Candidate for
Councilmember; City of Seaside

Dennis Alexander was born into a Marine Corps family at Camp Lejeune, NC. After being raised in a in the Milwaukee, WI area, Dennis graduated from the University of Wisconsin, and served two years with the U.S. Peace Corps in the Philippines.

It was in the Peace Corps that Dennis learned the effectiveness of grassroots, locally initiated projects as practical solutions to problems. He led the creation of a public sanitation system for schools in a village that had none. He helped in introducing high Vitamin C fruit-bearing trees in an area that had a shortage of the vitamin. He also created a transportation network for villagers in need of medical attention to visit a U.S. Navy hospital ship, and he taught mathematics in a rural high school.

Upon returning home to the United States, Dennis relocated to the Monterey Peninsula to attend the Monterey Institute of International Studies, where he obtained his MBA. Dennis has volunteered with numerous Monterey County organizations, including the American Red Cross, Monterey County Search & Rescue team, Rebuilding Together, and the Monterey Rape Crisis Center. Dennis was appointed a commissioner with the City of Seaside Neighborhood Improvement Program in 1998, and in 1999, he was elected Chair of the commission, and led the cleanup of dozens of neighborhoods and parks in Seaside, as well as the rehabilitation of the Seaside Children's Center.

In his professional life, Dennis serves the city and youth of Seaside as a mathematics teacher at Seaside High School. He teaches mathematics in Spanish and is the faculty advisor to the Seaside High School chapter of the National Honor Society. Dennis is also a reserve Police Officer.

Dennis, his wife Laurel and their daughter Denise are actively involved in the community. Dennis and Laurel were Torchbearers through the city of Seaside in the 2002 Winter Olympic Torch Relay. Laurel is the Director of Grant Programs at the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the host of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament, where she leads the Foundation's grantmaking efforts. Each year, the Foundation awards $7M to charities, including many located in or serving the Seaside community. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and has a background in corporate marketing and nonprofit development. She is a longtime member and past President of the Junior League of Monterey County, and currently serves on the Board of the Association of Junior Leagues International. Denise is currently serving with AmeriCorps.