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Team Awesome Helps Phoenix Politicians Get Elected

For years, politicians have wondered how to get young people engaged with the electoral process. Well, 23-year-old Antonio Valdovinos could help point the way. He was born in Mexico and brought to the United States illegally.

Valdovinos and a group of other young people were first spurred to action in 2011 after the Maricopa Community College system, which by the way, owns KJZZ’s license, stopped charging undocumented students in-state tuition.

Valdovinos helped found the grassroots campaign group known as Team Awesome. That team pounded the pavement to help get Phoenix City Councilman Danny Valenzuela elected. It worked on the unsuccessful 2012 campaigns for Paul Penzone and Rich Carmona.

This year, the group was split in its support for candidates in the race for the Phoenix council’s District 8 seat. Some members worked for Laurence Robinson, who lost in the primary. Valdovinos went to work for Kate Gallego, who was elected Tuesday.

Despite the challenges the group faces, Valdovinos said Team Awesome may reunite for next year’s elections, and he said one day, he would like to go to work for the city of Phoenix, putting campaign promises into action.

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Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.