Candidate for
Member City Council; City of Oroville

I grew up in the East Bay Area of California. I came to Oroville in 1976 and found myself in a great little city full of friendly people who liked to do things. Things like swimming, camping, hiking, dancing, singing, working, gardening, and yes working toward a better little city and environment. I had taken liberal arts, humanities, arts, some biology, business classes but the most fun was dance. I had worked for two State agencies, DMV and Surplus Property.

When I moved to Butte County I had two small children to support, a divorce to get over, and a new beginning. When I met my husband, Richard, I thought he was the most wonderful thing to ever happen to me and my kids, still do.

Oroville was and is a wonderful place. I love the historic downtown, and it welcomed me. Eventually we opened a dress store, and kept it open for 12 years. This is when my interaction with the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Association and the City of Oroville began. And continues. I helped with various events, coming into leadership with the presidency of the DBA, promotion and marketing of events, cooperation with other businesses and activities, even the Downtown Farmers Market.

It took the demise of many of the other stores in downtown after a big box store moved to town, to force me to decide to close the store. I could see from first hand experience how hard it was for me and others to close. While I understand how a council likes and needs the projected sales tax and development fees of a large entity, I do think that existing businesses should be considered when making decisions. Maybe they were, or maybe the Council did not fully understand what could and did happen to the downtown. Progress has its' price sometimes.

I worked for various local media after the closure of my store,and I enjoyed that and found from a different perspective how much promotion means to development of almost anything. I also started the Salmon Festival, coordinated the Feather Fiesta Days, Senior Fair, participated on the Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee and the Beautification Committee. One of the most satisfying places I have worked was at the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce. Meeting people visiting or considering moving to Oroville was great. They, to a person, thought this is a friendly, beautiful place, and they are right.

I have been on the Parks and Trees Commission for the past six years, on the Arts Commission (which I brought to the Council) The Historic Advisory Board, the State Theater Advisory Board and more. I have a true interest in Parks, Trees, Museums development and maintance. These are some of the things that make Oroville so beautiful and diverse.

One of the most favorite and interesting projects I worked on was the planting with native plants the triangle near Walmart at Feather River Boulevard and Oro Dam Boulevard (also known as State Highway 162.) It took quite some time although one would think that you would just walk up and plant some plants and see to watering them, but that is not really how it works. Coordinating with Cal Trans, the City of Oroville, the Lake Oroville Garden Club, design, plan, get approval, Parks and Trees Department took time. We asked "can we have signage" and were disappointed that Cal Trans said no, but they have their reasons. Persistance pays. It was just a little triange of dirt and stones and now it is a native plant garden greeting guests. It may not seem like much to some, but we were really haoppy with it, and later I went on to other things.

I am ready to participate on the City Council these days. I am not on the Parks or Arts Commissions, my presidency with the Artists of River Town is ending on Dec. 31, 2012. I have the time and energy and dedication to work whole heartedly with the City Council for Oroville.