Eli Beckerman
Founder & Director
Eli is a strategic thinker, organizer, and communications professional working to open up the U.S. political system to new ideas, fresh voices, and better choices. After years of organizing to build the Green Party as a viable political alternative, he started working with Libertarians, political independents, and others to create Open the Debates as a cross-partisan vehicle to transform the political discourse and political realities of the U.S.
Rev. Cornelius Brantley
Co-founder & Board Member
Cornelius is a strong advocate for social justice and vibrant political alternatives. He has pastored churches in Indiana and North Carolina since 1996, and is currently Pastor of Princeton United Methodist Church in Princeton, NC. He has helped steward the push for open political debates that can better represent the diverse views of a diverse electorate.
Stephen Carter
Co-founder & Board Member
Stephen is an administrator, IT specialist, and writer who has worked in politics for over a decade with a number of candidates, parties, non-profits, and on individual issues which advance civil liberties. He works with Doctors for Cannabis Regulation as their Operations Manager and serves on the board of directors for Texas NORML.
Lee Santos
Board Member
Lee is a cannabis legalization activist that took the plunge and ran for Congress as a Libertarian candidate in District 21 Texas (Austin, San Antonio) in 2018. Unfairly excluded from a candidate debate she attended, Lee had thoughts of just getting up on stage and taking her rightful place, but decided it wouldn’t be a good look for an aspiring Congresswoman. Lee is is also the owner of Castle Gordon Eco Farm in Port Maria Jamaica.