Candidate for
Council Member; City of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is my home. I choose to live in one of the most amazing places in the world. Like many of you, I have had to overcome some of life's obstacles and I'm a better person today because of those challenges.

I was born to a teenage mother, who at age 18 and with two children, left my abusive father and tried her best to make a home for my sister and me. We grew up modestly and we learned to survive. My mother struggled to make ends meet and at times relied on a helping hand from a generous family member or community organization. I remember what it felt like to receive assistance from strangers. I remember wishing I were the one helping the less fortunate. At an early age, I found inspiration in my uncle who was a city councilman in Newburyport, MA, as well as my grandfather who was the Chief of Police. They embodied volunteerism and service to others. I envisioned that I would spend my life doing the same.

After High School, I worked full time and attended Cabrillo College. In my 20s, I worked for a variety of high tech companies and start-ups, most notably Veritas Software, Cadence Designs and Rainmaker Systems. I worked my way up from human resources administrator to being an executive recruiter. I learned to assess the needs of my company, drive the culture of growth and address those needs by finding the most qualified applicant.

I saved my money. Being a self-starter, I wanted to be my own boss. I leveraged all I had, took a chance and opened a children's clothing store in Downtown Santa Cruz called Lollipops Boutique. As an entrepreneur, I learned to make sacrifices. I led my employees, managed customer service and inventory and controlled cash flow. I built a local business and it thrived. I eventually sold it, so I could focus on motherhood for a few years.

Today, I'm the operations manager for a high-tech firm. We are a multimillion-dollar software company that was started locally and continues to grow rapidly. For the past three years I have served as secretary of a local Rotary club, which has allowed me to meet other like-minded, service-oriented community members. I am a Santa Cruz City Commissioner for the Prevention of Violence against Women. I also recently helped re-establish the local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays. As a board member of Take Back Santa Cruz, I feel my contributions are making a difference.

I have an extensive family in Santa Cruz, and like many of you, we all love the city for all of its natural beauty, its diversity, and its compassionate people. My husband Craig is a union employee for the Directors Guild of America, and our 8-year-old son is the joy of our life.

I am not a career politician. I took the road less traveled and I'm proud of the lessons I've learned. These life-lessons give me great insight to see things from different perspectives and the skills to best serve our community. Thank you for allowing me to share my story. I appreciate your support.

All the best,

Pamela