Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Marina

I am a native Californian, born in Castro Valley in the SF bay area. I spent my childhood moving around CA and the West, living out of state in Montana and Utah. Although 20 homes in my first 21 years is a lot of moving, it was an enriching experience and laid a strong foundation for the rest of my life.

Dan and I were married in 1973 and spent the next 14 years moving around the country living on every coast and Hawaii. We were both excited when the opportunity presented itself to move back to California in 1983 and then to the peninsula in 1987.

We chose to make Marina our home because of its great family atmosphere where our 3 young daughters could grow in an environment where the issues of race and status seemed not to exist. The diversity had strong appeal and the small city had an enthusiasm for it's relatively new status as recently incorporated.

As someone who had moved frequently, I knew that I was responsible for integrating into my new town. I began volunteering, first in the schools, then in girl scouts and finally in local government. My record of volunteerism is long but I am most proud of helping to form 2 nonprofits that serve Marina. Marina Youth Arts began as an idea to bring the arts to children. It was being dropped from the curriculum of local schools as they looked for ways to reduce expenses. Ten years later its programs are growing and children are benefitting from the opportunity to participate in the arts. The other is Marina In Motion. The primary function is to provide an opportunity for the people of our city to be actively involved in the election process by participating in candidate debates for local office and debates on other issues of interest to the public.

I have been fortunate to serve on the Marina Planning Commission, Marina Public Works Commission, and currently on Access Monterey Peninsula (Chair-elect), Community Human Services (Vice-Chair), Northern Salinas Valley Mosquito Abatement District (Secretary) and the League of California Cities Public Safety Committee.

It has been an honor and a privilege to service on the Marina City Council and with your support and your vote on November 4, I will continue to serve the citizens of the City of Marina with honor and integrity.