Candidate for
County Supervisor; County of Monterey; Supervisorial District 5

Steve Collins is a third generation Monterey County resident and a fourth generation Californian. He has been active in the community for over 20 years, addressing women's issues, health care, education, economic development, and our depleting water supply.

In Monterey County, water is at the forefront of our concerns. Steve has served on various committees, boards, and agencies, championing projects that balance the environment, flood control, water quality and supply such as the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project, and the Salinas Valley Reclamation Project. He achieved balance not only with water issues, but for all seven years of his tenure, the budget as well.

During these times of budget cutbacks, Steve served on an independent audit committee to insure access to health care for all County residents by developing a plan to enhance revenues and reduce expenses by a combined amount of $19.5 million dollars. The plan was approved unanimously, 5-0, by the Board of Supervisors in June, 2003.

Steve is a past club president and current member of Rotary International. Additionally, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, is on the Foundation Board of Directors of Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and sits on the Finance Committee for the Airel Children's Theater. He previously served as Chairman on the Committees for the Women's Domestic Shelter for Monterey County, the California Airshow, and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission for Monterey County. As the son of politically active parents, he has been a volunteer for various political campaigns for over 20 years. Most notably, he worked on the campaigns for his father, James Collins, who served as a Salinas City Council Member for 17 years and his mother, Jan Collins, who also served as a City Council Member for 6 years, retiring in 2002 as Mayor Pro Tem.

His only time away from the Central Coast was to earn a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from San Jose State University, graduating cum laude in 1975. In 1994, he graduated first in his class with a Masters Degree in Management from Chapman University. Since 1980, Steve has worked as a C.P.A. and as a college instructor since 1983. He has earned a reputation for his commitment to fiscal responsibility and open, honest management. Currently, he is an Agriculture Consultant for various interests in the area. Additionally, he is a senior adjunct professor at the Fort Ord campus of Golden Gate University. In this capacity, he was elected as "Instructor of the Year" twice, in 1997 and again in 2002.

Steve is 50 years old, and enjoys a happy family life. He resides in Las Palmas with his beautiful wife Penny of 27 years and one daughter, Noelle, who is a junior at Sacramento State University majoring in Criminal Justice.