Candidate for
Member, Green Party County Council; County of Contra Costa

I have been a Contra Costa County resident since 1965 and currently live in Concord. I joined the Green Party during the 1992 ballot drive, and have been active with the Green Party of Contra Costa since its initial formation. I have served on the County Council since 1994 and have been its Treasurer since 1997. I have been involved in various internal party functions including membership, by-laws, and newsletter. In addition to working at the County level, I have been a delegate for Contra Costa County at numerous State plenaries, and was a founding member of the Ecology Working Group of the Green Party of California (which later merged with Green Issues). I was also a founding member of the Diablo Greens local Green Party affiliate.

I am a legal secretary by profession. Before joining the Greens, I worked with the Diablo chapter of Beyond War/Foundation for Global Community. A long time vegetarian and animal advocate, I have worked with Community Concern for Cats in rescuing and placing homeless cats, and with Fix Our Ferals to spay and neuter feral cats in my neighborhood. In addition to my other work with the Green Party, I am interested in forming an Animal Advocacy working group in our county organization, as the San Francisco Green Party has formed. I have also recently begun working with the Diablo chapter of the Post Carbon Institute, which is exploring how our local community can adapt as our global oil reserves are depleted (such as community-based electric power from renewable sources, local food production and distribution, and expanding non-fossil-fuel-based transportation alternatives).

My priorities should I be re-elected are:

Increasing membership and participation in the Green Party, supporting the formation of new local Green affiliates, and encouraging and supporting Greens in running for public office;

Supporting environmental protection measures at the local, state, national and global levels;

Educating the public about electoral reform options such as instant run-off voting and proportional representation;

Working with my county and local Green groups on whatever issues arise that require our support.

I joined the Green Party because I didn't feel my environmental concerns were being addressed by the major parties. What has kept me with the party all these years is that its platform is based on its 10 Key Values. I am committed to these values and can envision a future when these values are shared by all people and are reflected in all aspects of our individual lives, our workplaces, our government and its policies, and by other people and governments throughout the world.

I hope you will allow me to continue my work towards these ends by re-electing me to the County Council of the Green Party of Contra Costa.