“By being open about my nonreligious identity, I highlighted the importance of secular governance and the need to protect the separation of church and state. It was a testament to the changing attitudes in our community and a reflection of our collective desire for an inclusive, representative government.”
City Treasurer Neil Polzin (he/him) was elected in 2022. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Cal Poly Pomona, a Master’s in Philosophy from Cal State Los Angeles, and an MBA from UC Irvine, he brings a rich educational background to public service. In his day job, Polzin is a Sales Executive at an EV start-up, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable transportation solutions.
With a two-decade track record of activism in the secular community, Polzin has been a steadfast champion for the inclusion of atheists, particularly secular youth. His advocacy gained national attention in 2009 when he was dismissed from his position as an Aquatics Director at a Boy Scout camp in Southern California due to his atheism. This incident highlighted the ongoing religious tests within Scouting and sparked wider conversations about inclusivity.
Polzin’s nonprofit career began on the Board of Directors for the Secular Student Alliance in 2005, transitioning to significant leadership roles as Board Chair for Camp Quest and longtime Director for Camp Omni, a secular summer camp in California that features science, natural wonder, and humanist values.
Sarah Levin: What motivated you to run for office?
Neil Polzin: Like many atheists, I once believed running for office wasn’t even worth considering. My journey into activism began in the mid-2000s, starting with the Secular Student Alliance and expanding to other organizations, including the then-nascent Secular Coalition for America.
Later that decade I provoked dismissal from the Boy Scouts due to my atheism, and went public with the story. My social media name ‘HeathenTheVegan’ hardly concealed my progressive views. No way I could be elected Dog Catcher.
I remained engaged in secular activism over the next decade, regularly attending movement conferences like those hosted by the American Humanist Association. Year after year, I listened to Ron Millar [of the Center for Freethought Equality] advocate for secular individuals running for office. I always supported the notion—for someone else. Given my public history, I dismissed the thought that I could be one of those candidates.
The 2016 election was a pivotal moment, prompting many, including myself, to seek more active roles in local politics. Despite residing in predominantly blue Los Angeles County, my local City Council was controlled by Christian nationalists. This spurred me to investigate what it would take to run in my local race.
I was surprised to find that the requirements for candidacy were quite minimal: only twenty valid signatures and a $25 fee were necessary in my town of 50,000. However, I also learned that for over two decades, most council elections had gone uncontested, a situation that preserved the status quo, favoring the incumbent Christian nationalist majority. Ron’s call to action echoed louder in my mind.
By the time I began my research, the filing period for the city’s off-season March 2017 elections was already open—and quickly closing. Once again the stage was set to be a non-competitive race. Despite my lack of experience, I saw an opportunity with little to lose. I decided to dive in, pulling my nomination papers.
I didn’t win that race, but it marked the beginning of my journey.
City Treasurer Neil Polzin identifies as an atheist. This article was originally published as part of the Representation Matters series in The Humanist magazine, a publication of the American Humanist Association. Continue reading the full interview here.
City Treasurer Polzin was elected in 2022 to a four-year term.
You can view all secular elected officials currently serving across the nation on The Secular Vote’s map of secular elected officials here.
