Foremost, I am a father of five wonderful children who like any good dad are the essence of my existence. I am proud to be a fifth generation Californian, with ancestors who farmed and ranched in Santa Clara County for decades.  My grandfather, a retired writer for the Mercury News, and grandmother, a retired educator, raised my father here.  My father left the Silicon Valley as he witnessed the population explosion of the 50s and 60s, to raise a family in the mountain community of Oakhurst near Yosemite.  I am eternally grateful to my parents for raising me in a community that cares for each other, where neighbors know each other and strangers are just a moment from being newly found friends. 

    My love for Campbell and comfort in the community originates in this upbringing and continuity between communities.  Campbell's culture has survived the times and, although we live in a city, Campbell has been able to retain its small town feel.   I have chosen Campbell as my home because this is a place where my life can make a difference to the people around me.

    Here is a brief snapshot of the ways in which I am well suited to represent you as a member of Campbell's City council.  Please read on!

Experience

-    Property Manager for the past 5 ½ years.
-    Honorary Mayor of Oakhurst, a community of nearly 14,000 residents.  At 18 years old I ran for, and won, in my hometown election. This was a rich and rewarding experience that allowed me to learn the workings of a community. I participated in new development and business openings, as well as community building events, and I regularly attended civic and government meetings where I was an unofficial representative of the community. I also wrote regular editorials in the local paper and helped create a mentorship program for the FBLA at the high school.
-    California State Assembly Constituent Field Representative and Secretary.
-    Director of New Member Relations, a position I initiated, for a year and a half at a large nonprofit with approximately 1,200 members.
-    Contributor to Madera County's Oakhurst Area Plan. This was a vision casting process that included the concept of a downtown cultural and market center along the riverfront, which was incorporated in the final plan.
-    Producer and promoter of multiple community concerts, catering to youth and family audiences.

Professional Development

    For the past 10 years I have actively prepared myself to excel in the field of Real Estate.  I strengthened my knowledge of property management, my current occupation, through the help of the Tri-County Apartment Association with their California Certified Resident Manager course. I have earned multiple professional licenses with the state, and I am currently completing coursework toward my real estate broker license.

    Always being years ahead of myself, I started working on my college education as a Junior in high school.  As a life-long learner juggling family responsibilities, I invested nearly ten years toward my degree from Reedley College.  During this time I took classes at the following local community colleges: West Valley College, San Jose City College, De Anza College and Foothill College.

Volunteerism

    In the realm of politics, I circulated numerous petitions to put propositions before the people on the ballot, as well as registered voters, and helped candidates in past campaigns.    In the realm of government, I was a contributor to Madera County’s current Oakhurst Area Plan. My role as Honorary Mayor was, as it should be, a voluntary position. My role as a producer and promoter of community concerts catering to youth and families audiences was in a voluntary capacity.

    I coached baseball to 13 and 14 year olds with the San Jose Police Activities League. As a teenager I helped develop and launch a snowboard instruction branch for the Mountain Area Ski School, where I taught snowboarding lessons to hundreds of kids from the communities surrounding where I grew up over the course of three years.

Fundraising

    In early 2008 I raised close to $4,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to support their cancer research and to provide patient services to area residents fighting the disease. As a teenager I raised over $11,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of America, which helped establish a local center in Oakhurst and helped fund a skate park for the community. I have helped raise tens of thousands of dollars at annual banquette events for Young Life, an organization dedicated to helping youth through their challenging teenage years. I have also raised funds and built homes in Mexico with the organization.

    In response to my involvement in and contribution to the community of Oakhurst over the proceeding years, the Mountain Area Youth Organization awarded me the Brick-Paver Recipient in 2000 and in my honor permanently embedded a brick in the sidewalk at the center of town.

    Being a council member is a nonpartisan position, and governing at the local level is meant to be free of party affiliations.  With that said, I would like to be clear that I have no allegiance or association with any political party.  I am an Independent and register "Decline to State".  In hope for a better tomorrow and belief that the two major political parties are failing us, I will not choose the lesser of two evils.  It is with this perspective that I desire to participate in the political process.  I am hopeful that regardless of where your loyalties lay politically, your respect for my perspective will help you decide to utilize your vote to empower me to serve our community with excellence.