Candidate for
Member; Menlo Park Fire Protection District

Local government is the bedrock of our democratic institutions and the place where we as citizens have the most control. The Fire District's Mission is "To Protect and Preserve Life and Property from the Impact of Fire, Disaster, Injury and Illness". Performing that mission well is essential to the well-being and security of our community. Over the last 4 1/2 years as a Director of your Fire District, I have worked ceaselessly to improve the quality of that service and to enhance the financial stability of your Fire District.

I believe that your Fire District is one of the very best in the entire Nation and that my job is to make sure that it retains that stature in order to better meet your needs and the nation's needs -- as we have seen in the deployment of both our Swift Water Rescue Team and our Urban Search and Rescue Task Force to the Katrina disaster recovery effort. At the same time, the Katrina disaster should make us painfully aware of the limitations in the support that we will receive from the Federal government in the event that we suffer a community wide, or larger, disaster. We must build a community response to such disasters with neighbor helping neighbor and local elected officials working together to provide hands on leadership, direction and inspiration.

Local government only works if citizens such as yourself get involved, if you vote and, most important, if you hold those of us who have been entrusted with elected office accountable. My phone numbers and e-mail are available to you so that you can do make sure that I know what you expect and when you have concerns.