Condado de SonomaCandidato para Supervisor, Distrito 5

More than 20 years experience in state and local government. Planning Commissioner and Councilmember for City of Santa Rosa for 11 years; 10 years as State Assemblymember and State Senator. Served four years on the California Coastal Conservancy the State Judicial Council, and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Co-authored AB 32, which set California's first-ever carbon emissions reduction goals. Authored the Homeowners Bill of Rights, protecting homeowners in foreclosure fraud. Chaired the Legislative Budget Committee during the Great Recession and was responsible for balancing the state budget while continuing to fund education, In-Home Supportive Services, HIV/AIDS prevention, foster care, child care, and many other vital state services, including keeping state parks open. Experienced in land use planning and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). I want to bring this extensive experience and knowledge to begin to address some of Sonoma County's long-standing challenges such as affordable housing and coastal protection.

My governing philosophy emphasizes three things: Transparency, accountability, and results. I believe first and foremost in representing the public's best interests and involving the public in decision-making. During my 10 years in the state legislature, I created videos and power point presentations to educate the public on the causes of the State's budget crisis and held massive public hearings attended by thousands of Californians to take input on how best to balance the budget during the Great Recession. My approach was to make the cuts to services necessary to balance the budget while preserving the programs Californians need and expect until we were able to return to fiscal health. I would use this same approach on the Board of Supervisors--exercise oversight on County functions, require accountability for public expenditures, and include the public in decision-making.