Michael Butts

This podcast will help shed light on the minutia from the mind and space of a black husband, father, son, uncle, and brother. Trying to answer, Why to BIG questions that keep me up at night. While also having everyday conversations with friends and family going back to my days living at home as a military kid. There’s always something on my mind, and this space is teaching me how to use it for exactly what it is.  Another Pod Opinion!!!

EPISODE 8: Michael D. Butts
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Lincoln Bradshaw: 0:00

Welcome to Another Pod Opinion. It is your host, Lincoln Bradshaw, Episode Eight. Finally got someone in politics to come on to the show. Hey, Michael D Butts is the interviewee today. He's running for the 11th district. I hope you enjoy the conversation and without further adieu. Test test Mic check. We are recording Lincoln Bradshaw. Today I have a guest with me who is running for the Eleventh District in Arizona Congressman Michael D. Butts he is here with me today. Michael, it's good to have you on the show. I appreciate you taking time out of your day, man.

Michael D. Butts: 1:12

Absolutely. Thanks. Thanks so much for having me here. Running for, as you mentioned, running for representative House of Representatives for district 11. And so, you know, when that happened in August, you know, right now, like I said, I've just been school leadership. And so I just just missed the boat. Michael Butts. Call me Michael.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 1:32

All right, Michael.

Michael D. Butts: 1:32

I'm definitely I just want to correct I'm not currently a congressman.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 1:35

Okay. Okay. Congressman in waiting or future possible, Congressman, but it will be what will be the official title for Arizona be representative Arizona.

Unknown: 1:44

Representative Representative Michael Butts representative.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 1:48

Alright, now that that's out of the way. Okay, so your current platform, you're running 11th. District. Tell us a little bit about what the 11th District is and tell us how your platform is going to benefit those down there?

Michael D. Butts: 1:59

Sure, absolutely. So, district 11. Let's kind of talk about the borders real quick. The south border is South Mountain. And then if you go north, we go all the way to the northern border, which is Van Buren. Okay. And then you kind of go east to the eastern border, that's 48th Street. And then if you go west, we're all the way out to pass that a little bit past the tool too. So pretty big district on a compasses central downtown Phoenix, for the most part, and then coming south. So those areas are called South Mountain south Phoenix, Levine and Guadalupe.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 2:37

Okay. And that is in bruh. That is a very predominantly that's a predominantly minority areas that correct.

Michael D. Butts: 2:45

It's a lot of mixed demographics. But But yes, the A lot, a lot of diversity there. Absolutely. A lot of diversity. Yes.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 2:54

All right. Before we kick it off too far, I want to make sure to ask you, what is currently on your playlist there, Michael, what are you listening to? And what are you rocking out to? Or just chilling out to these days?

Michael D. Butts: 3:06

Sure. Sure. So, you know, lately, you know, kind of just been listening to just, you know, what's current right now, radio station. You know, timing, scheduling is just been crazy. So being able to just kind of relax and music, it's not really something that's happening right now. So, and I'm maximizing my day. So if I'm driving, I'm usually on a phone call. So you know, a lot of not a whole lot of time to kind of listen to music there. But if I had to give you something, I would say, you know, I listen to Kanye, Kanye, my, my artists. And I grew up, you know, born in 79. So that's that's kind of kind of where I where my baseline? Is that

Lincoln Bradshaw: 3:51

all right. All right. So you rock. So you've got the easy on repeat, right? You got the easy on repeat, if you get a moment, which is kind of cool. Now, about that. Let's get to as far as we talked about what's going on in Arizona, I definitely want to ask you, you know, tell us and just give us a rundown of your platform, what you're running on, highlight your strengths. And just tell us a little bit also, why did you decide to become run for office?

Michael D. Butts: 4:19

Sure. Sure. Great, great, great question. And so if I don't touch on all points, just kind of bring me back. But, you know, excuse me, number one is, you know, I've always kind of been interested in the political landscape. And for me, it was just a matter of timing. Because my, my family, you know, we've always, always kind of lived or existed in roles that were public service oriented. So, so when I when I look at my family history, when I look at, you know, my different experiences, like I went into law enforcement at a very early age, you know, 2021 and so, you know, I put a fence in a police officer for about three years and so public Service didn't start for me right there, though, public service started for me actually, at 16 years old, when I volunteered to lead a youth group. And so, you know, my main goal was to keep kids, you know, out of trouble and having, you know, having fun, and having really, really good, good positive plus spaces to missing. And so that's kind of where it started for me. But when when we go back to, you know, from 16, all the way up, right, now, I decided to jump into this race. Because number one, you know, all three seats are open in our district. So you've got, our Senate seat is open, and our two House seats are open. So that hasn't happened in the last eight or nine years. And so for me, my original, my original timeframe was to wait until after my doctoral program, because I'm in a doctorate program through NAU for educational leadership. And so that program is going to I'm going to be finishing that program in two more years. And so I wanted to wait to after that, right, but because of the timing, and the way things happen, with all three seats opening, I didn't want to wait to another afford another eight or nine years. And so I really felt a pull to, you know, get involved now. And because, because, you know, timing is, is everything, you know, timing is everything and so with, with throwing my name in the hat now, you know, pretty much all of the candidates in the race are starting off at the same baseline level with as far as name recognition. So, you know, everybody's running their race, and it's going well, so timing is was kind of is really my first my touch point of of that question. But as far as being involved in politics, I've been involved, you know, for for a while now, over 20 years. Okay. More 20 years.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 6:55

Okay, that, but I didn't even know that you I didn't know, that's interesting to know that you were actually a cop. Yeah, yes. Yes. You know, that. And, you know, that's, that's, that's a very touchy subject right now. I mean, just, I mean, I'm not trying to, I'm not pivoting a little bit, but I just wanted to kind of touch on like, I mean, just to think about the temperature that we're dealing with, as far as policing in just in our country, and the inequality that we're seeing as far as the treatment goes. And since I didn't know you were a cop, I'm definitely going to ask, tell me, tell me your experiences, just just walking that beat? Like, what did you know? Did you have those experiences where, you know, you saw something that you Hey, man, I don't think you should be doing that. Right. You know, and because you hear all the time, you know, these these ties that cops have with each other, but at the same time, there's no right as right and wrong as wrong. What was your experience, like?

Michael D. Butts: 7:50

Sure. So you know, you've got that, kind of like that dual role, dual personality, dual identity, in that role for me, because you know, more than I'm African American, number two, you know, I, public servant, public, civil servants of the city, hired to enforce the law. And so you've got those two identity. And sometimes there's challenges there. But here's what I will say, every, every officer knows this, you know, every officer, you know, when we make decisions out on the street, we make decisions from our frame of reference, what we see what we hear what we know, as far as training. And so those three, three things combined, very rarely will I, you know, in an officer's will, will criticize, you know, the work of another officer. Now, could things have played out differently? Absolutely. There's always suggestion, there's always more training, there's always different ways to look at it. But, you know, for me, I kind of look at it from that angle. And I also understand that, you know, the career of law enforcement is, is unlike any other career. It is it is unlike any other career. And so it deserves the time, the resources and the training necessary to make it a career that that everybody can agree upon, to make the voices of the community or the voices of the officers. And and both of those voices need to be heard.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 9:25

One thing you use you kind of touched on, and it's something that's come up recently that I was able to kind of see is there is this thing with police not working in the areas that they live. And if you know, I'm just trying to ask you just, you know, I'm not again, I'm not trying to sidestep it too much or go down a rabbit hole. But what is like what do you think? Do you think there's a benefit to policing places that you live versus policing areas that you don't I mean, that you're passing through?

Michael D. Butts: 9:53

That's a That's a great question. I think it helps. I think it does help to a Um, to definitely be familiar with the jurisdiction and in terms of your residence, and knowing, you know, having having stake in the residence and in the community, for sure. I think it helps. Absolutely. Can you have a very fine police force without, you know, those qualifications being met? Absolutely. It's about at the end of the day, knowing the people that you're working with in the community and respecting the people that you work with. Roger that,

Lincoln Bradshaw: 10:26

I definitely agree with you on that. Now, really quick, your platform. Tell me how does it address with with the shootings that we've seen lately? You know, personally, for me, I am, I'm okay with people owning guns, I do not have a gun issue. That is not the problem. I'm a gun owner, where I find that we're running or I see that there seems to be, you know, we're not on the same page, obviously, it seems to be coming down to how one group looks at it, and how another group looks at it. Right. And if, as a country that regulates and again, I, again, I'm just thinking off the top of my head, but we regulate cars, people, you got to be 16 to drive, right? You gotta you gotta go in, you got to pass a test. I mean, you literally have to show that you can drive a car, before you even get the Okay, write, write something and you know, and that's at 16. Now, if we were regularly

Michael D. Butts: 11:19

doing that with my 16 year old, so I write very, very careful for me.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 11:24

Exactly. So and then not only that, but if we regulate, like, just just the fact that you have to, you know, be it a consumer of alcohol at 21. And we just change recently changed that from 18 to 21, for cigarettes as well. Why is it do you think? I mean, again, why do you think that we there's a hang up? Or is it all of really specifically about money?

Michael D. Butts: 11:50

That's a great question. You know, because they are, what we do know is that there are deaths that are occurring, that could be prevented, right, there are definitely deaths that that could be prevented. And so it deserves a right for us to look at all solution, all ideas, to, to move forward. What it looks like, is, is what what is what's up for debate, you know, and so for me, I don't know, if I hear any, you're getting any background noise. But for me, you know, having having been, you know, a police officer, you know, I didn't own a gun for for a while, after, after my time on the force. And because it's a responsibility, you know, it's a responsibility. And so, you've got to be responsible for where it is, at all times. You know, and, and so I didn't want that responsibility. After having that responsibility, on an everyday basis, my eight to five job. So I took kind of a, you know, some time to think about, you know, how I want to look at owning owning a gun. And so, it wasn't until a few years ago that I actually did feel, you know, you know, ready to become a governor, gun owner again, and it's a very personal decision, you know, you got to think about losing your home, you got to think about your family, you got to think about all the different dynamics, you know, I know, you know, gun ownership is kind of built into some family's fabric, their their family culture, and so going shooting, going through the ranges that somebody enjoyed and love. And so, you know, you know, what, why should they be impacted? By, you know, what somebody decides to do when they break the law, I see that perspective as well. But there are there has to be, you know, there has to be a way to prevent these deaths from happening, that I know for sure that I know, with our collective ideas, we can find that solution, whatever that solution is,

Lincoln Bradshaw: 13:48

man, I'm glad to hear that because I'm with you there. I mean, with all these minds, I mean, there's got to be a way to come up with a solution. Now, another thing that I wanted to ask you about, and I don't want to kind of, I don't want to feel like I'm rushing at all, but but ethnic studies in Arizona like, again, we everybody calls it CRT. And then there was something recently that happened in Tucson where, you know, I think a state legislator tried to ban Mexican ethnic studies in Tucson, that was something that just recently happened. That was in an article that I read, what do you think is, you know, personally, as far as your platform goes? Do you think there is, do you think we're missing something by banning these, these educational things and keeping it keeping the truth from coming to light?

Michael D. Butts: 14:39

You know, from education, and this is kind of what I've learned, you know, there's a central question that's asked when we look at education and that is what what should be taught. What should be taught is one one of the crucial questions. Another crucial question is, what should the role of the state be? And so when we talk about, you know, what should be taught in schools, school is a is a community based type of system. So, you know, one school here may do something different from another school here. And so with that a local with that local authority or local decision making, you know, I don't know, you know, all of the kind of thought processes behind why certain people want to restrict certain pieces of curriculum from being taught. But what I do know is that, you know, that community has a process to, to, to address that if they if they oppose that particular piece of legislation. So, you know, I've seen some interesting policies, I've seen some interesting procedures. And so there's always there's always a Y, right, there's always a y. And, you know, when you look at the whys, and look at how they're trying to get to their why they're there, then you start to see things a little bit different, but what's the overall overall purpose? And so those, those particular laws should be should be, you know, strategically addressed if that committee is not for it.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 16:14

Do you think that, and again, do you think that history, how much do you think history plays in the actual education system like I was? And again, let me give you some context of my question, right? I was talking to a friend of mine, whose mother was an academic for many, many years. And, you know, in in, we had a conversation, and she kind of said, you know, you don't lose anything by not teaching history, you don't lose it. Because if you pull it from the school, I mean, ultimately, now you've taken the subjectiveness out of the course. Right? As far as who wants to teach, what do you touch on? Or do you have something where you implement? What do you think? Do you think that would be a benefit? Or do you think there's any value in that thought process?

Michael D. Butts: 16:59

So, you know, that actually kind of goes back to that second question I talked about, which is what should the role of the state be in public education? And so what should the state require us to know, in our K through 12? System? And then what? information or what lesson should be family driven? Okay, so what where do we? Where do we stand? Or what we how do we add that other curriculum that family triggering those values, right? And so we have to acknowledge that No, school is a is a one place to catch all, you know, you've got it. It's a multifaceted, you know, Operation families, the families have to decide, okay, what do we what do we want our son and our daughter to know? Okay, all right, learn the algebra, right? Learn, learn all the other things that you need to learn. But what do we want you to know as well? And what how will we make sure that that happens?

Lincoln Bradshaw: 18:05

That Hey, you know, and you touch on that? I mean, a lot of that is, is you do have to teach your kids, you got to correct, you know, you got to end you've got to instill in them, hey, this is what's really going on in the world. This is, you know, I know, you're being taught that Christopher Columbus founded America, but you know, the record books show this. So moving on, and ethnic studies is kind of is really touchy, because I still don't understand why people keep calling the CRT, and keep thinking that it's really and just let me make sure. Do you think CRT is being taught in schools and elementary schools?

Michael D. Butts: 18:39

No, I don't I don't think that critical race theory is being taught. Okay. I think that, yeah, that that's coming from somewhere out.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 18:47

Okay. All right. Now, how does your platform address women's rights? And what are your thoughts on the current reproductive system are laws that the government is trying or that the high courts are trying to pass?

Michael D. Butts: 18:59

Sure, you know, we all come come through come through the womb of a woman, right? So you know, right. And so that deserves respect, that there's there's acknowledgement, it deserves protection, you know, and so who should be at the table making that decision?

Lincoln Bradshaw: 19:24

Definitely the woman.

Michael D. Butts: 19:27

Right. Right. So

Lincoln Bradshaw: 19:31

that'll help it. It does. It does. And, you know, and I struggle with it, because, you know, I'm a father of four. And, and I'm just seeing some of the stuff like, man, could you imagine? Like, I don't, I don't think telling women what to do and putting that hold on them. I don't think that's going to end well for anybody. Like, I mean, I don't know I can tell you right now. No one No women in my family. I mean that you can you can try to do it. But if you want that smoke, you can come get it if you want. But I didn't say right. I can tell you right now the women in my family, man, they're a bunch of bruisers. You know, you tell me what, what? You're gonna be knocking somebody out real quick. All right. So you talked about, you talked about the women's issues. Do you think that women's rights? Like do you think that things should just totally go away? Do you think we should take telling women what to do with their bodies? That shouldn't even be an issue? Or do you think that they should be the ones leading the conversation?

Michael D. Butts: 20:35

I think, you know, I kind of feel both, I kind of feel number one, they should be leading that conversation, because because the other important conversation that that kind of ties into other issues is, is health care, right? What's covered under health care. And so when you look at American values, and what, as a society, we feel like we should be paying for what should be covered, things like that, that that then it gets multifaceted, right? And it gets more it gets complex. And so when we should be leading those conversations, for sure.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 21:12

Now, there was one thing I kind of want to circle back, I caught it earlier, and I kind of knew it. But I really wanted to know, from the standpoint, what made you want to move to Arizona from Ohio?

Michael D. Butts: 21:23

It's a great question. So I love that question. Because, you know, I, I'm born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. And so I moved here in 2006. And so myself with my met my younger self, my mark at the time, and so I had visited Arizona two times before moving here, and in those before those two times, I was also doing research about Phoenix, Arizona. And so, you know, I everything that I, you know, familiarize myself with, I saw it as opportunities, you know, to just really, you know, just not feel limited, I felt like I outgrew kind of where I were, you know, where I was where I was born and raised and wanting something different earning, you know, a new environment, for me was important. And so I love Cincinnati don't get me wrong, but I wanted something different. And so, you know, I, I visited here twice and acclimated to to my environment here and I loved it. I loved it. And I fell in love with Arizona. So been here ever since. Man, you know, 1617 years

Lincoln Bradshaw: 22:36

now? Yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm just thinking about those winters, man. I'm pretty sure you definitely don't miss those.

Michael D. Butts: 22:42

I don't.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 22:44

All right. So being from Cincinnati, okay, something

Michael D. Butts: 22:47

awesome about, you know, waking up on a really, really cold day and having a cup of

Lincoln Bradshaw: 22:52

coffee. There is there is I do like winters. And part of me being the fact I'm a military kid. I was able to experience that a little bit. I do love the snow when I can get to it. But I'd rather you know, I'm not saying I want to live and live in it all the time. But you know what I mean? So, yes, so I have to ask for anybody who's from Cincinnati or from Ohio listeners. Are you a Browns fan? Are you a Bengals fan?

Michael D. Butts: 23:18

So for me Cincinnati Bengals.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 23:20

Okay, okay. Okay, so now the next question is, did Marvin Lewis have anything to do with you with with the fact that Marvin Lewis is here? He's the defensive coordinator for Arizona State. I didn't know if you followed Marvin Lewis, but I had a chance to meet him a couple times. He's a great individual. Does it make your experience living in Arizona the fact that you know, he's coaching a football team here in Arizona? Does that make you feel a little bit better? Now, are you Ohio State fan? Yes, I am. Now was that part of the pedigree being from Ohio that no matter where you're from in Ohio, you have to don the crimson and gray. You have to have that in your heart, not necessarily on your body?

Michael D. Butts: 24:04

I, I wouldn't say that, but I would say most people are going to be Ohio State fans, for sure. You've got the Toledo rockets. Okay. You do have you do you have another football team? And you got Cincinnati, right. But Ohio State is the is the team.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 24:23

I gotcha. All right. All right. All right. Where did you go to college?

Michael D. Butts: 24:28

So I went to my first college was pleading University. Okay, Toledo rockets, I went into the rocket. And then I moved home to start decided to save money. And I ended up changing careers. Okay, and so I went to Cincinnati Bible college, in Cincinnati, Ohio. And then when I moved out here, I actually went back as an adult working full time for myself back in in school on a part time basis. And then finishing up my Bachelor's in Computer Keisha from Arizona State University.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 25:01

Oh, wow, man. That's a lot of ties in there, bro. There's a lot going on in there. That's, that's, that's a pretty that's a pretty lengthy background that is that so how to end? How does your faith you mentioned you went to Bible College? How, how much is your faith influencing the decisions and the things that are important to you for your platform that you want to bring to the people of the 11th? District?

Michael D. Butts: 25:25

Sure. It's, it's, uh, you know, it's connected to my values, right? And so, personally, you know, that's kind of where I stand, disconnect from our values. However, when you're representing, you know, we're talking about 170,000. voters in district 11, excuse me. When you're representing, you know, your constituents, it's all about what what are their values? Right? What, what's what's most important to them? And so that becomes primary, you know, well, that's good, because you are, you're becoming you're representing their

Lincoln Bradshaw: 26:04

good you, because most of the time would you hear a lot of is is, this is what a guy on from the outside looking in? I don't I don't have a strong recollect I don't have a strong grasp of what the political realm is. I am just a guy who's observing and I understand what I what what right is right. And what wrong is wrong is and it you know, I do have questions, but being in that sphere. So if I ask you something that seems a little redundant, I apologize about the question, because, again, I'm not a political person, but I do have political ideals now, as as you look at your race, and you said everybody's going to oversee does the governor's race. I know that we currently have what Katie Hobbs is a Democrat and Marco Lopez are running for the Democratic seat. And the Republican seat is looks like it's just like a basketball team over there. There's so many people on that side. I didn't even look everybody on there. But what do you think who do you Who were you throwing your weight behind when you look at our governor's race for Arizona between Katie Hobbs and Mr. Lopez?

Michael D. Butts: 27:03

So, you know, definitely Democrat, right, from a Democrat? Voter and so for me, it's, you know, August 2 is the primary election. Right, right. And so most importantly, for me, I need to get my seat right and secure my seat and the lock that in. And that is what I'm 100% focused on locking in my seat for August 2. And then let's see who comes through the primaries after that, you know, I mean, so really, that's what every candidate is doing right now. They're they're focused on their individual race. And not so much is, you know,

Lincoln Bradshaw: 27:41

backing who particular point. Gotcha, right. Right. Right. Okay.

Michael D. Butts: 27:46

It's, you know, everybody compete. And, you know, who the voters mostly resonate with is, is who kind of makes it do it primary. So, you know, endorsements matter. But ultimately, people people get to decide on August 2,

Lincoln Bradshaw: 28:03

yes. And you said that you have now won, are you? Are you guys having any debate? Or do you debate at this level? Or is there a debate? No,

Michael D. Butts: 28:14

there isn't a debate schedule, as far as I know. Okay. I think they were talks of one. But I haven't seen anything. Anything confirmed. And the only talk I've heard was, I think, somewhere in July. Not sure. But nothing's been confirmed. I'm open to dialogue and having those discussions and seeing where and allowing voters to hear from, you know, the candidate options is, to me is important on every level, it's just that it's not as common on this local

Lincoln Bradshaw: 28:46

legislative level. Gotcha. And, you know, and I appreciate you again, Michael, I appreciate you coming in for for spending time. I know you've got a busy day, I know you've got a lot of things that you're trying to get done. If you can tell us where your website is. So people can go and check you out. So they can you know, they can go register to vote for my understanding, you can register to vote on his website at Michael D. Butts for

Michael D. Butts: 29:09

Michael D bus.com. Once you get there, you can actually click an opt in to check your registration or to register to vote. And so that's there. You can also donate as well from my from my website. And then you can also of course read about me and my about you

Lincoln Bradshaw: 29:28

option. And you're also on Twitter at what is your your Michael de Butz on Twitter as well, right.

Michael D. Butts: 29:35

I am. So my website has a launchpad for all my social all your social media if you go if you go to Yeah, if you go to my Michael de bas.com. You'll be able to get to my social media sites from there.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 29:45

Perfect. And for anybody who has any questions, he does have all the links on his Twitter page. He has links to reach out to him on his website. If you guys have any questions. Please hit this brother up. He is running for the 11th district in Arizona, Michael D but Democrat. Brother, we wish you all the best. And if possible, we would love to have a follow up conversation with you. You know, after August 2, which is the election day, is that correct?

Michael D. Butts: 30:12

Yes, August 2 Is the election date, you can start read or you can start sending in your mail in ballots before then in July, but August 2 is the date that you need to make sure you're voted in and counted, or physically present.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 30:25

And also early voting starts when

Michael D. Butts: 30:29

it starts on July 4, July 4, you should have something in the mail right now, they may have already mailed out kind of really statuses. There's a placard sent out to all the voters to to have you really review it and make sure that there are no changes that need to occur. And if there's no changes that need to occur, you don't have to do anything. But there are changes that need to occur. You need to send that in, of course, but you should have right now already in your mailbox, something that's checking your status if you have not received anything from Secretary of State, and I encourage you to go to my website, Michael D bus.com. And check your status.

Lincoln Bradshaw: 31:21

Thank you for coming out. God bless and good night and don't forget to like and subscribe