Full Biography for David E. Durant

Candidate for
Council Member; City of Pleasant Hill

GENERAL BACKGROUND

After 28 years living in large and small cities, from Bronx, New York to Studio City, California, to Mountlake Terrace, Washington, to Woodridge, Illinois, I settled in Pleasant Hill. In 1990, my new wife, Cindy, and I moved our young family here.

I have varied interests, including sports, music, and conversation. I am an active community member, committed to teaching and helping others. My board memberships/community activities:

PUBLIC SERVICE BACKGROUND

I was appointed to the Pleasant Hill Planning Commission in 1996, and was selected Chair `98-'99. My term on the Commission expires in 2000. I am a member of the Retail Business Task Force, a recent graduate of Leadership Diablo, and the Planning Commission representative to TRANSPAC.

I am an associate member of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce and sit as President of two Boards of Directors: Legal Assistance for Seniors (a senior legal services provider) and Youth ALIVE! (A youth violence prevention and leadership training organization).

I am a member of the Society of Professional Journalists' - Northern California Chapter - Freedom of Information Committee, and a recent awardee of a Beacon Award, The Shield of Courage, from CFAC.

I previously served on the Pleasant Hill Redevelopment Advisory Committee (1993 - 1996), and served as its Chair.

I served as President of Sequoia Middle School's Parent/Faculty Club (1992- 1993) and as Co-Vice President (1991 - 1992).

I was an umpire for Pleasant Hill Baseball Association for two seasons.

Over the years, my volunteer work has included volunteer income tax preparation for the elderly, pro bono legal service (primarily fraud and social security cases), participation in "Lawyers in the Library" (legal advice to the indigent), several years as a Street Law instructor in high schools (both during law school and in my professional life), volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, volunteer for Friends of Rodgers Ranch in Pleasant Hill, Fourth of July volunteer in Pleasant Hill, volunteer instructor at various legal advocacy skills programs and in high school moot court competitions in Oakland, food preparer at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, and volunteer counselor and fundraiser for YMCA.

EDUCATION

University of Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois - J.D., 1990. Volunteer income tax preparer; intra-mural sports non-legend; member Black Law Students Association (Treasurer and VP).

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey - B.A., Political Science, 1986. Certificate in Administration of Justice.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Safeway, Inc., Pleasanton, California - Sr. Attorney, 8/30/99-Present. Intellectual property law. Advertising. Consumer affairs. Banking.

Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May, Oakland, California - Associate, 9/90 - 8/99. Practice primarily involved intellectual property and general business litigation, including media representation. Also handled significant pro bono matters, including social security benefits cases. Past Chair, Associate Committee (1994-1997). Member Associate Pro Bono Committee and Associate Training Committee. Actively involved in recruiting. Professional Associations: State Bar (Litigation and Intellectual Property sections); American Bar Association (Intellectual Property and Litigation Insurance sections), Alameda County and Charles Houston Bar Associations.

Sachnoff & Weaver, Ltd., Chicago, Illinois - Summer Associate, 1989. Primarily in litigation.

Chapman and Cutler, Chicago, Illinois - Summer Associate and Law Clerk, 1988- 1989.

Cipher Services, Inc., Seattle, Washington - Paralegal, 1987.

American Arbitration Association, Somerset, New Jersey - Tribunal Administrator, Commercial/Construction Department, 1985-1986.

Public Defender Service, Washington, D.C. - Criminal Investigator - Intern, 1984(additional work as private investigator)

Held various receptionist, office clerk, bindery assistant, warehouseman, and other miscellaneous positions from 1979 - 1984.