Candidate for
Council Member; City of Lake Forest

Dr. Jim Gardner brings a wealth of experience to Lake Forest. He has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and worked as a Therapist as well as a Professor. He also owned and managed his own software development company, Internet marketing company, and served as a Management Consultant to Fortune 500 companies.

Dr. Jim Gardner is...

- President, Lake Forest Beach & Tennis Club HOA.
- Member, Lake Forest Community Council.
- Graduate, Lake Forest Leadership Academy.
- Graduate, Lake Forest Emergency Preparedness Academy.
- Member, Lake Forest Parade Committee.
- City Leader, South County Animal Shelter Coalition.
- Director, Friends of Lake Forest Animals.
- Adviser and Fund Raiser, Breast Cancer Solutions.
- Author of 100 professional articles, 6 books, and 6 software programs.
- Former University Professor and Department Head.
- Former Executive Director, Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council.
- Former Treasurer and President Versailles HOA.
- Former Treasurer and President Woodside Village HOA.

He has lived and worked in Australia, Africa, and Brazil, and in the US he lived and worked in New York, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. He has been in California since 1980.

Dr. Gardner is the author of 6 books and more than 100 articles in major professional journals. He is a member of Psi Chi (National Honor Society) and a Fellow of the American Association on Developmental Disabilities and the Australian Psychological Society. Among his many awards and honors he was named a Top 100 innovator in the PC field by MicroTimes and was Outstanding Young Man by the Columbus Jaycees. Dr. Gardner served on the editorial boards of more than a dozen professional journals, including Computers in Human Services, Mental Retardation, Analysis and Intervention, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, The Clinical Psychologist, and Professional Psychology.

Since 2003 Dr. Gardner and his wife have maintained a 3000 acre rainforest along the Atlantic coast about 2 hours south of Salvador Brazil. Here they grow several endangered trees, including the Pau Brazil tree, the only tree whose wood is used to make high quality musical bows. Their efforts have resulted in the largest single collection of Pau Brazil trees in the world - a precious resource for future generations. You can view their efforts to preserve the rainforest by visiting The Gaia Way

In addition, Dr. Gardner continues as a supporting member of Breast Cancer Solutions, a California based group that provides financial assistance to people who are unable to pay their rent as a result of the onset of cancer and the problems associated with cancer treatment. Through his grant writing and fund raising efforts he has helped generate more than $1,000,000 that has been used to improve the quality of life of hundreds of families. You can view the activities of this very important organization at BC Solutions.

In 2005 Dr. Gardner went to rescue animals in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Not content to go once, he went 3 separate times, and his work there has been described in the recent book Rescued by Linda and Allen Anderson and on the Muttshack website.

In 2008 Dr. Gardner started the "Pet Food Project" that provides free pet food to people with financial problems so that they are able to keep their pets in their homes, instead of abandoning them or giving them up to shelters. In 2 years he and his wife Anne have raised and distributed more than 25 TONS of pet food.

In 2010 Dr. Gardner started the "Seniors for Seniors" program on a county-wide basis. This programs lets senior citizens adopt senior pets at substantial discounts for fees, servives, food , etc. Dr. Gardner was recognized by the OC Board of Supervisors for his work here.