Candidate for
Director; Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District; Division 2

We live in a wonderful community--full of opportunities for ourselves and our families. Our schools are the envy of the Bay Area. Our fire and emergency services are second to none. We have parks, recreation facilities, trails and the natural beauty that we enjoy every day.

These benefits don't just happen. They are not accidents. They are the products of the work of many local residents who volunteer their time and their skills without pay. The work is serious and impacts our daily lives. Good outcomes come from good decisions--bad outcomes from bad decisions. The Board members who guide our schools, the Council members who guide our Town, the Directors who guide our Fire District, all bear a heavy responsibility. They must balance the demands for employee pay and for services to the community against available funds. The decisions are often difficult and the stakes are high: We only have to look to the recent Vallejo bankruptcy to see how poor financial decisions that serve the demands of the moment can lead to ruinous situations later.

The rewards for being a volunteer, although intangible, are substantial. Knowing that residents with health emergencies will receive the best of emergency care and quick transport to a hospital, if needed, is the real reward. So are the opportunities to work with others who put their personal interests aside for the benefit of the community.