Candidate for
Board Member; Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District

In the 42 years I've lived on the coast I have seen many changes some good some not. The growth of our community had to come and with it mixed feelings about it. I enjoy the larger selections of stores and restaurants, but miss knowing just about everybody in town. I remember when a big article in the paper was who was going shopping "over the hill". A bigger city means bigger responsibility for all of us, to take control of our own community. It seems in the last few years our elected officials want to do less. There is talk of the police department being run by the sherrifs, People constanly complain that the coastal commission has to much control over us, some sewer authority mid coastside board members would like to contract out sewer services, and now the fire protection district wants to give the fire department to the state. I've been told that our fire department is one of the few that is staffed by a majority of local citizens and I think it should stay that way. I like the idea that my neighbor is the one who will come in an emergency. I do not personally know any fire fighters but have talked to some since entering the race and they're not happy. I want my fire fighter/EMTs to be well payed, happy and proud to be fire fighters for the city of Half Moon Bay and the entire coast. The new contract with Cal Fire does not sound good to me. I know ther might be budget problems now but the solution is not to contract out but to work within our community to straighten things out. If the present board can't do it ,it's time for a change.

Since writing all of this I have decided to not activley campaign. I beleive it is in the best interest of the coast to elect three people with a philosophy along the same lines as mine. So I ask anyone who thinks like I do to vote for John Draper, Gregg Hosfeldt, and Doug Mackintosh. They are the best people for the job.