Candidate for
Council Member; City of East Palo Alto

I am a 54 year old African American who has demonstrated courage in leadership positions as a manager and activist. My vision focus on health, safety, employment, and respect for the environment. The process of developing a plan to achieve these goals means creating enabling mechanisms to encourage the right kind of action. My educational experience includes a MA Degree, and Municipal Management certification training. I have worked as a manager for the cities of Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Superintendant of Parks and Recreation for East Palo Alto, and as a management consultant, as well as an entrepreneur. I understand what it entails in choosing the right people to get the job done and finding means to reward them. Working as an activist has taught me the importance of strategic planning, values clarification and the development of public relations, as well as communication networks. I am experienced in defining new organization structure, and recognize when the deliberate elimination of some structure is necessary. I have travel exposure and understand the importance of cultural diversity, and consensus building. Under my leadership empowering people to achieve the vision that improves their quality of life has been my greatest success. I believe a good leader sets out a contract with his or her followers for success, and reward or makes sanctions when needed. People should be respected and given mutual freedom, yet held mutually accountable whether they be managers or elected officials. Leadership means energizing people to action