Candidate for
Council Member; Town of Moraga

I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa in a family of seven kids. My dad was a plumber and I worked in his shop while growing up. I attended Creighton University in Omaha where I majored in fine arts, minored in education, and graduated with honors. With my teaching credential in hand, I went straight to work teaching art to Omaha high school students, as well as art classes at the Joslyn Art Museum.

One day I was interviewed by a young reporter from the Omaha World Herald on assignment at the museum, who turned out to be John Onoda, my future husband. We married and moved to Texas, where I taught English and art to middle and elementary school students. By 1989, we had found Moraga and settled here with our two small children, at which time I began my career as a professional landscape painter. Moraga's natural beauty inspired me!

Since then I've been engaged in our town's community life in many ways. When our kids started at Rheem Elementary School, I joined other parents in organizing a campaign to have a sidewalk installed up Donald Drive so students could walk safely to school. I've volunteered in the local elementary, middle, and high schools, helping in classrooms and leading art projects with the students; served as a visiting art instructor at Campo; led a Brownie troop; and judged the annual art competition at Joaquin Moraga School for many years. I also donated the designs for the murals and tiles for the Town's Hacienda de las Flores kitchen restoration.

In the 1990s I got involved in community efforts to scale back the massive Palos Colorados development proposal, a project that originally envisioned nearly 200 houses and an 18-hole golf course in open space on the east side of Moraga. After years of public hearings, letter writing campaigns, and public pressure, this project was reduced to 123 houses and--instead of building a golf course--it will leave hundreds of acres of open space undisturbed and dedicated to the public for hiking and passive recreation. These experiences illustrated for me the positive power of public input in local decision making.

For nearly two years, I've been serving on the Moraga Planning Commission, trying to figure ways to facilitate responsible development while preserving the open space and atmosphere of Moraga as much as possible.

Those who know me know that I will listen respectfully to anyone, even if we disagree. I trust that everyone believes they are doing the right thing for the right reasons, even when there are sharp differences in opinion.

I've lived in different parts of the United States and travelled widely. As far as I'm concerned, Moraga is the place I wanted to spend my life with my family. I like seeing people I know at Safeway, in the parks, at the concerts and in local shops. I appreciate the great store of wisdom and life experience the people here represent. If you take the time to sit down and listen to what people have to share, you can learn a lot!

My love of Moraga has been expressed in many ways since my family moved here in 1989, and it's because I appreciate all these things about Moraga that I am running for Town Council.

Community Engagement and Experience:

• Moraga Planning Commissioner, 2013-present.
• Landscape Painter and Instructor.
• Former Credentialed Elementary, Middle, and H.S. Teacher.
• Visiting Art Instructor, Campolindo H.S. 2004-2008.
• J.M. Middle School Annual Creative Writing/Art Competition Judge, 1999 - present.
• Donated designs for the murals and tiles for Hacienda de las Flores Kitchen Restoration.
• Helped organize parents in successful campaign to build sidewalk to Rheem Elementary School, 1991.
• Brownie Troop Leader (1990) and Girl Scout Troop Leader (1975-1976).
• B.A., Creighton University.