Candidate for
Supervisor; County of Kern; Supervisorial District 2

As Kern County's 2nd District Special Projects Manager, Mary Beth executes diverse community programs. Projects include road improvements, trail systems, wildfire hazard reduction, community illegal dumping cleanups, business and economic development support, state and federal grant development and public liaison work for the Greater Tehachapi Specific Plan and the California High Speed Rail project.

As nonprofit Community Clean Sweep's Executive Director, Mary Beth delivers award-winning children's environmental education, illegal dumping mitigation and recycling resources throughout the county. Garrison's commitment to "making a difference" was first seen as the Public Affairs/Public Relations Director for KBAK-TV, where she utilized media and developed community partnerships to affect positive change for area residents.

A Kern resident since 1987, Mary Beth has volunteered extensively with the American Cancer Society, Community Connection for Child Care, Golden Empire Gleaners, Greater Tehachapi and East Kern Economic Development Councils, Greater Tehachapi Fire Safe Council and United Way of Kern County.

Mary Beth is an elected Board Member of the Golden Hills Community Services District, a California Special District providing water and other services to the residents of Golden Hills (an unincorporated community adjacent to the City of Tehachapi).

Since 2003, Mary Beth has worked with responsible County Departments and District 2 residents to accomplish the following projects:

1. Relocation of the Kern County Tehachapi Branch Library;
2. Design and development of Red Apple Avenue;
3. Design and development of The Freedom Trail + a pedestrian/Bike Trail connecting Golden Hills to the City of Tehachapi;
4. Multiple Illegal Dumping Clean-up Projects in/around: Bakersfield, Boron, California City, Cantil, Cummings Valley, Desert Lakes, Edwards Air Force Base, Golden Hills, Mojave, Rosamond, Sand Canyon, and Walker Basin;
5. Establishment of Residential Bulky Waste Collection Days in Golden Hills, Mojave and Rosamond;
6. Helped secure federal grant funding of a variety of wildfire hazard mitigation projects, TEA grant funding for transportation enhancement projects, and state funding for water system improvements;
7. Active involvement with the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council and the East Kern Economic Alliance;
8. Design and text development of public informational print materials including "Living with Fire", "Welcome to Rural Kern County", "Your Government at a Glance" and a new off-road vehicle "Legal Riding" brochure;
9. Design and development of Commercial Way in the Old Towne area of Golden Hills;
10. Newly appointed member of "TEAM Tehachapi", an economic/business development consisting of members from the City of Tehachapi, Main Street Tehachapi, Tehachapi Chamber, Tehachapi Economic Development Council and the Tehachapi Unified School District.

Mary Beth is dedicated to working hard on behalf of the communities she serves. When she commits to a project, she moves forward with enthusiasm and a faithfulness to the task at hand.

Mary Beth is married to Tim Garrison. They have a grown daughter Rebecca, married to Michael Dillenbeck, and are the proud new grandparents to a little girl Joanna Elaine.

Since 1995, Mary Beth and Tim have been active members of The Tehachapi Nazarene Church.