Mason County

Thurston County

Grays Harbor County

Kitsap County

Since that time, I’ve coauthored several papers in my primary research interest, the topic of personality traits and how they affect our overall behaviors, particularly our leadership styles. As of the end of July 2009, I will be retiring from teaching, but not from my research and consulting interests - but now that I’m involved in political activities, my research interests have grown to include questions associated with the connection between personality traits and political philosophies.

I graduated in June from Olympic College, receiving my AAS Degree, and am now enrolled at The Evergreen State College, where I will get my Bachelors Degree in Political Economy.

I have been involved in the political process for only two years. In 2006 I saw my PCO on my ballot and knew it was my next door neighbor, so I figured that she would be the person to talk to. Since then I have been involved in every campaign I could help on. In 2006 I worked on Bill Eickmeyerʼs campaign, and also the Coordinated Campaign out of Kitsap County.

Then in 2008 I volunteered on Fred Finnʼs campaign, and also an Obama precinct captain before the caucus. At the caucus I was elected as a delegate to the state convention. Later in 2008 I got my first paying political job with Congressman Norm Dicksʼ campaign, where I was his Olympic Peninsula Field Director, covering all of Mason, Grays harbor, Clallam, and Jefferson counties. In October of 2008 I was loaned to the Obama Campaign for Change, where with the help of volunteers we made over 12,000 phone calls and knocked on over 1,100 doors. For every candidate we called and knocked for that candidate won.

Before I got involved in politics I was (and still am) very active in my church. In 2005, I participated in a Mission Trip. I along with other youth from other churches went to Tijuana, Mexico where we constructed two houses in 10 days. I have now served on my Church Council since 2007.

I would like to serve as secretary of the 35th LD because, I know that our problems did not end on election day, only the change was brought to begin to end those problems. It is because of Barack Obama that I got involved in politics, the hope for something more out of my country out of our country. I am a big believer that we let too many things come between us as citizens of this world, whether it be borders or barriers. I know that with Barack Obama as president we can work to towards a more united people under the common purpose of resecuring freedom for all, and civil rights for all. I hope to have an impact on this, but more importantly I want everybody to have an impact on this. If it was because of Barack Obama that I got involved, then it is with much gratitude for my PCO Linda Thomson, that I have stayed involved, she has been my political mentor, and a calming voice through the craziness of a campaign, so I have to acknowledge her before I hope to obtain any office with the 35th LD.

I was greatly influenced by my father. He was an immigrant who never finished elementary school, but was a union activist and John F. Kennedy campaign worker. He taught me about the importance of service to community and country.

I’m a long-time political activist who has worked on electing Democrats at the city council, school board, legislative, congressional, state and Presidential levels for over 30 years, including active involvement in the passage of significant "One Sky Washington" environmental legislation and most recently on the election of Barack Obama.

I got involved in my local community, was selected PCO for Belfair 1 (Mason County), have participated in local and state-wide training sessions, coordinated monthly "Democratic Chats," and hosted various programs in my home, including a "Live Earth" Event, an Obama Unity Day Party, an annual County fund raiser, and all four Debate Watches. I chaired my precinct caucus and served on the County/LD credentials committee. I also spent time in Olympia on lobbying efforts directed at education, health care and environmental issues.

Since last February, I was actively involved in Barack Obama's campaign and was elected a delegate at my precinct caucus. I worked at communicating Obama's message of change and hope to potential voters at the local and state levels through the Internet, media and phone calling. It became apparent to me, particularly after making phone calls to voters in Texas, that older voters were not always "comfortable" with Obama. In order to change that perception, I organized a national "Grandparents for Obama" campaign that spread to over 30 states. In that effort, I attended the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the national AARP Convention in Washington D.C.