Alejandrina Cabrera, 1976 (Yuma, Ariz.) -
VP candidate for Utopian Party (aka Independent) (2012)
Running mate with nominee: Avery Lamarr Ayers (b. 1967)
Popular vote: 209 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Avery Ayers of Houston, Tex. filed with the FEC in Jan. 2012 as an Independent candidate for President. He was the CEO of I Believe In You, Inc. (IBIU) an ex-offender reintegration program. He founded the Utopian Party in Apr. 2009.
In May 2012 Ayers asked Alejandrina Cabrera to be his running-mate, but she requested that his platform be translated into Spanish so she could read it before deciding. A US citizen born in Yuma, Ariz. but mostly raised across the the border in Mexico, Cabrera was based in San Luis, Ariz. and had been an active member of the Democratic Party. She had been involved in local political campaigns, including a recall effort aimed at the sitting mayor, which her supporters said was the true motive behind the legal events of early 2012 that earned her a place in national news.
Cabrera filed to run for City Council but her opponents had her yanked from the ballot based on a 1913 state law that stated no candidate can run office "who is unable to speak, write and read the English language." The case went to court and Cabrera lost. On her English language abilities, Cabrera told a journalist, "It's not perfect, but it's perfect for this position in San Luis, Arizona, because the people speak both languages but the people prefer Spanish."
Ayers, who felt she was treated unfairly, instantly gained national press coverage himself when Cabrera agreed to be the VP. Although her case took up most of the attention for the Utopian Party campaign, there was an oddly worded mission statement and platform found on their webpage--
UTOPIAN PARTY (UP)
“A new Era of Political Perfection”
It is the Paramount goal of the Utopian Party to bridge the gap between the American people and its’ government. Our ideology is both Libertine and self serving to its constituents. By implementing strategies to help unify American, our party is determined to resolve an array of problems and issues that plague our citizenry. This is a never before attempted ideology that is multicultural and all inclusive, paving the way for our posterity. Foremost the Utopian Party will unequivocally be a party in which all Americans can become the Architects of their own Destiny!
Reconstructing Family Values
Unity through Diversity
A Responsible and Accountable Government
An Agenda for our Posterity
Social and Political Reform
Ethical and Moral Reform
Cultural Education
A Frugal Financial Platform
A innovatively creative Political process
Domestic before Foreign policy
Platform
1) Balanced Distribution of the Wealth
- Redirect our Resource and Wealth into more balanced avenues of our country
- Modify our taxes codes to be more progressive at the (Federal & State Level)
- Restructuring (not eliminate) the Estate Tax, Capital Gains and Tax Loop
- Reverse the economic tipping point
2) Job Creation
- Stop job outsourcing
- Bring Jobs back to American and America’s and put America back to work
- American Diverse Employment Entrepreneurial Programs & Training – (ADEPT)
- Unemployment Rate of U.S. Males 25 to 34 yrs old is 14.4%
3) ABC’s of Politics
- A = Accountability – the responsibility of government officials to act in the best interests of society.
- B = Business of Politics’ – Voice of my constituency – Rejuvenate (Honesty, Integrity, Character) into our elected official.
- C = Communication with my constituents thru technology
4) Homeless Heroes: Veteran
- Our Veteran Population account for 40% Homeless
- The Men are 95% of our the Homeless population
- Our African – American are 75% of the homeless population
5) Education Nation – Technology (Tek-Knowlogy)
- America ranks 14th in reading, 17th in science and 25th in mathematics
- America need to create a learning environment
- America classrooms need to be more conducive
- Bring back Vocational Training in Junior & High Schools
6) OPP – Ordinary People’s Politics – Nu Bloodz
- Truly represent the voice of the community
- Keep the Government out of your personal business
- Handling the people business in a professional manner
- Welcome the occupiers into the political arena as independents candidates
7) Family Value Clinic – (FVC)
- Internal Family
- Internal Community Family
- Father’s Mentoring Program
- Mother’s Mentoring Program
- Youth responsibility towards family & community
- Our Elderly & Health Care
** I need your support and I represent the 99 %’s
Ayers was a write-in in Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New York, Texas, and Washington. Only the Lone Star State reported any votes, 209, where Ayers/Cabrera gained more write-ins than the Socialist Party USA.
In 2014 Ayers made an Independent bid for the US Senate in Texas. He was charged with "Forgery/Tampering with petition for candidacy in lieu of filing fee." He entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to prison for forgery in Oct. 2015. Around the same time, in Sept. 2015 Ayers was convicted in a wire fraud scheme as well. He was slated to be released in 2020.
Election history:
2012 - San Luis, Ariz. City Council - removed from ballot
Other occupations: student
Notes:
San Luis, Ariz. is near where the California, Arizona, and Mexican borders meet. According to the 2010 US Census, the city demographic is 98.7% Latino/Hispanic.
