
Experience
Board Victories
- Negotiated a fair labor contract
- Extended the Fire Chief contract
- Executed grants to remove dangerous vegetation from becoming a large fire
- Promoted community awareness for preparation and emergency evacuations
- Purchased a wood chipper and truck to remove excess vegetation from constituents homes and yards.
- Increased MOFD's unrestricted reserve balance to 50% of annual operating budget.
Fire Experience
- 30 year firefighter with the Oakland Fire Department
- On duty for major incidents including the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and the 1991 Oakland Firestorm.
- I received the Certificate of Valor from the Governor for rescuing victims of the Cypress structure collapse in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
- Search Team Manager for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 4.
- Committee member to oversee construction of Station 8 in Oakland, under budget and ahead of schedule.
Volunteer Experience
- Drove to Louisiana to volunteer for Hurricane Katrina. I brought food, water and assisted with cutting trees etc.
- Board member, 14 years with Random Acts Oakland
- Drove to New York after 9/11 and presented a check for $25,000 from Local 55 to the Widow and Orphans Fund. I also assisted with firefighter funeral services.
- Assisted people that lost homes in the Napa / Sonoma Fires
- 6 Years on the Orinda Union School District Emergency Preparedness Committee.
- Implemented emergency supply containers at Glorietta, Orinda Intermediate Schools.
- I serve on the newly formed Oakland Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation.
- Helped to organize and present seminars in Moraga and Orinda "Getting Organized for an Emergency" to educate our community on disaster preparedness.