Carlyn moved to San Luis Obispo in 1989 with her husband and two young sons, having lived in both northern and southern California previously, as well as in other states and Germany and Japan when a young girl.
Carlyn has a long history of being a dedicated community volunteer. Besides very recently retiring from a lengthy career in medical practice management, she’s actively served a number of important local environmental, educational, health and business organizations over the years.
A total of nearly twelve years experience on the SLO City and County Planning Commissions means that Carlyn has in-depth knowledge of a very wide range of issues--from conservation to housing, roads to budgeting, solar projects to Huasna Valley oil rigs. She has comprehensive historical knowledge regarding many important city policies and plans, having worked on the city’s first state-mandated Housing Element, the city’s first Historic Preservation Guidelines & Ordinance, and the 2006 update of the Conservation and Open Space Element (which finally codified the Natural Resources Manager position).
Now after spending more than 5 years elected to the City Council, Carlyn’s accomplishments include approving the General Plan (LUCE ) update (preserving our open hills and providing for more housing), the long-desired comprehensive Open Space Maintenance Plan, and a far-reaching Urban Water Management Plan, among many other key actions. She has proven herself to be an articulate advocate for essential major projects involving housing, roads, multi-modal transportation, financial responsibility, public safety, parking and the Downtown.
Carlyn embraces the city’s crucial opportunities for action on climate change and community choice energy, and she continues to tackle the city’s ongoing challenges with neighborhood quality improvement, homelessness, town-gown relationships, the closure of Diablo Canyon and the implementation of legalized cannabis.
Carlyn remains deeply committed to San Luis Obispo’s fundamental values of environmental protection, cultural & historical richness, economic vitality and fair, sensible government.
