Candidate for
Council Member; City of Monrovia

My husband and I have chose to raise our children in Monrovia for many reasons.

• Education: My husband and I both attended public schools as children, I attended Pasadena schools and my husband attended schools in Monrovia and Pasadena, and we wanted to choose a community where we could send our children to public school. Our oldest daughter, Zoë, attends Mayflower and we feel fortunate to have such a great elementary school in our neighborhood. When we look at local area test scores, it does become clear that not all schools in Monrovia are the same. As a member of the Monrovia City Council I would like to work to create a stronger partnership between the parents, schools and administration to raise the academic scores of all of our schools. And work to create a responsible and comprehensive after-school program in our school district. After-school programs decrease juvenile crime, improve school attendance and improve scholastic achievement.

• Community Development: A sense of community is another reason we have settled in Monrovia. The multitude of community programs that are offered at the Community Center and the Old Town Monrovia District and activities that surround the area create a feeling you belong to a community or extended neighborhood. Continuing that sense of community through thoughtful development is crucial to maintaining that homey, community feel that we have in Monrovia. Selecting businesses or projects that add to Monrovia's small town atmosphere, such as a bookstore or small parks south of Huntington, could bring the whole community together. Our youngest daughter, Bonnie, loves to go to bookstores and look through books, meet other kids and attend story-times. To do this, we drive to Vromans or Borders in Pasadena to find the latest in children's books or new best sellers for ourselves. Currently there are six parks north of Huntington Dr. and there is not one below Huntington Dr. For the many residents that live below Huntington Dr., there aren't any parks within walking distance of their homes.

• Hillside Preservation: I, like an overwhelming majority of the voters in Monrovia, voted to preserve our local hillsides. Preserving this open space did not end with the vote in July. The next step in this process is purchasing the land from all of the involved property owners and working to guarantee the land remains as it is. Writing grants to purchase the land and working through other hurdles in determining what the value of the land is will be vital in resolving this issue in a timely, expeditious manner. As a member of the Monrovia City Council I would like to work with staff and community organizations in insuring we have the training and resources available to write the grants that will be the cornerstone in purchasing the land.