Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 12; Libertarian Party

I was raised in a liberal household, but with the traditional American values that you have the right to do whatever you want so long as you do not infringe on anyone else's right to do the same.

In college at the height of "political correctness", I began to understand that you have the right not only to govern your own body, but your own wallet - which represents the fruits of the labor with your body. I learned that the name for this philosophy is "libertarian".

I came to San Francisco with images of gold rushers, Mark Twain, Emperor Norton, and hippies in my head. Instead, I found a city and a state crippled by well-intentioned but misguided over-regulation, and a political atmosphere that would have fit in at my alma mater.

Professionally, I help people communicate. I have worked on technology standards to ensure that people with limited vision or other disabilities have full and equal access to information on the Internet. I help my clients make full use of information in their own heads, in their computers, and on paper. I believe I can communicate the ideals and practical value of freedom to other legislators in Sacramento.

I am a self-employed entrepreneur, and so I am aware of the roadblocks that the current system puts in the way of small businesses in California. The best thing government can do for our economy is to get out of its way.

In my spare time, I serve as Chair of the Libertarian Party of San Francisco. I participate in other freedom-related causes and groups, including Marriage Equality California[*] and Sex Workers Outreach Project.[*]

I also teach martial arts and self-defense with Triangle Taekwon Do Club[*], and serve on the board of its governing corporation. Triangle was founded after the murder of Matthew Shepard to provide self-defense training to underserved communities, beginning with the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community, but open to everyone.

[*] These groups have not endorsed my candidacy.