Candidate for
Member, Democratic Party County Central Committee; County of Santa Clara; State Assembly District 24

Democratic Party Background

I'm a life-long Democrat, but I'd never taken part in politics except to vote until inspired by Howard Dean. Gov. Dean's call for progressives to stop shouting at our TVs and channel our energies into supporting the Democratic Party. "I want my country back!" continues to motivate me to new levels of awareness and activism.

I signed on with the Dean for America campaign in July 2003. Working with Silicon Valley for Dean, I donated, wrote letters, tabled, hoisted signs, and went door-to-door for my candidate until the campaign ended in March 2004.

I then transferred my volunteer efforts to the Santa Clara County Democratic Party, supporting the Kerry/Edwards ticket, as well as state and local candidates.

In June 2005, I was hired as part-time paid staffer for the Santa Clara County Democratic Party. In this capacity, I maintain the Party office and recruit volunteers for outreach activities throughout the County.

Key accomplishments during and since the 2004 campaign

• Ran the voter registration table at Campbell Farmers' Market every Sunday morning from January through October 2004
• Organized Democratic Party voter registration & information booths at dozens of festivals and other public events
• Produced and distributed reams of campaign flyers on issues, candidates, and voter information
• Coordinated ten precinct walkers as City Lead for Campbell
• Walked my own precinct
• Host monthly Democracy For America and Democratic Party Meetups.

I served as Co-chair and Treasurer for Reclaim The Debate, a committee that arranged a San Jose speaking engagement in April 2005, co-sponsored by a coalition of activist groups, featuring UC Berkeley cognitive linguistics professor and political "framing" expert George Lakoff, author of the bestseller "Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate." 1,100 people attended. I also served as emcee for the evening.

Education / Certification

• B.S. Management (cum laude), Golden Gate University
• Certified in Integrated Resources Management (CIRM), APICS The Association for Operations Management

My career over 27 years has included management positions in Finance, Information Systems, Operations, and most recently, Materials. In 2003, I was laid off when manufacturing at my company moved to Ohio. Little did I know that it would turn out to be a good thing. Had I not come up for air from working 12 hour days, I might never have discovered my interest in the Democratic Party. I only wish I'd tuned in earlier. I currently consult part-time in supply chain management.

Personal

I've lived in California all my life, and in Campbell since I married my husband Bob in 1988. Our daughter, Kathleen, will be a senior at Presentation High School.