City of Redondo BeachCandidate for City Council, District 2

Born and raised in Shreveport, LA and Southeast Texas, I attended Lamar University for a year and a half before joining the Marines, where I was eventually stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. I moved to Redondo in 1998 and lived in District 3 until 2003. I have lived in District 2 for the past 17 years. I know Redondo.

I am REDONDO and I am you. I LOVE all things Redondo! I paint Redondo, paddle Redondo, volunteer in Redondo and care about Redondo. My husband and I raised two sons here and have given time and energy to many organizations and non-profits. 

I live by the Marine saying: "Improvise, Adapt and Overcome."

I am no stranger to adversity. I know what it means to persevere and stand up for others and for good. I have survived and/or overcome life-altering violence in my childhood, as well as breast cancer as an adult. I intimately know what it means to fight your way back, sometimes for life itself. I endured and graduated from Marine Corps boot camp and truly know what “difficult” looks like. I know how to persist, work hard, and make it to the other side, when everything, even your very being, says quit.

I believe in opportunities and compromise. I believe in what we CAN do, not what we can't. I believe in having a say in what we can control and then working together, rather than waiting for outside forces to take action.

I am the Director of Operations for a real estate firm in Long Beach, as well as an artist. I serve(d) on boards of our Temple and my local symphony (as well as play bassoon in it!) and have helped Eagle Scouts with their projects and been a part of a Leadership Redondo group who has donated/painted murals for our two Redondo libraries. I believe in giving back and I believe in taking action. I want Redondo to be the best she can be and we are shortchanging our residents by not realizing the full potential of our waterfront and pier area opportunities. We are also shortchanging our residents by not welcoming and attracting businesses and their revenue to our city.

Over the past 12 years, District 2 representation has sadly only been fighting against change, instead of for our community. If the only action we ever take is to never compromise, then our direction will be decided for us and we will remain on the current downward trajectory.

People live in Redondo Beach for three main reasons:

1) It's a safe, independent city, with our own fire and police departments;

2) Our Schools and RBUSD are phenomenal; and

2) It's the definition of beauty. A wonderful place to play, relax and enjoy!

District 2 is the home of our Pier, King Harbor, the AES plant, our Civic Center, RUHS, Parras Middle School and limitless potential! 

I am tired of 20 years of stagnation fueled by our opposition to everything – businesses, development, housing – and therein revenue shortages. District 2 should be where our potential is limitless - instead of one where our potential has been limited.

I believe in, and hope to affect change with, the following: 

·       Keeping RBPD viable. Stop defunding the police and encourage innovative programs that strengthen the partnership between RBPD, community volunteers, social workers and mental health experts. Let’s pay them a living wage by…

·       Generating revenue through attracting and retaining businesses.

·       Real and practical solutions about the power plant and new open space in Redondo. No more failed promises.

·       Keeping RBFD in Redondo and autonomous. Period. Again, we can’t complain about not being able to pay for city services while always being against any ideas that generate tax revenue for our city. Let’s be business friendly once again.

·       Helping RB Pier businesses and tourism, during COVID and beyond.

·       Working with our city’s current homeless plan but reimagining longer term alternatives that avoid utilizing prime/business/tourist real estate.

Over the past 12 years, District 2 representation has sadly only been fighting against change, instead of for our community. If the only action we ever take is to never compromise, then our direction will be decided for us. I believe in trying new things and innovating, rather than waiting for the state or other outside forces to dictate what we have to do, because we waited so long to act. Let’s be for something, instead of against everything!