Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Pacific Grove

"COMMITTED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE." That is my pledge to you when I am elected to the Pacific Grove City Council.

Pacific Grove is very special to me. I was baptized at St. Angela's Church and attended grammar school at St. Angela's Catholic School. I graduated from Pacific Grove High School as did my children. I have fond memories of my children in the Butterfly Parade, playing basketball, and their wonderful school teachers. Pacific Grove is a safe place to raise children. Our family remembers the trees lit during the holiday season, the spirit of our community, and the warm sense of family.

It is through my years of being a volunteer that I have come to appreciate the value of a volunteer. It has taught me to be innovative, to look at all options, embrace differences, and the importance of engaging and participating in our local government.

My involvement and success as a volunteer has provided me the opportunity to become a leader. All of the volunteer positions I have held and currently hold brings responsibility. Through my objectivity people have been able to rely on me as a chair person, rely on me as a treasurer, rely on me to have the facts, rely on me to make informed decisions, and rely on me to show up.

I have been a community volunteer for many years.

In 1997 I graduated from the Pacific Grove Police Citizens Academy and in 1999 I founded the Pacific Grove Police Citizens Academy Alumni Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. I served as president to the board of directors and was instrumental in developing this organization. To date, the organization has provided hundreds of volunteer hours to the police department, donated much needed food and toys to the Salvation Army, and has assisted the department by providing for non-budgeted needs.

In 2000 I was appointed to the Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Advisory Committee and have served as chair since 2004. This committee has been instrumental in assisting the city to define accessibility, has completed a curb ramp inventory, was instrumental in amending the city's Grievance Procedure to provide more advocacy for people with disabilities, assisted in expanding the job description for the city's ADA Coordinator, and is presently working on a sidewalk inventory.

Beginning in July 2005, I began attending the ad hoc Budget and Finance Committee meetings to learn about and how the city's budget is developed. In 2006 I was appointed as an alternate to the committee.

I was appointed to the Traffic Safety Commission in 2006. This great opportunity has provided me with knowledge and insight about traffic laws and the local issues we have regarding pedestrian safety. I am an advocate for education and prevention and I believe with both we can and will make our streets safer.

A survey was conducted in 2007 and residents indicated that communication needed to be improved with the council. I suggested a concept of informal discussions, and with council cooperation, I coordinated a successful series of Coffee Shop Talks.

There are issues that remain to be addressed within our fine city and in order to successfully resolve them key components of leadership, objectivity and reliability will be necessary. I possess all of these characteristics and it would be an honor to serve you as your city council member.

This is my pledge to you when I am elected: commitment, objectivity and reliability. I pledge that I will listen to you, embrace differences and make informed decisions.

I am committed to serve YOU.