Candidate for
Council Member; City of Sebastopol

Issues, & details, plus questions for you...

In October I will turn 49.

I'm a single mother of 3 children ages 24, 22, and 14.

My primary career is a Consultant in sustainable property practices, products and services.

Main volunteer position has been the Russian River Watershed Council.

I have been a student at the SRJC over the course of many years with 40 units focused in art, music, film, video & computers.

I am pro choice and pro life.

Consider myself omni-partisan and omni-religious; that is, I work to adopt and share the best of all I can find.

I'm a citizen lobbyist for a safe, and greener world.

Super Progressive Democrat who votes for the person, not the party.

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My campaign slogan is:

Working for our balanced best interest.

It's important to find support from all sides of the equation, not just the "choir". Our local economic sustainability is equally important as our social and environmental issues.

Everything that big a little government has learned with regard to, Green Building, energy, climate and environment and natural resource protection, is being held back due to financial restraints for even just basic services. This is why attention must be reinforced on key areas where Federal appropriations are not in compliance with the funding priorities of most Americans.

My relevant skills, experiences, and education which qualifies me to hold this office:

Everything I need to know about effective local government, I learned as a single mother living without a credit card. I am wise and thrifty, and can do a lot with little means.

I got my Green Building certification from NARI + the Remodelers trade association.

I have inventive problem solving skills.

I feel it's important to respect the wishes of the majority, while holding a place to understand the needs of the minority. I seek to reduce polarization and find our common agenda.

My campaign is still in the listening tour stage.

The 4 questions for all residents and sphere of influence community members, for the benefit of the sitting Council, and challenge for the current candidates:

1) What's working in Sebastopol?

2) What's not working?

3) What can you do about it?

4) What do you want the Sebastopol City Council to do about it.

5) What do you want the community to do about it? ______________________________________________

Campaign Website is underconstruction:

Here's the overview:

Single payer wellness-care

Water quantity & quality security, community watershed care

What does accountable development look like for Sebastopol?

Being efficiently prepared for everything, emergencies and otherwise

How can we support the City's best interest during theses economic challenges, through closer working relationships with the many valuable community groups here.

Taking the lead on being a deep Green, environmentally safe community

To increase local tax revenue; how can we encourage more local production of products and services geared towards green living & working?

What else can the City, Public and local businesses do to achieve our climate protection goals?

How can we better fund our values from the top down?

The most important position for all candidates to disclose is this:

Are you a candidate for peace?

That is, do you support funding military operations by any branch of government or contractors, for operations of offense, not  just defense.

Do support the funding and use of our forces without Congress formally declaring war, as per the US Constitution?

The War Powers Act and PL-107-243 did not follow this procedure. With so many communities challenged to provide even basic services, we are long overdue to address this local government funding crisis; due in large part to mismanagement of Federal fiscal priorities. ________________________________________________

Recycling 2008 City Council race issues:

Traffic is tied with accountable development

We need to resolve the current transportation challenges in order to serve the existing community, and visitors; if we are to provide for accountable development in scale with our small town. We need to require Community Impact Reports. Investigate an electric trolley system; enhance safe pedestrian and bike routes.

Water & climate security

Water quality, quantity and watershed protection; along with green building, waste reduction and renewable power production are the essential areas to focus on for an inheritable future.

I'll work to continue to support all renewable energy power possible for Sebastopol & Solar Sonoma County, and the Climate Protection Campaign; partner in more watershed protection programs and projects; seek grants for a groundwater management plan and broader water conservation efforts.

Community vitality

Ensure our safety & medical services are supported; redeploy Sustainable Sebastopol as a vehicle for a multi-stakeholders group, to protect our ecological health, and social well being; invigorate the local economy.

There are many reasons I run in political races, most of the time it's to shape the debate, and be an x factor in the outcome, sometimes it's just to inform the incumbent on what the majority wants in exchange for their vote.

I always run to improve our quality of life; I run so that the ultimate winner is my country and community. I will never wear the title of Politician; this year I will run to be a representative of, and for Sebastopol's balanced best interest.

Please see these 2 sites to understand more regarding my top priories:

http://www.peaceoneday.org http://www.citiesforpeace.org

Wait, there's more...

http://www.dailykos.com See Colleen Fernald's diary

You can also view my posts to our local community on:   WaccoBB.net

under the name Peace Voyager