Candidate for
Trustee; Santa Barbara Community College District; Trustee Area 3

After 20 years serving the City of Santa Barbara as a Planning Commissioner, City Council Member, and Mayor, I have the greatest respect for democracy.

Those who try to push forward something without discussion or who allow employees to rule with an iron hand are not successful, especially when difficult decisions need to be made. This is true whether the government agency is a City or a Community College.

Instead, calling on those with expertise and asking residents for ideas makes them part of a team pulling for the success of the City. It is important to get the entire staff on the same side. Employee morale is important and it is up to the Council or the Board of Trustees to make sure employees feel part of the team.

The people of Santa Barbara are active and engaged and can be called on to help out. However when they vote in someone they put their trust in them and expect them to deal fairly and transparently with the daily business of governing.

I believe it is important to pull in the people when difficult decisions are being made. I have found new ideas can come up when the public is asked that are better than anything you could think of on your own.

We all were interested in seeing the Chilean miners pulled to safety one by one. All 33 were in good spirits, in relatively good health. How did this happen when they were a half mile underground for over 60 days? I believe it was good leadership down there, keeping the spirits of the miners up. They were given jobs like cleaning up, being a religious mentor, leading songs. Each of them took their jobs seriously and kept up their spirits. I have a lot of respect for the leaders of the miners.

Government must be transparent, responsive, and sensible. It is an honor to serve people. Being accountable to the residents is important.