Candidate for
Council Member; City of Santa Maria

Joan Leon: Background and Qualifications:

• Served as president of League of Women Voters of Santa Maria Valley; member of the League since 1969.

• Awarded national fellowship by League of Women Voters of United States to study government for a month in Washington, D.C.

• Helped research and write "Know Your Town" and "Know Your County," League of Women Voters guides to Santa Maria City and Santa Barbara County local governments.

• Served two terms on the Santa Barbara County Civil Grand Jury (1996-97 and 1997-98).

• Conducted independent research on city documents: budgets, contracts, Housing and Economic Development Elements, land use plans, Downtown Specific Plan, water, electric utility.

• Spoke out often on issues at city council meetings regarding economic development, Wal-Mart, housing, land use, poverty, and local jobs.

• Wrote a column for the Santa Maria Times on the first Friday of each month since July 2003 on local issues. Topics were local water wars, jobs and housing, outsourced jobs, against the county split, farming for wind energy, importance of voting, local election campaign fund raising.

• Served on county housing advisory committee and Valuing Diversity Working Group

• Earned a Bachelor's degree in English from Cal State Long Beach