From his portrayal of the iconic role of ‘Preach’ in Cooley High to the stern but lovable ‘Colonel Taylor’ on the hit series A Different World, for five decades Glynn Turman has helped bring to life some of film and television’s most memorable characters.  However, it is his recent effort as ‘Alex Sr.’ on the HBO series In Treatment that earned the veteran actor his first Emmy® Award.
    In a category that included Robin Williams, Stanley Tucci, Charles Durning, Robert Morse and Oliver Pratt, Turman’s performance impressed television Academy voters and earned him the Emmy® for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
    While this is Turman’s first Emmy® nod, the veteran actor, producer, director is no stranger to accolades. He turned in critically-acclaimed performances as Mayor Royce on the HBO series The Wire, which earned him a 2007 ‘Best Supporting Actor’ NAACP Image Award nomination, while his role in the indie feature “Kings of the Evening” won ‘Best Supporting Actor’ honors earlier this year at the San Diego Black Film Festival.
    Currently, Turman is filming the upcoming Screen Gems feature, “Bone Deep,” with Matt Dillon (Crash), Idris Elba (Daddy’s Little Girls), Tip “T.I.” Harris (American Gangster) and Chris Brown (Stomp the Yard).  Next, he will return to the stage appearing in August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, opposite Earl Billings (Thank You For Smoking), Russell Hornsby (Lincoln Heights) and Felton Perry (The West Wing).  The play opens October 10 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Theatre in Los Angeles and runs through November 9.

By: Ricki Morris
Say It Loud! Staff

Elections are approaching, and the opportunity to create change is just a pen punch away. Currently taxes, gas prices, health care and the cost of living are soaring and unfortunately, the job market isn’t able to assist those searching for income earning opportunities. There are many passionate individuals running for office, to be public servants to their country; Republican candidate, Navraj Singh, 61, is one of those individuals.
Singh was born in Armistar India, and raised in New Delhi. Before he became a U.S. citizen, he served as a military captain in the Indian Army, in the 1971 war against Pakistan sited on IndiaPost.com. His political hero’s are Martin Luther King Jr. and President Kennedy.
     “We are in trouble, if we don’t try to take care of it now, these problems are going to be here for our children. I’m not going to let that happen. I love this country passionately,” professed Singh. He has been a resident of the United States, for 34 years, and he says he wants nothing more than to serve the people of his district.
     Singh moved to US from India, and he says he has noticed a constant downfall in the economic support from the government. He also adds, that he noticed the size of the government increase, and the decision making quality decrease.
     “They’re doing less and less, and anything that they do, they mess it up,” said Singh. To support his statement, Singh mentions the current housing crisis. “I blame the government, because they were supposed to regulate our housing industry.” The regulation he informs was to make sure that those receiving loans have sufficient means for repayment.
     Singh says that the lack of regulation, has in turn made the need for repayment overbearing, and now its on the taxpayers shoulders to fit the bill.
     The current U.S. housing account deficit has widened to $183.1 billion, during its second quarter, which is 5.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP), reported the Commerce Departments in an article for Marketwatch.com.
     Congressman Brad Sherman has currently been working for the 27th district, for 6 terms totaling 12 years, and Navraj Singh would like the opportunity to fill his position. “Our current congressman he doesn’t do anything, and when he does something, he accepts money from the lobbyist he’s totally corrupt,” said Singh.
     Singh also adds that he’s gone door to door, and has spoken to many of Sherman’s constituents, and they have expressed a disappointment with the lack of accessibility, to their current congressman. Singh says that is completely unacceptable.
     If elected, Singh has a couple standards he plans to stand by; that he feels makes him a better candidate than his opponent.
     “First and foremost, if I am [to be] elected, I’m going to make sure that my constituents of the 27th district, have unlimited accesses to me anytime. I will make myself available, whatever they want, 24 hours 7 days a week,” said Singh. He also says that he wants to be a public servant, to his constituents, for the sake of public service. Singh will not be accepting any of the incentives that come along with being a member of congress. “I will not be accepting the federal salary [while] defending our country,” pledged Singh. He believes that many congressmen lose sight of their responsibilities as public servants, once they begin accepting money to fund their campaigns. “They get corrupted by the system.”
     As an owner of several restaurants, Singh has created his own economic stability. When Singh arrived to the states, he had very little, and now he’s able to support himself sufficiently. “I’ve been very blessed, I came with seven dollars to this country, and this country has been so good to me, that I opened 18 to 19 restaurants, in the last 25 to 30 years.” Singh plans to continue to live off of the revenue of his current businesses. “I think that I can support myself, and I don’t need a lot of money to support myself, I live very modestly,” admits Singh.
     The 2008 General Elections will be held, Tuesday, November 4th. To register to vote, go to www.calvoter.org. If you would like more information on Navraj Singh, go to www.singforcongress.com.