As a mother, grandmother, and resident of District 5 for over four decades, I am committed to making a positive impact for my community and family. As a lifelong community advocate, volunteer, and environmentalist, I strive to make a meaningful contribution to the future of Santa Clara County through the preservation of open space.  My background as a City and Regional Planner with the County of Santa Clara, Senior Land Use Policy Advisor for Santa Clara County Supervisors Susie Wilson, Mike Honda, Don Gage and Joe Simitian, Land Use Advisor and Constituent Services Director for Congressman Mike Honda, and Policy Director for Community Health Partnership not only ground my environmental values, but also a respect for and experience in legislation, policy, government accountability and transparency, and public service.  

Throughout my career, I have had the honor to work alongside environmental activists on many projects that resulted in the permanent preservation of open space and public resources.  Examples include the County’s acquisition of Martial Cottle County Park and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s preservation of Mt. Umunhum.  As a policy advisor, I supported the work to create the countywide trail master plan, hillside preservation ordinance, and agricultural preserve study.  I was also fortunate to be part of the original group that helped establish the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority in 1993.

Civic engagement and volunteerism have always been an important way that I contribute to improve my community.  Whether it was serving as a girl scout leader and member of the Girl Scout Council Board of Directors, member of the Housing Authority’s pre-school Board of Directors, advocate for various animal rights organizations, community leader, social justice and environmental advocate, or neighborhood resource, I am motivated by helping my community solve problems, create relationships, and enact positive changes, both large and small.

As a long-time public servant at various levels of government, I have strived to promote government transparency, accountability, and communication on behalf of those we serve.  As your representative on the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, I vow to continue that tradition of public service.