Candidate for
United States Representative; District 19

My wife Corley and I are the proud parents of three wonderful daughters, ages 17, 13 and 10, and two great foster sons, ages 10 and 5, who will be affected by what type of economy, society and government that our "leaders" are creating for their generation. We share the commitment of preserving for them the same opportunities that my grandparents, parents and we have enjoyed. They are the reason I am running to serve Santa Clara County.

As a long time resident of the County, I have witnessed both the opportunities this vibrant community offers, as well as the negative impact of poor government policies. My parents, a pharmacist and public school teacher, were instrumental in instilling in me the value of a good education, life long learning, and a strong work ethic. They were right and it's no surprise that education has played a significant role in the benefits that I have been blessed with during my career. In pursuing a Political Science degree from the University of Washington (where I also served in the ROTC), I developed an understanding of the importance of limited government and free markets and the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. Pursuing my concern for the environment, which I learned growing up in a rural community, I attended MIT, where I received a Ph.D. in Chemistry and had the tremendous privilege of being a member of the team that performed the research awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (which the Nobel Committee described as "a great step forward for `green chemistry'"). Afterward, I conducted agricultural research at MIT's Center for Technology Policy and Industrial Development, and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at UC-Berkeley. My desire to continue pursuing the convergence of scientific innovation and business led me to Silicon Valley and Stanford Law School where I earned a JD in 1989.

Practicing corporate and finance law in Southern California and Hong Kong at an international law firm reinforced my appreciation of the blessings this Country affords us with limited government and opportunities for future generations. After working as General Counsel and company executive at a venture capital backed Internet company, during which time I served on the Cyberlaw Committee of the California State Bar, I was inspired by the innovation that characterizes our community, leading me to co-found a company focused on using technology to create affordable clean water solutions for the developing world. With family encouragement to help build a stronger community, I became a proud alumnus of Leadership Morgan Hill and ran for State Assembly and Congress.

As your Representative, I want to make sure your voice is heard in Washington and focus on the issues that are important to you, including strengthening the economy and business climate, creating and preserving American jobs, making sure our children receive the best education, and bringing fairness, inclusiveness and common sense back to government. Please join me in ensuring that our children's future is one of freedom and the same opportunities for growth that we have enjoyed.