Sonoma County Service

I was appointed to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors by the Governor in August of 2002 to fill former Supervisor Mike Cale’s vacated seat on the Board.  After collecting over 4,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot and I am proud to say I was re-elected to the Board by the people of the First District in March of 2004.

During  my time on the Board, I have been actively involved in all aspects of Sonoma County government serving on numerous Boards, Commissions, and Committees.  Among the positions I currently hold are:

• 2008 Liaison to  Health and Human Services
• Sonoma County Transportation Authority
• Sonoma/Marin Area Rail Transit II Board of Directors
• Sonoma County Methamphetamine Prevention Task Force
• Bay Conservation Development Commission (BCDC)
• Sonoma County Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit, designed by the state for distribution of Special Revenues
• North Coast Supervisors Association, Alternate
• California State Association of Counties, Board of Directors
• California State Association of Counties, Executive Board

In addition, I am involved in advisory committees locally in the Sonoma Valley supporting the activies of the Sonoma Valley Art Museum, the Ecology Center, the Mentoring Alliance, and others.

 

State of California and national Service

More than half of Sonoma County revenues come from the State with much of it passed through from the the Federal level.  

I have made it a priority to become involved at a leadership level in work with State and Federal governmental organizations to best influence policy decisions to benefit Sonoma County. My past experience in the legislature has helped me immensely in this endeavor.

From 1992 – 1998 I served in the State Assembly representing District 7 where I chaired both the Governmental Organization Committee and the Budget Subcommittee #2 for Health and Human Services, and was the Vice Chair of Appropriations.

Currently I serve on the Board of Directors for the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) where I Chaired the Housing, Land Use and Transportation Policy Committee and was Vice-Chair of the Indian Gaming Working Group. We were successful with the Indian Gaming Working Group in working with the Governor’s office to include compact language which requires tribes to work with local governments through judicially enforceable agreements.  Prior to the work of this group, the tribes were not required to provide mitigation for casino development.  I am also a member of the Executive Committee.

My strong involvement in CSAC leadership and ability to interface with the California Legislature earned me something of which I am very proud, two prestigious CSAC Circle of Service Awards: one for my role as a delegate in Proposition 1A negotiations, which protected county dollars, and another for my leadership on Indian Gaming issues for working to include counties in the Indian Gaming process to protect land use in those counties where they are attempting to locate casinos.

At the national level, with the incredible support of all 58 counties within California, I was elected to a leadership position and currently serve as the First Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo), an organization that represents more than 2400 counties nationwide. NACo provides support and a place at the table for policy discussions at the federal level. Discussions regarding funding for public safety, Medicare, Medicaid, transportation, and most importantly Community Development Block Grants that provide money directly for our communities in Sonoma County.

In July 2009, I will be sworn in as President of NACo where my presidential initiative will be health care reform.

 

Sonoma City Service

When I first moved to the Sonoma Valley, I took the opportunity to become involved in a number of our community organizations. This was a tremendously fulfilling experience where I worked with many dedicated fellow volunteers who taught me much and which ultimately lead to my holding leadership positions in the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Board of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers, and in various other local nonprofits.

These leadership roles provided me with a strong foundation when I sought a seat on the Sonoma City Council. It was my honor to serve as Mayor and Vice-Mayor of the City Council before being elected to the State Assembly.

PERSONAL BIOGRAPHical Statement

Most people know I was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised on the Trimble Wildlife Refuge. My father was a state zoologist and wetlands expert which resulted in my spending the majority of my childhood outdoors in the Trimble Wildlife Area.  My respect and commitment to the importance of understanding and preserving our environment have early roots.

My mother also had a great influence on my life as well – I saw the extraordinary influence my mother had in changing the lives of young people through teaching.  It had a great impact on my decision to pursue a career in education. I attended the University of Missouri earning a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Secondary Education and English. I worked as a seventh-grade teacher and then earned my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Missouri’s Lindenwood College. I received my license in Marriage and Family Therapy to assist families in emotional crisis.

I raised my daughter Lisa in Santa Monica. When she graduated from High School and began attending college at the University of Missouri, In 1984 I decided to move to Sonoma because I had friends in the area and had fallen in love with Sonoma.  I opened the Sonoma Valley Education Center, an after-school tutoring and counseling program.  As opportunities arose to become more involved in the Sonoma city, and later in the State government.

Now, as a Sonoma County Supervisor, I am proud to represent the people of the First District. Counties really do care for people. It is one of the toughest jobs I’ve had, but also the most rewarding.

Every day, I see how listening and bringing people together to problem-solve and create solutions allows the people I serve to have a voice. 

As a public servant, it doesn’t get much better than that.