Candidate for
Council Member; City of Pleasant Hill

I offer my position on the following key issues of interest to Pleasant Hill residents.

Environmental Issues : Pleasant Hill needs to incorporate as much green technology as possible in future development, whether retail, commercial or residential. We need to be vigilant on any new technologies available for reducing the wastestream. I support transportation management criteria to alleviate congestion and reduce pollution.

Crime: The police department informs me that there is a more "dangerous" element to the crimes committed in Pleasant Hill. I support programs that prevent and/or intervene (such as DARE, Neighborhood Watch), and I support strong enforcement and prosecution of felony crimes. I believe an experienced and well-trained police force is necessary to protect the community and deter crime.

Schools: I am a product of the Pleasant Hill schools (grade, middle, high). We need high-performing schools, and I will work collaboratively with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District to ensure quality education is available to students in Pleasant Hill.

Retail Development: Since Pleasant Hill is a low property tax city, it relies heavily on retail development for sales tax. I was a member of the Redevelopment Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission when the current Downtown was being approved. That experience will assist me should I be elected as the City moves to incorporate the DVC Plaza area into its redevelopment plans.

Any other areas that you would like to cover? As mentioned above, we need to get a committed date from the Army Corps of Engineers for work on the flooding problems in south Pleasant Hill. I worked for two members of the County Board of Supervisors going back to 1987 and am well aware of the time that has been expended in trying to move this project forward. It is time to get a date certain so that citizens no longer have to worry during each storm season as to whether or not they will be facing flooding problems.

Having worked for three elected officials (former Sheriff Richard Rainey, former Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak, and former Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier (both as Chiefs of Staff), I have a keen understanding of how local government works and needs to work with other levels of government (municipal, state and federal). I know how to get things done.

I have lived in Pleasant Hill for 34 years and in the county since 1965. I have seen it change and grow. I have been involved at a staff level in a number of the major issues facing our communities: transportation, water, garbage, development, and understand both the issues and the concerns of our communities as they relate to these issues.

I currently serve as an elected member of the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District (since 2003) and have proven leadership and consensus-building skills. I know how to solve problems.