Candidate for
Council Member; City of Azusa

I graduated from Ramona High School in Riverside, California. I went to Riverside Community College and eventually began working for Patton State Hospital in the High Security Evaluation Unit. I graduated from their Nursing Assistant Program, began working toward my LVN through Patton Hospitals two year Psych. Tech. Program at San Bernardino Valley College. But, after a year, I decided to work with Developmentally Disabled Children in the private sector, instead. Eventually, I decided to join the US Army.

I was stationed at Ft. Dix, NJ for Basic Training, Ft. Eustis, Virginia for Advanced Training in Aircraft Armament Repair, on the Cobra and Apache Attack Helicopters. When I graduated from my Advanced Training, I was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. I served during the bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon and our unit was support for the 1/75th Ranger Battalion during the invasion of Granada.

I chose not to continue with my military career. I had been trained in a combat MOS, where women were not allowed, thus, would have been required to leave my small children to be retrained as a condition of reenlistment. So, I opted out.

We divorced, and eventually when my children were older, I moved back to my family in California and moved to the City of Azusa. I have lived with a wonderful man Bruce Knoles and his 15 year old son Eric, here in Azusa for the last 8-1/2 years. In 2006 we opened our own business, BK Industrial Resources, here in the City of Azusa. We have successfully been in business for the last 7 years.

I became active in the community several years ago and began to attend all of the many functions this beautiful City of Azusa holds each year. I volunteer at one of our local food banks weekly, plant trees to help beautify our schools and parkways, donate time and money to help with many activities for the children of Azusa, along with being an active member in many of our philanthropic clubs in Azusa, such as The Azusa Woman's Club, The American Legion Post 180, The Azusa Eagles Aerie #2810, The Azusa Veterans Memorial Committee, Healthy Azusa and The Covina Woman's Club Domestic Violence Action Coalition.

I proudly participate in the annual Memorial Day Celebration at City Hall, the 4th of July waving of the flags in front of the Memorial for our fallen soldiers, seeing the joy in the faces of the Korean War Veterans as they are honored by the Korean Consulate every year, and the pride that shines in the faces of our Veterans, on Veterans Day as they are honored at City Hall.

This year I had the pleasure of hosting our First Annual "Honor Our Veterans" Monte Carlo Night and hope that this will become an annual event to raise money for all of the Veterans Outreach Programs in the area. I have been proud to work beside some of our returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from APU's Veterans Committee, helping fellow Azusan's with projects they, themselves, cannot physically do because of health issues.

I look forward to becoming even more involved and dedicated to the people of Azusa in the future. Meeting you and getting to know you and your families has enhanced my life, beyond words. I thank each and every one of you!