and got my own good union job.

And, that's where I met my favorite husband!

And, we-- I worked there for almost 10 years.

And then, the merger between Alpha Beta and Food for Less, Ralphs occurred.

- Right.

- And, they had a massive layoff.

They went back 19 years laying people off.

So, I only had nine years in.

- Ohh.

- So, I was laid off.

Pregnant with our twins at the time, and it all worked out because it's very hard to find care for infant twins.

But, I loved working at Alpha Beta.

I loved-- I did just about everything in the store.

When I left, I was a person in charge.

I was a key carrier.

So, I opened and closed the stores, and I was in college at the time.

So, sometimes I would go in at 10 o'clock at night, work until seven in the morning and then drive to Cal Poly and take my classes.

- And, you were married during this time as well?

- Married during that time as well, yes.

- So, you were-- you started when-- how old were you when you got married?

- 21.

- Oh, you were-?

Okay.

- Yes.

- So, you're working at Alpha Beta, 18 years old, working there, you meet your favorite husband, which I'm gonna ask you about.

(Connie laughs) There's a lot of, not so favorite husbands-- - Right!

in that crowd!

So, you're gonna need to explain that a little bit.

- Yes!

- So, you're there 18, working.

And then, you are at Cal Poly, as well?

- Yes, at Cal Poly.

He was actually at Cal Poly, as well, playing baseball.

And then-- - Ohh.

- Yes!

He played third base at Cal Poly.

And then, ultimately he transferred to the University of La Verne and I transferred to the University of Redlands.

So, he was a leopard; I was bulldog!

- Still while you're both married?

- Still while we were both married.

- Now, are you pregnant at this time?

- I am not pregnant at that time.

'Cause I had the girls in '92.

So, I got pregnant in '91.

- Okay.

- Yes!

- Great.

Okay.

So, in 2004, you were the first female elected as the president of the California Labor Federation.

Is that correct?

- That is correct.

- Representing more than 2.1 million workers.

What was your mission and what was your job?

What were you charged to do?

- So, let me first say how shocked I was when I got the phone call.

Al and I and the girls were in New York on vacation, and I got a call from the executive director, Art Pulaski.

And he said, 'hey, we need a new president.'

And, I'm thinking in my mind, he's gonna ask me to recommend somebody.

- Ahh!

- And I'm thinking, 'oh my gosh, who am I gonna recommend?'

And he said, 'we would like you to do it.

You are on a short list to do this.'

And I said, 'what?'

I said, 'me?

Oh?

Okay!'

So, ultimately I went back, interviewed with the executive board, and then they did elect me to that position.

So, as the president of the state fed my job was to help them organize all the unions-- the unions were organized, but organize them around politics.

How do we make sure that people who are labor friendly, people who care about workers, workers' rights, pensions, affordable healthcare, how do we make sure all of us as unions-- 'cause all the-- unions are very different.

You've got public sector.

You've got private sector.

Representing grocery workers, I was part of the private sector.

So, part of my job was how do we make sure we do that?

And, I feel like I was really lucky to be there at that time because we really-- myself, Art Pulaski, and then we took the leaders of the 10 largest unions in the state of California and kind of put together a plan, a strategic growth plan on how we would be more effective as unions in the state of California.

And to this day, I will always feel really honored and lucky that I got to be a part of that.

And so, I did that for 10 years concurrently while I was the president of my local union.

- Okay.

So, let me ask about that.

So, you got the role, or...the call!

- Yes!

- Because you were already the president of your local union, right?

- Correct, yes.

- And, you got that part because you had been a union rep?

- Correct.

- And, what-?

How old were you when you were a union rep?

- I got hired at the local at 27 and I became a rep at 28.

- What did you think-- Your idea?

Somebody ask you?

Were you just vocal and people said, 'Connie should do this?'

- All of the above!

So, when I got hired, I got hired to work temporary part-time in the benefits department.

And candidly, we really needed for me to be working because when I got laid off and I was six months pregnant with the girls, we hadn't really planned that I wasn't gonna be working.

So, the Leyvas were pretty hungry!

I needed to go back to work.

So, I started there, but I quickly realized that I wanted to be a union rep.

I'm like, 'that's where the action is.'

- Why?

- They were out in the stores representing workers, teaching workers what their rights were, making sure they're being treated right on the job.

And I'm like, 'that's what I wanna do.'

So, when a position opened up, I went to the president and I said, 'I would like to apply.'

And, he told me no.

And I said, 'why?'

He said, 'because you're a woman.'

And, I was so shocked that in 1994- I still remember it like it was yesterday- that a man would tell me I couldn't do it because I was a woman.

And I said, 'well, I know you don't have any female reps.' But I said, 'I can do the job.'

He said, 'well, and also you're a mom.

They won't like that you're a mom.'

And I said, 'who do you think's working in all those grocery stores?

A bunch of working moms.'

I said, 'they will relate to me and I will relate to them.'

So, it took a few more months of me convincing him to just let me interview.

And then, ultimately I got the job.

And, I always like to tell this part of the story because I just wanna make sure women know we always have to be fighting for each other.

So, when he hired me, he said, 'okay, we're gonna take you.

Here's your pay salary.

We're gonna take you to top pay in five years.'

And I said, 'well, I know that the guys all went to top pay in two years.'

And he goes, 'yeah, I know.

But, we're gonna change it for you.'

And I said, 'okay.'

I said, 'well, how about if I do the job and prove myself?

You take me to top pay in two years.'

And he said, 'okay.'

So, two years I worked my rear off.

It would be a whole 'nother show to talk about how challenging it was with the guys I worked with!

But, I loved being in the stores, Lillian.

I loved working, especially with-- grocery is more than 50% female.

And, just helping women find their voice on the job.

I loved it.

Two years, I came back and he said, 'well, you've exceeded all of my expectations.'

- Ah, nice!

- 'But, I'm still not taking you to top pay.'

- Aww!

- Right?

(Connie laughs) - And I said-- - Really?

- Yeah.

I said, 'why?'

And he said, 'well, I changed my mind.'

I said, 'okay.'

So, I always tell people: this was a watershed moment for me.

I went back to my office and I thought, 'do I quit?

Do I stay?'

One, we needed the income.

Two, I loved what I did.

So, I said, 'okay.

I have to find a way to get him to do the right thing.'

So, every day, at some point in the day, during the next nine months, I'd pop my head in his office and say, 'you know you wanna take me to top pay because I'm your best rep!'

Nine months later, he did.

So, I tell people sometimes being the persistent, pleasant pest will actually work!

- I think the key there was the pleasant part, right?

- A hundred percent!

- The pleasant part.

- Yes!

A hundred percent!

'Cause I'm sure he was still irritated with me!

- So, you're in charge of the whole union, right?

For the state, right?

All the unions for the state.

- Yes.

Under the commercial-- under what?

- So, in order to be the president of the state fed, I had to be with a local union.

So, I was the president of UFCW Local 1428.

And then, that's what helped propel me into being president of the California Labor Federation.

- Got it.

But from there, you decide-- 'I've done this.

I wanna try something new?'

What made you decide to run for state Senate?

- Great question, again.

So, I loved what I did.

It was a challenging-- candidly, it was a challenging-- I was at the local 20 years.

It was a challenging 12 years as president.

I was the only female president in Southern California.

So, it was myself and seven other guys.

And, they weren't always excited to have a woman at the table.

It was-- - Still?

- Still.

Right!

All the-- it hasn't been that long.

I know!

But, anyway.

So, part of it was I felt like I had done everything I could for the labor movement and felt that I had-- I don't wanna say gotten as far as I could go, because I was happy doing what I was doing.

And, we had done a lot of politics.

Unions that are active do a lot of work in politics.

We'd helped a lot of different folks get elected, people who we knew believed in good paying jobs and benefits and pensions.

And so, one day I got a call from the current congresswoman, Norma Torres, who was a senator at the time.

And she said, 'I'm running for Congress.

Would you be interested in running for the Senate?'

- Ohh.

- And I said, 'I don't know.'

I said, 'well, I have to go home and talk to my favorite husband!'

And I said, 'I'll let you know.'

And she said, 'well, I'm with leadership right now and they want an answer.'

I go, 'well, this is a huge life, career change for me.'

So, I went home, talked to my husband and said, 'what do you think?'

He said, 'I think you'd be fantastic.'

I said, 'well, you gotta know all the ins-and-outs.'

I said, 'one, it's a big pay cut.'

I said, 'two, there is no pension.'

And I said, 'three, we will 'literally pay about 10 times more a month 'for our health benefits and I have to live in Sacramento four days a week.'

He said, 'dear God, why do you wanna do this job?'

(Connie and Lillian laugh) And I said, 'because I think I might--' - Which was a good question!

- It was a great question!

I said, 'because I think maybe I can make a difference.

I said, 'I wanna be at the table.

'I wanna help shape policy and laws, and I really want to try.'

And he goes, 'Then, we will make it work.'

So, always grateful for that.

And, we did make it work for eight years.

So-- - So, I can see why he's your favorite husband!

- Yes!

(Connie laughs) - But, tell our audience why he's your "favorite husband."

- Yes, great question.

You know what?

I started calling him that years ago.

And so, it always-- people always say, 'well, is there an unfavorite husband?'

And I say, 'no, but if there was he would be my favorite husband!'

So, it's just kind of a joke that started between the two of us.

And now, I say it publicly and it always cracks people up, and his phone says the same thing: "favorite wife!"

- Aw, that's nice!

- So-- but he's my favorite husband because he doesn't just support me, he totally believes in me.

He's the person that when I'm having a bad day, he will pick me up in all the right ways.

But, he will also always be honest with me and I appreciate that.

He'll tell me when, 'you know, hon?

Maybe you could've done that a different way.'

And I appreciate that, so he's my guy.

- He is your guy.

You know, I've interviewed a lot of celebrities over the years and sometimes they have four or five husbands!

(Connie laughs) - That's not me!

- When you say that, that's where I go, like-?

- That's where everybody goes!

- Favorite?

- Yes!

No.

So, we married at 21 and 23, so a long time ago.

- Very good, okay.

So while you were in the Senate, you had several bills, several bills.

- Yes.

- But, a lot of them were about mobile homes.

- Yes!

- Tell me.

How are the committees chosen that, that's what you were chosen to do or selected to do, or told to do?

I don't know.

- Right, right, right!

- And then, you did it on mobile homes.

'Cause I don't really hear much about mobile homes and bills about mobile homes.

- Yes!

So, you get elected and then the pro tem, the president pro tem of the Senate decides what committees you'll be on.

- Mm!

Okay.

- And so, I was put on a variety of different committees.

And someone said to me, 'you know, we have this select committee', which is a little different from an actual standing committee.

And, they said it's on mobile and manufactured homes.

And I said, 'oh!'

I said, 'well, that sounds kind of interesting.'

And I kinda looked at it-- this is the last bastion of affordable homes for people.

- Mm hm.

- And I said, 'yes, I would love to do that.'

And also, there's something called the MRL, and we call it "The Bible", in the mobile home park world.

And when I first got to Sacramento, my apartment didn't have TV yet.

So, for the first two weeks I read the MRL (Lillian laughs) cover-to-cover and learned it quite well!

And then, I just really grew to love this population.

People who are in mobile homes, many of them are seniors.

Many of them are disabled.

Many of them are low-income.

And, this is something that they can own and be a part of.

And, what we found is they were really being taken advantage of.

And so, we actually had five bills signed into law that do various things to help people stay in their mobile homes, to help mobile homes go from for-profit to owner-owned.

- That's nice.

- Yeah!

To find money to build nonprofit mobile home parks.

So, it ended up being a passion I didn't even know I had.

I loved every minute of it.

- So, when my husband and I first got married, we lived in an apartment in Ontario.

- Okay.

- From there, we bought a mobile home-- - Ah!

- in Ontario.

And, that's where we-- that was kind of our first buy.

- Yeah!

Yeah.

- It had a really big backyard, bigger yard than I've ever had.

So, it had-- it was a great little place.

- In a mobile home park!

That's awesome!

- It was right by the Daily Bulletin.

- Oh!

I know where that is.

- There was our park!

So, yeah!

So, that was where I spent some time.

- Oh, that's great!

Yeah.

- Alright.

So as a senator, what were some of your accomplishments you're most proud of, or that you always liked talking about?

Or that you, you know, you hang on your wall?

- Yes.

So, I ran for office because there was no one in the legislature in either house that had ever been a union member who had ever negotiated a contract.

And so, I wanted to be that person who could help make sure as we were passing legislation, that we were keeping workers in mind.

We were making sure that this benefited workers and working people.

And then, I got there and all of a sudden I found out I held all these other passions.

One was the environment.

One was women's issues.

- Right.

- So, probably my number one favorite bill- and it's hard because we have a lot on Team Leyva- would be SB 813, which is the Justice for Victims Act.

Someone came to me and said, 'did you know that there is no-- 'that if you are raped, you can only file and go after the rapist within 10 years?'

So, there was this arbitrary 10-year deadline.

And, I said, 'well, that doesn't make any sense.'

So, we drafted a bill to say that there would be no statute of limitations; that when a woman or a man- that's mostly a woman's issue- comes forward, they get-- and everything, the preponderance of evidence?

All of that had to stay the same.

You know, it's not like you could just come forward and accuse someone.

But, what I immediately thought of when it was brought to me is many women are raped when they're very young, and they don't have the courage or someone in their life until they're a little older to come forward.

- Yeah.

That makes sense.

- So, it was a bill that people-- someone had tried six times in a row, and it didn't always make it out of the first committee because the committee, they did not want to create another crime, or something that would incarcerate people more.

And, my argument was, is well, the victim, their life has changed forever in a very bad way.

So, why would we not allow them to go after the perpetrator?

So, I got it out of committee; got it to the governor's desk.

It was Governor Brown at the time.

And, he said, 'well, why don't we just make it 20 years?'

And, I said, 'that's another arbitrary number.'

I said, 'you know what, Governor?

I'll take the veto.'

And, that was a big... you know?

A big chance!

And, when you're in the legislature and you have a bill, something you've worked on very hard, gone through all the committees, met with so many different people on it, to say I'll take the veto versus his deal of 20 years, I was taking a chance.

But, his chief of staff at the time, Nancy McFadden, was an amazing woman.

And, I will always give her credit for getting to him at the last minute and saying, 'no, let's do it the way the bill was written.'

- Wow, that was pretty gutsy to take: "I'll take the veto."

- Yeah!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- That was kind of putting him on the spot: go ahead and veto it.

- Go ahead!

- Let's see where it goes.

- Yes, tell all the women in California that you don't believe in them.

- Exactly.

Yeah.

Wow, that's exciting.

- And then, I just have to mention one other one.

So, environmental stuff.

We did a lot of bills on it, on the environment.

But one that we did that was really-- when it was brought to me, I said, 'how could this not be a law already?'

We all have to get our cars smog checked.

Big rigs, diesel trucks, until recently didn't have to get a smog check.

They are the biggest polluters.

They are the-- cause the most pollution of anything.

So, I said, 'why in the '70s when we had to do it, why didn't they do it with the trucking industry?'

And, everybody goes, 'nobody wanted to take on the trucking industry.'

And, kind of my feeling always was I didn't wanna "take on" any industry.

I wanted to find a way that we could work together.

So, it took three years and at the end of the day, the California Trucking Association came on in an "enthusiastic neutral," and we said, 'we will take that!'

(Lillian laughs) So, the bill went to the governor's desk, and it was signed.

I think it was Gavin.

I think it was Governor Newsom who signed it.

And, we just promulgated the rules last year on the car board, which I sat on.

So, that one I-- and it will be in 10 years.

Like, taking 375,000 trucks off the road.

So, it will help our air quality here in the Inland Empire.

- Especially in the Inland Empire-- - Yes!

- when we have so much logistics going on.

- Yes.

- So, your enthusiasm is...contagious, (Connie laughs) infectious, and clearly see that.

So, why didn't you run for a third term for the Senate in 2022?

- The short answer is "I'm exhausted."

And, I joke about that they used to try to beat the enthusiasm outta me every dang day in Sacramento!

I would say that I'm an anomaly in Sacramento.

I'm-- and I think other people would tell you that, too.

I loved it, Lillian.

I loved the eight years.

I loved the work that we did.

Living away from home, I always knew would be challenging for me.

And, after eight years, it didn't get any better.

I missed my husband.

Even though my kids are grown, I missed seeing them.

We now have grandchildren.

And, what really the impetus was redistricting put me in-- - Ah!

- with another Democrat and we would've had to run against each other, which is fine.

I'm quite certain I would've won.

But, I was the caucus chair for eight years.

So, I led our Democratic caucus for eight years.

And, I thought, "I'm gonna choose-- "I'm gonna make my colleagues choose between me and the other person."

And so, I didn't think that was great.

I also knew it would be a ton of money.

She would receive a ton of money from oil; labor would support me.

And, I thought, why do we need to spend all of that money-- - Hm!

- when I knew I was kind of ready to be done.

So, that was the impetus.

And, once I made the decision, I haven't looked back.

And, I'm extremely happy with my decision.

I've gotten calls this January from my colleagues and they're like, "we miss you so much.

Do you miss us?"

I said, "well, I might miss you personally, but I do not miss the job."

- Hmm.

That's always nice though, to get calls from your colleagues.

- Oh, it is really nice.

- They're up there and you're here.

- And, they make me feel good.

- Connie, we miss you.

- Yes!

They make me feel good.

- OK.

So, you ran for county supervisor?

- Yes.

- But, you were defeated.

- Yes.

Did you feel like when one door closes, another one opens?

Or, how did you-- how would you-- how did you get through-?

Or, describe your bounce back?

- Yeah.

So, (chuckles) that was crazy!

So, I do love public service and I love-- I love people.

When I talk to young people, I always tell them, "find your passion."

For me, my passion is people.

And so, I thought, well, I could be a county supervisor; still be able to really help people and be home every night.

- Mm hm.

- Seemed like a win-win.

So, I ran, and I was resoundingly defeated, which was just crazy because I've never worked so hard to lose in my life!

(both laugh) We knocked on about 16,000 doors.

Democrats didn't turn out to vote.

And so, that's what hurt me.

And, the person I ran against ran a really nasty campaign against me, and that was difficult.

It's difficult when you've spent eight years really trying to be above board, have integrity, and then to have someone smear your good name, that was-- - Does that happen in politics?

- Yeah, no.

Shocking, right?

Yeah!

It just-- you know what, Lillian?

I was like, (gasps) 'that shouldn't be happening to me!

Oh, my goodness!'

So, that was a little bit heartbreaking.

But, the night of the election, I told my husband, I said, 'you know what?

We left it all on the field.

Whatever happens, happens.'

By three o'clock that morning, we knew that I had lost.

I was on a 5:00 AM flight the next day because I had to chair Senate education.

But, I was really at peace with it because I did feel like there was nothing more I could've done.

And, I knew that there'd be another opportunity.

- So, let me go back to what you just said.

I read that you liked knocking on doors!

- I love knocking on doors!

I think it goes back to me liking people.

I love knocking on doors, and it's a bummer when nobody's home.

Some Saturdays are more, you know, like that than others!

(Lillian laughs) But, I love when somebody opens their door.

What's really fun is after you've been in office for a while and people open the door and go, "Connie Leyva?

You're on my doorstep!"

- Oh, that's nice.

- That always blows me away!

But, to hear what they have to say.

You know?

'What is it that's important to you?'

So, I like having the pulse of the communities that I represent.

And, yes.

I love knocking on doors, which makes me a little different from most people!

- Well then, you're gonna be great in television pledge or radio pledge because I love pledge!

- Yay!

I'm ready!

I'm ready.

- Same thing, for the very same thing, to connect with our viewers and our listeners for the very same reason.

- Yes!

Excellent.

- Now, as a leader of KVCR, what do you want to accomplish in your first 100 days?

Or, okay-- first year?

(Connie laughs) But, seriously, where do you wanna take the station moving forward?

- That's a great question.

- Both stations 'cause we're both TV and radio.

- And, radio.

Yes.

So, I was very excited that I was chosen for this position.

And, I really see my role as being able to do more community engagement.

Probably a lot of people don't know that we sit on the campus of San Bernardino Valley College, making sure we're engaging students and giving them opportunities to work in TV and radio when they graduate from the program.

And really, I think, Lillian people don't know what a gem KVCR is.

People-- since I've been here for about a month and a half, as you well know, we've done a couple tours, and I love seeing people be so surprised and say, "this is just amazing."

So, I want the community to come in and use our facilities.

I want people to just know that we are here for them.

And, I think that we can grow what we do here.

It was the first time I've ever been in a position where I walked in and I'm the newbie!

I'm the boss, and I don't know anybody!

So, my first job is to get to know all of you and to work with you because you guys have all been doing the job long before I got here.

But, I think that already, as I said in one of our staff meetings, thank you to everyone who's made me feel very welcome.

And, I think that-- I think that we're gonna have a lot of fun, and I think that we're gonna grow the station, grow our viewership, grow our membership.

And, really just let people know that we're here.

- How are you gonna do that?

And, more importantly, because KVCR has had ups and downs, like anything, we're not, you know, different than anybody else or any other nonprofit.

But, funding is always the key.

You're not in a political office, but you do have a lot of friends that are in politics and you do have a lot of friends in the business world and throughout the Inland Empire.

How will you try to raise funds for our station?

- So, when I decided to run for office and I was told, 'well, you need to raise about a million dollars.'

(low voice) Oh, like a million dollars.

Oh, my God.

I don't think I could do that.

And, in politics, there's just so many parameters.

At the time when I ran, the max donation you could get was $4,100.

So, to get to a million dollars, $4,100 at a time!

- I'm not good at math, but even I can do that!

Got it!

- Exactly!

So, I learned how to do it during that time.

And, what I would do is I would chunk it out: 'okay, I wanna raise X amount of dollars.

'How many $4,100 contributions do I need?

Or, how many $1,000 contributions do I need?'

The exciting part about this job is that there aren't limitations like that.

Meaning, that if someone wanted to come in and be a funder for a much larger amount, they could do that.

My learning curve will be learning about underwriting, as you and I have talked about, and how we can represent people who want to contribute to KVCR.

But, I think for me, it'll be kind of like when I first started in politics: figuring out how much I need to raise because we need to be self-sustaining.

- Right.

- Figuring out how much I need to raise, and then chunking it out, and 'who do I talk to about that?'

And, I also think setting up lots and lots of meetings and talking to people.

I'd like to say I think that's something that I'm good at.

I learned to do that in the labor movement, but, really, when I ran for office, meeting with people that maybe not necessarily believe what I believe.

But, I think KVCR, NPR, PBS has something to offer to everyone.

And then, we have FNX- First Nations Experience, which is very exciting.

So, we have something for everyone.

My job will be to get out there and find ways to raise money and make people see the value.

- Did you ever think you'd be the top executive of a television and radio station?

- Never in my wildest dreams.

And, people used to ask me that about the Senate, too.

They said, 'oh, did you always want wanna run for the Senate?'

I go, 'it never even occurred to me.'

So, I feel like in my life, things have come along the way they're supposed to.

I feel very lucky to be here.

I feel like I'm getting this third career, and I'm very happy here.

As I've told you, Lillian and others, it's kind of fun to drive myself to work every day.

I haven't done that in eight years!

(both laugh) - Well, Connie?

You're a breath of fresh air here at the station.

- Oh thanks, Lillian.

- Thank you so much for your time.

- Thank you for having me.

- My guest has been Connie Leyva, the executive director of KVCR.

Thanks for watching, and bye for now.

- [Lillian] This program was originally produced for 91.9 KVCR Radio.

(bright upbeat music) ♪ Yeah, the simple things in life ♪