I’ve lived in Santa Monica most of my life, but was born just outside New York City. When I was thirteen, my family moved to New Haven. Graduating from a public high school at 16, I won a full scholarship to Yale, where I was music director of the campus radio station in the late 60s.
I helped to start the top-rated FM rock station in Connecticut, and broadcasting became my first, very fulfilling, career.
In 1973 I drove cross-country to California, and by 1977 was general manager of KROQ. Later I became creative director of an L.A. ad agency, did numerous voice-overs, and owned a small commercial radio recording studio on Santa Monica's Main Street.
In the 80s, with an early Apple II computer, I became publisher of an international online newsletter and a local activist on Santa Monica’sPublic Electronic Network. As chair of the PEN Users' Group, I was increasingly involved in homelessness issues, and fought a proposed hotel on the beach at 415 PCH (now, 25 years later, it’s our stunning public beach house!).
I served on SMMUSD's technology advisory committee, the City’s Telecomm Working Group, the steering committee of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights, and as chair of the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition, before being elected to City Council in 1998. Volunteering my computer skills to Santa Monica public schools led to a 25-year career as Macintosh consultant to our public schools, from which I've just retired.
Now in my fifth term on the City Council, including time as your Mayor, I focus on affordable housing and environmental sustainability. I was Council liaison to the Planning, Housing, Landmarks, and Arts Commissions, and to our Task Force on the Environment. I’m Santa Monica’s voting delegate to the Westside Cities Council of Governments, vice-chair of the California Democratic Party’s Irish-American Caucus, sit on the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, and am on the Board of Directors of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California — but my greatest pleasure remains resolutely local, improving the quality of life of all residents here in Santa Monica.
