Candidate for
Council Member; City of Lompoc

DAVID W. GRILL

I was born in Baltimore and lived there thirteen years. My family moved to Minneapolis for three years and then moved to the San Fernando Valley. I have an older brother and a younger sister.

I served three years in the United States Army, including one year in Korea, working as an electronics technician. I attended California State University Northridge where I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, and a Master's Degree in Project Engineeging. I attended the University of Southern California where I earned a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Management. I attended Pepperdine University to persue additional graduate studies in Psychology.

My first career was in aerospace engineering, which lasted from 1974 to 1989. I left engineering because I was a Cold War specialist and the Cold War ended in 1989. My second career has been as a real estate broker. I took the career change as an opportunity to escape Los Angeles County (which I did not like) to come to Santa Barbara County. I particularly like Lompoc and consider my move here to be one of the best things I have ever done. Since moving to Lompoc in 1989 I have worked as a real estate broker, initially for several brand name companies, more recently at my own company, Rainbow Real Estate. This last year I became a substitute teacher and have worked at several schools in the Lompoc Unified School District. I have not decided if I shall persue teaching as a third career.

I have been married for twenty years. My wife Linda is a teacher at Hapgood Elementary School. My daughter Diane graduated Lompoc High School as valedictorian and is now working at the Convalescent Care Center while studying to be a licensed vocational nurse. My daughter Elizabeth is a junior at Lompoc High with the same grades which Diane had. She has been volunteering at VIVA (a rescue home for cats). Elizabeth is thinking about a career as a veterinarian. My son Eric is in the eighth grade at Lompoc Valley Middle School and is showing indications that he will be a scholar like his sisters. He has a consuming interest in history and may end up as a history teacher. Finally there is my youngest child, Daniel. Daniel is two years old. He is British Labrador Retriever. He is a very pale buff color. His goal in life is to be everyone's best friend.

My family likes Lompoc so much that we all intend to stay here forever. My children are all seeking careers which will allow them to find work here so they can buy a house here. I hope that my future grandchildren will all be born here. My parents bought a house here, and my father is now buried here. I am still looking after my mother.

I am running for City Council because I believe Lompoc to be a pearl of great price and I do not want short sighted leaders to destroy this valley and our future. I have run for city council and for school board in the past, and was not successful in being elected. I have been successful at raising important issues to public attention. I have been successful at asking tough questions of the incumbents. I will continue to do so, but I would rather lead from a council seat than merely criticize from the outside.