Heidi first arrived in San Luis Obispo as a college student thirty years ago. She graduated with a degree in early childhood education from Cuesta College, followed by a BA in liberal studies from Cal Poly. After falling in love with the charm and community San Luis Obispo had to offer, Heidi kicked a root down, got married, and began her life as an early childhood educator and mother.
Fast forward a few years and Heidi found herself as an overworked house cleaner and a multi-tasking single mom. Being a mom took center stage in her life and she began to form the rest of her decisions around what it meant to raise children in today’s world. Quickly she found that the best way to build a better community was to raise better people. She deepened her commitment to the community by getting involved in local organizations that worked to create a better world for all of our children.
As a participant and board member of many local non-profit organizations, Heidi has been able to work with local businesses, leaders and community members to fully understand the scope of environmental, fiscal and civic challenges our community faces. In 2014, Heidi turned her eye to elected office and ran for State Assembly. She led a grassroots campaign that focused on campaign finance reform, income inequality and climate change. She is a strong voice advocating for people who have been left out of our political and economic systems.
Heidi believes that Democracy starts and ends with the voice of the people, and as the Mayor of San Luis Obispo, has worked tirelessly to honor and represent and lift that voice.
