Candidate for
Trustee; Peralta Community College District; Area 2

My political philosophy stems directly from my leadership training and experience. As an officer in the United States Army I learned the importance of putting the welfare of the people you lead above your own. As a manager in the corporate sector I learned the importance of effective communication between leaders and those they lead while still making tough decisions that may not have been popular but were understood because of communication. These learning points form the foundation of my political philosophy because I plan on putting the needs of my constituents above my own political or personal gain while establishing and maintaining lines of communication that empowers those I represent.

Another large part of my political philosophy comes from the values instilled in me as a child and enhanced during my time at West Point. "Loyalty above all else except honor." As a cadet and as an officer, possessing and displaying a high level of integrity is not only encouraged but expected and this high level of integrity has remained with me throughout my professional and personal life. In a political world where the ability to skirt the truth has become a polished skill, I plan to return blunt honesty to the political environment.

Finally, I plan on using my training and experience in areas like conflict resolution, problem solving, facilitating and coaching to develop an environment of cooperation. Successful leaders understand the importance of and know how to get things done through and with others. I believe that focusing debates and decisions on facts over feelings fosters the type of leadership environment where problems, instead of symptoms, are solved.