Candidate for
United States Representative; District 10

Part of our Community

Many of the people I have talked to believe our representative must live in and be part of the community on an everyday basis. Walnut Creek has always been "home" for me. It is my birthplace and has always provided a permanent connection with family and friends. Thanks to my wonderful parents, I grew up in a large close-knit family. I attended elementary and high school in Walnut Creek and St. Mary's College in Moraga for my graduate studies. I have lived in Contra Costa County for over 26 years. Janice and I are raising our two children here. The time spent living, working, and socializing in our community helps me better understand your interests and priorities. I will put that knowledge to use as I represent your interests in Washington.

Leadership

People in our district expect leadership from their Congressman. I had the good fortune to attend the United States Naval Academy and served in the military as an officer in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve for more than 12 years. Experiences such as rescuing Vietnamese refugees on the South China Sea, traveling through the Thailand countryside in 1979, shadowing Soviet intelligence ships, and controlling the weapons on a guided missile warship provided a sharp contrast to the quality of life and security we enjoy at home. I am used to being held accountable in leadership positions with many responsibilities. I will use that leadership experience in representing our community more effectively in Washington.

Business Acumen

In 1987 I joined AT&T and was accepted into its leadership continuity program. My initial assignment was in Oakland, which enabled me to attend St. Mary's College in the evenings. After earning my MBA, I was off to new management opportunities in Oregon and New Jersey. In between moves, I was responsible for proposing, negotiating, and evaluating multi-million and billion dollar projects in Florida and Germany, respectively. In 1995 I accepted an executive position with TELUS Corporation in Canada, where I balanced the needs of labor unions, executive management, employees, and shareholders in merging two company cultures into a 1000 person organization. These educational and practical experiences in the corporate business world will enable me to better represent your interests.

Communication and Innovative Ideas

More recently I became an entrepreneur and formed an education business that has been very successful over the last three years. The company provides leadership and management education to businesses in the United Sates and Canada. My livelihood depends on my ability to listen to my clients, understand their problems, work with different groups to develop solutions that meet their needs, and communicate those solutions to the people that will be impacted by the changes. These abilities have enabled my success in three separate careers that have spanned more than twenty years. I will be successful doing the same thing as your Congressman in Washington.