Candidate for
Commissioner; Port San Luis Harbor District

In 1969, as a 19 year old kid trying to figure out what to do with his life, I moved to Pismo Beach "just for the summer" in order to help a friend start a small business . I never left the Central Coast, and now can't imagine why I ever would.

I've always been one who was dedicated to the concept of service to society, and soon after arriving in Pismo Beach, I was asked if I'd be interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter. Intrigued, I joined and was immediately hooked. This began a thoroughly rewarding 32 year career in public safety that has afforded me incredible opportunities to serve not only our local residents, but also throughout the state, nation, and even quite a few foreign countries too.

I became a full time professional firefighter for the City of San Luis Obispo in 1971, with assignments in suppression, prevention, emergency medical response, ending my career in 1981 in the role of the City's Fire Marshal. I loved that job, and only left because of the tremendous opportunity to join the faculty of the world renowned California Specialized Training Insititute (CSTI).

CSTI, located at Camp San Luis Obispo, is arguably the premier emergency management training organization in the entire world. In my tenure there, first as establishing their hazardous materials training program and later as Chief of the Emergency Management and Criminal Justice programs, I had the opportunity to train, educate, and work with government, military, and civilian personnel from all over the world. And, after CSTI became part of the State of California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services in 1984, I had the wonderfully rewarding (and often quite challenging) opportunity to assist in various senior management roles during a number of our biggest State disasters, including storms, earthquakes, fires, and floods.

I have worked with all echelons of our society, from workers who are "on the street" to the highest levels of our national government. I've worked with youth programs and business organizations, taught crisis management to the U.S. Congress in the hectic days after September 11th, and provided consultation to the emerging free governments of the former Soviet Union. The experience I gained through those programs is unique and of uncalculable value, and has given me insight to governing that I will bring to bear as a member of the Port San Luis Harbor Commission.

And thoughout all this, every spare minute I had was spent at the beach. I grew up near the water in Southern California; the ocean is in my blood. The best days raising my son were on the beach at Avila and I've surfed, swam, sailed, and kayaked these waters constantly since 1969.

I retired from my full time career with the State in April of this year, but I cannot stop doing what I know how to do. I still feel the compulsion to serve, and so I have agreed to consult to various government agencies now on a part time basis, but one of the main reasons for my retiring when I did was to spend more time on the water. I am perhaps somewhat of a fixture at the Port now, kayaking there an average of three or four days a week. And I must confess that it didn't take much to see that the opportunity to continue to serve the public and be near the ocean I love so much was perfect for me.

Retired, living in San Luis Obispo with my son now off to college, I'm eager to get on with the task of representing you on the Port San Luis Harbor Commission!