I was born in Chicago of an Irish-Scotch mother and a Russian-Polish Jewish father. Quite a mixed bag. However, both were political activists and members of the American Socialist Party, thus making me a legitimate “red diaper baby”. It was not until I was about nine or ten years old, that I realized not everyone used their living room to store “picket signs.” My activist upbringing was probably responsible for my tendency to become a discipline problem in elementary school. In fact, it was suggested to my parents that they find an alternative educational venue for me. They sure did! I spent the third and fourth grade with the good nuns at “Lady Help a Christian” Catholic school--probably the only time in my life when I was not being talkative and disruptive. My father retired from the Chicago School system and we moved to California, settling in the bay area. After my graduation from High School in Redwood City, I attended Stanford University. Upon my graduation in 1962, I moved to Oceanside where I was offered my first, and as it turned out my only, teaching position at Oceanside High School where I taught Civics, and developed an award winning community involvement curriculum in 1972. From 1984 to 2002 I served as the library media specialist and Debate Coach. Since my retirement I have devoted my time to a part time job at the Dove Library and numerous political and social volunteering. As a cancer survivor I work closely with local support groups to mentor newly diagnosed cancer patients. For over 60 years I have been a political activist for social justice. From advocating for peace, to fighting racism, to immigrant rights, to ending the judicial injustice of police brutality that has claimed so many young lives in our County , to labor. I walked my first picket line with my activist father when I was 9 years old and most recently walked with the Unite Here hotel workers last year when they were striking against the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. My desire to be CCmember is quite simple. I would like to challenge the present party’s commitment to party cronyism. It is time to take back the party of FDR that committed itself to bettering the human condition
