Candidate for
Council Member; City of Walnut Creek

I was born and raised in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. My dad was an independent, small business owner and, after I started school, my mom started working for a small business, and then went to work for the local library for the rest of her career.

My wife, Judy, and I moved to Walnut Creek 21 years ago with our two sons, Paul and Mike. Judy and I have been married for 30 years. Both of our sons attended Walnut Acres, Foothill Middle and Northgate High schools. Paul graduated from Northgate in 1999 and from San Diego State in 2004; Mike graduated from Northgate in 2001and from UC San Diego in 2006. Mike is attending graduate school at Cal; Paul is living in Walnut Creek.

EDUCATION

After attending the University of Wisconsin and receiving my bachelor of arts degree in economics, I pursued my law career. I received my juris doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin and a masters degree in natural resources law from the National Law Center at George Washington University.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

I have been fortunate in my career to be able to combine my professional skills as an attorney with my passions. After receiving a law degree, I went to work as an attorney for the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Agriculture. My principal client was the Forest Service, an agency that manages over 190 million acres of land, including 20 million acres in California. When I retired four years ago, I was the regional attorney for the Department's Pacific Region, supervising 25 attorneys in three states.

After my retirement, I became a volunteer mediator with the Center for Human Development and the Congress of Neutrals. I am presently a mediation supervisor for the Congress of Neutrals with a special focus on civil harassment mediation.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

My strong understanding of Walnut Creek and our community's values is rooted in my commitment to putting my passions into action through community service. I have two decades of experience as a volunteer and community leader + working for youth sports, raising money to build local sports fields, tutoring English as a Second Language, advocating for open space issues and helping to restore habitats in our open space areas, serving as a Bedford Gallery public art docent, and volunteering for libraries. I served on the Park, Recreation and Open Space Commission for four years and have been a Planning Commissioner for five years.

The following is a more detailed list about my community activities and leadership positions:

PROFESSIONAL

• Mediator, Congress of Neutrals
• Regional Attorney, U.S. Department of Agriculture (retired)
• Juris Doctor, University of Wisconsin Masters, Natural Resource Law, George Washington University
• Bachelor of Arts, Economics, University of Wisconsin

• Planning Commission (2004-present); Chair (2006); Vice Chair (2005)
• Park, Recreation and Open Space Commissioner (1999-2004); Chair (2003); Vice Chair (2002) Open Space and Recreation
• Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation, President and Board member
• Castle Rock Field Restoration Committee, Co-Chair
• Northgate Bronco Boosters, Board member
• Walnut Creek Little League, Board member
• Youth sports coach: Soccer, baseball, basketball
• Orinda Hiking Club, Chair, International Trips Committee

• Bedford Gallery Public Art Walking Tour, docent
• Diablo Valley Literacy Council, volunteer tutor in English as a Second Language
• Friends of the Ygnacio Valley Library, volunteer