Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Pablo

My campaign theme is "Working for the Common Good" and I am emphasizing Leadership, Experience and Vision. In terms of the San Pablo Community Schools platform the focus is on education supporting community and community supporting education. A community school is a partnership that mobilizes an array of resources and assets such as early childhood education, academic services, after-school and summer learning, health and wellness, violence prevention and family support and engagement helping schools to serve as centers of community. Under the community schools concept, many institutions and agencies are convened under cross-boundary leadership to support student learning: city, county, school district, community-based organizations and businesses. The entire community mobilizes to support education. I helped to draft and voted to adopt a resolution to support San Pablo Community Schools. I participated in drafting a full-service community schools resolution that the school district will adopt in October 2012.

Under my Health & Wellness platform the emphasis is on emotional, social, and physical health and well-being. The city of San Pablo has adopted a Health Element of its General Plan. San Pablo has joined the League of California Cities Healthy Eating, Active Living campaign. The San Pablo City Council asked the Contra Costa County health Department to conduct a study on the obesity crisis in our city. The research determined that there is an obesity crisis in our city. The city of San Pablo convened a Childhood Obesity Prevention Task Force to develop strategies to address this health crisis. I serve as co-chair of the task force. The city of San Pablo will partner with different organizations to implement health and wellness programs at each school within the city. The city of San Pablo organized a Farmers Market where residents can buy fresh fruits and vegetables. I voted to develop Wanlass Park as open space development that includes an environmental learning center. I voted to partner with Contra Costa County to construct the new West County Health Center on San Pablo.

Community and economic development is also one of my major platform components. I voted to establish the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation to support job training and support for small business. I supported a temporary sales tax increase to support youth programs, public safety and employment opportunity. I supported a Project Labor Agreement policy that supports union-wage jobs and local hiring. I supported Walgreen's, Auto Zone, Ross Dress for Less, Las Montanas Supermarket and Molcasalsa restaurant that provide local jobs and increase sale tax revenue to support service delivery. The San Pablo City Council has initiated partnerships with community-based organizations to deliver services. I voted to construct a new community center on the Helms Middle School campus. I was instrumental in selecting 15 community members to serve as San Francisco Foundation Koshland Fellows bringing $300,000 to the community and $75,000 to support local non-profit organizations. One of my particular focuses will be to build out the former Circle S mobile home park.

Public safety will also be one of my major platforms. The city council has incorporated video surveillance and other technology to reduce and solve crime through its community policing strategy.