Candidate for
Council Member; City of Pleasant Hill

COMMUNITY!

Pleasant Hill is more than just a city. We're a community where people care about each other. Integrity and goodwill are forces that drive me. As your Councilmember and three- term Mayor, I'm proud of the positive impact we've made in Pleasant Hill on issues that are important to our community.

BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY:

As founder of the Pleasant Hill Community Service Day I have seen thousands of Pleasant Hill residents come together to spend their day working on projects that better our city. In this spirit of community service I plan to continue to work for all Pleasant Hill residents to make this place we call home the best place to live. I have championed stricter non-smoking laws, increased library hours, and increased funding to improve city streets all while maintaining outstanding public services and keeping a balanced budget. Pleasant Hill is a wonderful community, and a city that we can all be proud to call home.

ENSURING A SAFER COMMUNITY:

Part of what makes pleasant hill such a wonderful place is its welcoming and safe community. As a member of the City Council I have worked hard to ensure the public safety of all residents of Pleasant Hill. Part of my commitment to community improvement and safety has been the hiring of more police officers. While more officers are an important part of the equation, I know it is not the only thing we can do to keep our city safe. With his in mind, I co-authored our cities firearms ordinance to ensure responsible sales and ownership of firearms, as well as the safety of our community.

PRESERVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES:

As a member of your City Council I have opposed large development projects deemed not in the best interest of our neighborhoods. I am committed to listening and weighing your concerns while fighting inappropriate development and preserving our neighborhood communities. When the residents of Ellinwood raised concerns about the planned development in their neighborhood, I listened. After hearing their concerns, I agreed with the residents of Ellinwood that the proposal was too high and too massive for the site, which is why I voted against the proposal. I opposed that project during its development, and continue to do so because I believe in preserving our neighborhood communities. These were many of the same reasons I voted against the demolition of the "Dome" and the building of Dick's Sporting Goods.

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMY:

Creating a wonderfully vibrant community requires an equally vibrant local economy. As a member of your Pleasant Hill city council, I have been a supporter of small business and our business community. I have helped bring new businesses to our community, such as the "Off the Grid" food trucks on Wednesday evenings, while also supporting the local small businesses that our the backbone of our economy. I supported small business grants to promote the success of our local businesses, and continue to work towards a healthy local economy.

PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

As an educator, I firmly believe that well-educated students are essential to our future. I founded the Pleasant Hill Education Initiative to improve the educational opportunities for all Pleasant Hill students. The initiative is a community wide volunteer effort to improve graduation rates, make learning fun and interesting, and prepare students for college, careers, and life. The initiative provides mentors and after school workshops along with enrichment programs, such as music and the arts for a well rounded education. As your city councilmember I will continue to promote the education of our students, and work to prepare them for their bright future.