Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Rafael

Barbara Heller was first elected to San Rafael City Council in 1993. She has served as Vice Mayor four times and is in her 16th year of service. She loves her work with the City and has developed good working relationships with local, regional and State commissions and agencies. She works collegially with the Council and has led many initiatives, including one to protect local government funding. Barbara has also worked to open up and expand internet access to Council meetings and members, to keep San Rafael's library open longer hours and help expand transit in our City.

Barbara is married to Norman Heller and has two daughters, Sarah Madson, the CAO for a prominent New York City firm, and Leslie Heller, a teacher in Pleasanton, CA. They are both graduates of San Rafael public schools. Barbara is also "Grandma" to granddaughter, Riley Grace Madson.

She and her husband travel on international aid missions and have visited such places as Afghanistan, Israel and Soweto South Africa. She has assisted in the development of a pre-school program, bringing first aid supplies and working with Global Exchange on issues of socially responsible travel.