Candidate for
Director; Cosumnes Community Services District

The Cosumnes Community Services District ("CSD") is a special district comprised of three divisions: fire and emergency medical services, parks administration, and recreational services.

This year CSD announced a $52 million projected budget deficit - this with an annual budget of only $91 million. As a result, CSD has cut fire protection by more than 22%, eliminated three fire battalion chief positions, and cut park services by 17%. At the same time, however, CSD awarded its executive administrators lucrative new 5-year contracts between $100,000 and $200,000 per year - increasing base salaries, vacation time, car allowances, and the option to sell back their vacation time. In other words, CSD cut fire safety and park services to help give its executive staff wage and benefit increases.

Cutting fire safety services should not be the first choice when balancing the CSD budget. It should not even be an option. I can no longer stand by and watch CSD cut fire safety and park services because of its poor budget management. We can do better. I will bring accountability back to CSD and fully fund our fire protection services.

As a longtime community leader, I have been awarded the Bronze Congressional Award for Service. Currently, I serve on the Elk Grove Charter Commission and Historic Preservation Committee. I also volunteer with Playground Partners which recently helped build Morse Park.

I believe public service is an honor and that elected officials too often forget they are elected to represent the people they serve. As your representative, I will fight to give us a voice and make CSD more responsive to public needs rather than political games. I will work to inject common sense into the CSD budget, and ensure our community has the highest level of fire safety and park services.

I seek your support to help fix these inadequacies and restore fire safety and park services in our community. Our families and neighbors deserve it.