Andrei Cherny: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox officeholder |
{{Infobox officeholder |
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| name = Andrei Cherny |
| name = Andrei Cherny |
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| image = |
| image = |
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| office = Chair of the [[Arizona Democratic Party]] |
| office = Chair of the [[Arizona Democratic Party]] |
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| term_start = January 22, 2011 |
| term_start = January 22, 2011 |
Revision as of 04:26, 25 February 2024
A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (February 2024) |
Andrei Cherny | |
---|---|
Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party | |
In office January 22, 2011 – January 30, 2012 | |
Preceded by | Don Bivens |
Succeeded by | Bill Roe |
Personal details | |
Born | Andrei Hugo Cherny August 4, 1975 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Stephanie Fleischman |
Children | 2 |
Education | Harvard University (AB) University of California, Berkeley (JD) |
Andrei Hugo Cherny (born August 4, 1975) is an American politician and businessman. He served as the chair of the Arizona Democratic Party from 2011-2012. He co-founded Aspiration, Inc., an eco-friendly financial firm based in Marina del Rey, California, and was its chief executive officer from 2013 to October 2022.[1] The company is under investigation for allegedly inflating the impact of its carbon offsets.[2][3]
Earlier in his career, Cherny co-founded Democracy: A Journal of Ideas. He is a candidate in the 2024 Democratic primary in Arizona's 1st congressional district.
Early life and education
Cherny was born in Los Angeles, on August 4, 1975. His parents, Helena and Pavel, were Czechoslovak Jewish immigrants who initially spoke little English.[4][5][6]
After graduating from North Hollywood High School, Cherny graduated with honors from Harvard College. He later received his Juris Doctor from the UC Berkeley School of Law with support from The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.
Cherny was an officer in the Navy Reserve.[7]
Business career
Cherny co-founded Aspiration, Inc., an online financial company, with Joseph Sanberg in 2013.[8] Cherny left his position as chief executive officer in 2022 after a deal to go public as a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at a $2.3 billion valuation fell through.[3][9]
Aspiration aimed to sell carbon offsets and credits to businesses, promising to help them offset their greenhouse gas emissions by planting trees.[3][9] Under Cherny's leadership, Aspiration created cash management accounts that ensured customers' deposits were with banks that did not lend to fossil fuel companies.[10] By 2021, it was reported to have over 5 million customers.[11]
Federal investigation
In January 2024, The U.S. Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission launched an investigation into whether Aspiration "misled customers about the quality of the carbon offsets it was selling".[3] Bloomberg reported that authorities were reviewing Cherny's actions as part of the probe.[3][12] Cherny, who retains financial interests in the company, said in a statement that he will cooperate with the investigation, saying, "The carbon removal credit industry is an emerging industry and deserves to be regulated and scrutinized to ensure it is as effective as possible".[2]
Political career
As a writer for The Harvard Crimson, Cherny wrote political pieces highlighting Clinton's reelection campaign.[13] The White House communications director noticed his column and circulated it until it finally reached President Clinton's desk. Clinton used several of Cherny's lines in his 1997 inaugural address and hired the twenty-one-year-old Cherny after his graduation.[14]
Cherny co-founded Democracy, a public policy journal.[15]
He was the chief drafter of the 2000 Democratic Party platform when Al Gore was the nominee for president.[16]
Cherny was a speechwriter for the John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign.[17]
Cherny was a visiting fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs in 2004.[18] In 2011, he was a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.[19]
From 2006 to 2009, Cherny served as a criminal prosecutor and Arizona Assistant Attorney General.[20][21]
He is also the author of The Next Deal: The Future of Public Life in the Information Age,[22] and The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour.[23]
Political campaigns
At the age of 26, while a law student, Cherny ran for the California State Assembly, losing to Lloyd E. Levine.[24]
In 2010, Cherny was the Democratic Party nominee for State Treasurer of Arizona. He lost the election to Republican Doug Ducey, receiving 41% of the vote in a four-way race.
Cherny served as Chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party from January 22, 2011,[25] through January 30, 2012.[13]
In 2012, Cherny lost the Democratic primary for Arizona's 9th congressional district to Kyrsten Sinema.[26][27]
In April 2023, Cherny announced his campaign for Arizona's 1st congressional district in the 2024 elections.[28]
References
- ^ "Aspiration Announces Olivia Albrecht as CEO". businesswire. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
- ^ a b Schutsky, Wayne (20 January 2024). "Report: Financial regulators probe Arizona congressional candidate's former company". KJZZ. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Gersony, Laura (January 20, 2024). "The eco-friendly company this Arizona congressional candidate co-founded is under federal scrutiny". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Fleischman-Cherny". Jewish Exponent.
- ^ "Heated primary race - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix". www.jewishaz.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Why Arizona Democrat Andrei Cherny, 'Clinton's Truest Heir,' Has Made Israel the Focus of His Congressional Race". Tablet Magazine.
- ^ Kavaler, Tara (April 6, 2023). "Democrat Andrei Cherny to challenge Rep. David Schweikert". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Henry, Zoë (2017-06-15). "This Founder Grew Up on Food Stamps. Now He Runs a Digital Money Manager for the Middle Class". Inc.com. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
- ^ a b Kauflin, Jeff. "A Floundering Fintech's Risky Reboot". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Egan, Matt (2019-06-26). "Startup Bank Aspiration Is Trying To Be the Anti Wells Fargo. It's Working". cnn.com.
- ^ Ali, Ambreen (2021-09-24). "A New Generation of Climate Fintech Startups". fortune.com.
- ^ "US Probes Firm Tapped to Turn LA's New Basketball Arena Green". Bloomberg.com. 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ a b "Arizona Democratic Party leader Andrei Cherny announces resignation". azcentral.com.
- ^ "Alum Makes Bid for Ariz. Congress Seat | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com.
- ^ Kaplan, Jonathan (June 20, 2006). "Hoping to emulate conservative success, Dem young guns launch journal of ideas". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 30, 2006. Retrieved January 16, 2007.
- ^ "PUBLIC LIVES - At 24, a Political Veteran, Vacuum Cleaner to Platform - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. 3 July 2000.
- ^ "THE 2004 CAMPAIGN - THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR - With Cry of 'Bring It On,' Kerry Shifted Tack to Regain Footing - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. 1 February 2004.
- ^ "Andrei Cherny". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
- ^ "RELEASE: Andrei Cherny Joins CAP as Senior Fellow". name. 8 June 2011.
- ^ "Goddard Throws 'Full Support' Behind Cherny". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
- ^ "Andrei Cherny". East Valley Tribune. 3 August 2010.
- ^ Cherny, Andrei (7 January 2008). The Next Deal. ISBN 9780465012251.
- ^ "The Candy Bombers by Andrei Cherny". Archived from the original on 2014-12-11.
- ^ "STATE ASSEMBLY: CHERNY, LEVINE IN DEAD HEAT; MONTANEZ AHEAD OF FUENTES".
- ^ http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2011-01-27/news/new-hope/ New Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny - Phoenix New Times 2011-1-27
- ^ González, Daniel (Aug 28, 2012). "Sinema, Parker win in Congressional District 9". Arizona Republic.
- ^ "Arizona election results - Phoenix elections results". Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ "Democrat Andrei Cherny to challenge Rep. David Schweikert". The Arizona Republic.
Further reading
External links
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Campaign website
- Interview on The Candy Bombers at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library on September 25, 2008
- 1975 births
- 21st-century American historians
- 21st-century American Jews
- 21st-century American male writers
- American chief executives of financial services companies
- American male non-fiction writers
- American people of Czech-Jewish descent
- American political scientists
- American speechwriters
- Arizona Democrats
- Arizona Democratic Party chairs
- Living people
- Harvard College alumni
- Historians from California
- Jewish American historians
- Jewish American people in Arizona politics
- North Hollywood High School alumni
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellows
- Politicians from Los Angeles
- Politicians from Phoenix, Arizona
- UC Berkeley School of Law alumni