City of PetalumaCandidate for City Council

Professionally, I am a public affairs official for a local government agency. During my career I have served as a spokesperson to local, state and national media. I earned certifications in specialities including managing public information during a disaster and incident command system management in emergency risk communications for natural disasters and public health emergencies. During the fires in 2017, I served as a Public Information Officer for the County’s Emergency Operations Center fire response and recovery efforts.

My background in local and state government gives me a unique insight into how both individuals and the community together can work to make Petaluma stronger — and our government more efficient and transparent.

Currently, I am the Public Information Officer for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. My prior work experience includes serving as a senior staff member to Assemblymember Marc Levine and as the Communications Manager for the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. I was also a project associate for a small public affairs firm working for nonprofit and political clients.

I firmly believe in public service and giving back to the community I love.  I earned my B.A. in Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. For graduate school, I obtained a Master of Public Affairs from the University of San Francisco. My volunteer work in Petaluma and throughout the community includes:

• Planning Commissioner, City of Petaluma
• Board Member, Sonoma County Public Library Foundation (Former Board President)
• Elementary School Reading Tutor, Schools of Hope, United Way of the Wine Country
• Committee Member, Measure Y Oversight Committee (Sonoma County Public Library System)
• Appointed State Delegate, California Democratic Party
• Member (District 2), Sonoma County Democratic Party Central Committee

Local government is where meaningful change can happen and where residents can directly impact their daily routines and lives. When I talk about public health, I mean the air we breathe, the water we drink, the walkability and safety of our community. Having bicycle and pedestrian access, being able to go to a local park, ensuring our children can have preschool and infant/toddler care – all matter to the health of our community. I want to be a champion on these issues to improve our community’s health and well-being.

Working on budget and policy issues is a huge task for any policymaker. However, working with the community, listening to all sides, and engaging in meaningful dialogue helps any elected official be better. My experiences have shown me that a city councilmember can be a passionate voice on issues my friends and neighbors care about, ranging from social justice and equity, workforce housing, transit-oriented development, stronger public health policies, and strengthening environmental policies to protect our community. As a Planning Commissioner, I am working on land use issues and development projects to ensure our General Plan is followed and we are building in a sustainable way, including workforce housing.

Petaluma needs to engage our residents in a more comprehensive fashion. Families are facing tremendous pressures with a lack of workforce housing, worsening traffic, and inadequate transportation options. Fortunately, our unique location and diverse population give Petaluma the flexibility to push for innovative public policies that will support a sustainable future not only for ourselves but also for future generations. The Petaluma I am running to help flourish is a city where families can feel connected, the environment is protected and our children can have access to quality affordable early childcare and education.