Why am I running for office?

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When my sons were young, I was fortunate to be able to put a hold on my career and volunteer in each of their classrooms throughout their elementary years – taking on Room Mom responsibilities for each. This direct service volunteer work defined and fulfilled me, but it also proved to be critical as we discovered that one of my sons is on the autism spectrum. This was a whole new world to learn and navigate, and at the time Asperger’s was still a vague diagnosis that was misunderstood and often discriminated against. My son was often poorly treated by his teachers and was judged by a school district (we did not live in Brentwood at the time) whose main concern was keeping its status as a top-level district in the state. It became my job not to give him unfair advantage, but to learn how to advocate for a level playing field. I had to learn a whole new set of skills to support my son and help him grow to his potential. 

• Research 
• Making connections 
• Pushing authority figures in the school system to hear our voices
• Standing my ground and not giving up on the fight

Making the most of my experiences

As years went by and more was understood about this diagnosis, the school recognized my knowledge in this area and began to send other families to me for guidance in navigating the special education world. Once I reentered the work force, I secured a position providing in-home and classroom therapies for non-verbal children with autism, and many forms of support, training, and guidance for their families. Since then I have been able to launch these experiences into a fulfilling path including nonprofit and other community-driven work.

Professionally speaking

From a career standpoint, the positions I have held have shared in common a few core focuses – public service, community involvement, relationship building, marketing and promotions, and communication. Past experiences in radio and newspaper offered specialized training in media, while nonprofit management helped to develop even stronger skills in advocacy – specifically helping those without a voice to be heard. Prior to my current role as Senior District Representative for the CA State Senate, I held an upper leadership position with an area Meals on Wheels agency and was part of an outreach and partnership expansion for increased support of seniors throughout East Contra Costa County. My ongoing connections to resources and contacts in this area have allowed for a smooth transition into my work representing Senator Steve Glazer in East Contra Costa County. I continue to be a part of conversations promoting resources for older adults in my community on a volunteer basis.

Some highlights

• Graduate of East Bay Leadership Council's Build the Bench Program
• Member of East County Senior Coalition, held past elected positions of Co-Chair and Marketing/Public Relations Chair
• Lifelong volunteer work
• Published writer in a variety of forums
• Pending application for Contra Costa Women's Commission (process delayed by Covid-19 restrictions)
• Professional work on advocacy campaigns and agency re-brand recognized nationally by Meals on Wheels America
• Singer with a local classic rock/blues/oldies band!

The path that led me here

The path my personal and professional life has led me through has given me a strong set of skills I have used in my work and will use in office. I am accomplished in community outreach, public relations, and marketing and have extraordinary verbal and written communication skills and an exceptional customer service aptitude. I am creative and hardworking with excellent project management, leadership, and team building abilities, and I have a strong background in public and media relations. And... I am prepared to listen!

Why now? 

• My family and I have lived in Brentwood since 2009. The year 2020 is inspiring many to self-evaluate and determine ways they can make a difference. I am one of those stepping forward to do that.
• Because of Brentwood's new district-based election, the district I live in is one with a strong percentage of the older adults in our city. With my background, I am the person to represent their needs and interests, especially now when their lives have been disproportionately affected by shelter in place mandates.
• I am the wife of a small business owner whose work and revenue have been greatly impacted by Covid-19. As we recover from this crisis, we need to address both immediate and long-term ways to support the backbone of our community - small businesses.
• Brentwood has undergone great change and growth, and more is on the horizon. We as a city need to think sustainability and smart growth - sticking to strategic planning that makes sense and listening to input from our residents. Public safety, development, jobs, traffic impacts, open space, strong agriculture... all of these priorities feed into this discussion and to our city's future planning.

While I am new to running for office, I am proud to use my skills and tap into my connections to focus on what is best for our city. I look forward to serving in a council capacity and continuing to use my own voice to help others raise theirs.