Santa Claus

Santa Claus (born Thomas Patrick O'Connor, May 1947) is an American politician, monk, and child welfare activist. Claus gained recognition as a member of the North Pole, Alaska City Council, and as a candidate for the 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election. He changed his name to match the legendary character in 2005, to help bring awareness to his advocacy for children's health and welfare, a time during which he engaged in a nation-wide tour to champion that cause. Claus has expanded his advocacy as a congressional candidate into the broader sphere of democratic socialism, including support for Medicare for All, coronavirus relief, a wealth tax, and student loan cancellation. Early life and education Claus was born in Washington, D.C. He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree from New York University. He also completed a doctoral course in educational communication and technology, although he never completed his dissertation that would grant him his doctorate. Career During his studies at NYU, Claus worked as a bouncer at several New York bars and clubs, including McSorley’s Old Ale House. In 1971, he began serving as special assistant to the deputy police commissioner in New York City. He was a founding director of the Terrorism Research and Communications Center, an academic collective researching the formation and foundations of terrorist groups. That position led him to be appointed to FEMA's National Defense Executive Reserve. Claus's team favoured an active approach to investigating sources of terrorism, involving seeking out the underlying problems, however, he reports that this approach was dismissed by national security officials. Jaded with federal government, Claus secured a job as chief of safety and security at the United States Virgin Islands territory port, overseeing two international airports and four marine ports. Before moving to Alaska, Claus also worked at a radio station in Telluride, Colorado, and as vice president of a Lake Tahoe television station. His tenure in public service broadcasting continued as he moved north, serving for a stint on the Alaska Public Broadcasting Commission. Before becoming a councillor, Claus also worked as a senior ranger for the Fairbanks North Star Borough at the Chena Lakes Recreation Area.