Candidate for
Supervisor; County of Marin; Supervisorial District 4

Louis Nuyens ("Louie") was born in 1964 a third-generation San Francisco native.His family moved to Berkeley in 1976 and finally to Marin County in
1981. In 1983 his family moved to Forest Knolls, which has remained his permanent address since that time.

Professional With Anayltical Background

Louie is an electrical engineer by training, graduating from U.C. Santa Barbara in 1987. He took summer courses at the College of Marin along the way. He completed four years of post-graduate courses and research in physics programs at California State University at San Francsco and Colorado University at Boulder.

Consumer Advocate

Although his interest in science and technologies continues, Louie made a conscious choice to pursue nonprofit public service.

He is currently employed as Manager of Consumer Information Systems with California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR). CANHR, a San Francisco based 501c3 nonprofit, provides information, advocacy, and legal support for residents and the caregivers of residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout California.

Louie's work with CANHR includes assistance to and collaborations with government and non-governmental organizations, such as SEIU, AARP, the California Nurses Association, the California Senior Legislature, the California Congress of Seniors, the California Association of Healthcare Facilities, the California Department of Health Services, the California Department of Social Services, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the General Accounting Office of U.S. Congress, various offices of Inspectors General, the office of the California Attorney General and others.

With CANHR, Louie has written successful state legislation -- now in effect as state law -- in the interest of long-term care residents and their loved ones, and he travels to Sacramento to advocate on behalf of long-term care residents. He was also instrumental in winning and managing the largest single-grant project in that organization's 20-year history. In addition, Louie has conducted training sessions for District Attorneys, consumers and lawyers.

Life-long Volunteer

Louie is a life-long volunteer activist on subjects ranging from education to social issues to environmentalism. His experience in volunteer activities includes technical support and consulting to progressive local political campaigns and nonprofit organizations, low- and no-cost tutoring, hands- on habitat restoration, and campaign organizing for environmental preservation.

Louie is the founding president and current Executive Director of Watershed Preservation Network (WPN). WPN is a 501c3 non-profit organization created to provide environmental education, and to support preservation, conservation and restoration of natural resources, with an emphasis on watershed based perspectives and approaches. WPN programs include Earth HarmonyTM Environmental Education, which teaches natural history and environmental sciences through indigenous cultural studies and the arts; the Tule Reed Boat Project -- coordinating and training adults and children in native skills necessary to the building and launching of a native American Tule Reed boat; Environmental Investigations -- scientific investigation in environmental matters; and Education/Outreach -- educating organizations and individuals in the governmental process, most effective way to participate, and training in techniques to present information.

Louie was a co-founder of the Black Point Forest Rescue Project, a grassroots effort that worked for five years to try to prevent development of the old growth oak forest and seasonal wetlands of Black Point, Novato. Rescue Project activities garnered the collaborative support of the local groups of the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society, and the Marin Conservation League. They also increased awareness in environmentalists and local residents that helped in the successful bid to preserve natural habitat at Bahia.

Louie is a past board member of the Environmental Forum of Marin (EFM).

Previous Run for Office

In 1999-2000, Louie ran a remarkably successful grassroots campaign for the same seat, winning nearly 40% of the vote.