As I have traveled around the 5th District and talked with people, I keep hearing the same concerns. Folks want an affordable place to live, roads that are safe and well cared for, a healthy environment, and someone representing them who listens and tells it straight. They want to protect the land and water that make this county home.

Housing is a big part of that. When teachers, healthcare workers, and local employees can't afford to live here, it affects everyone. Schools struggle to keep staff, our medical center feels the pinch, and small businesses have a harder time getting by. I also hear worries about pollution in our creeks and ocean, the future of fishing and salmon, and frustration over potholes, car repairs, and whether it even feels safe driving our county roads.

I spent more than 30 years working for cities, helping run community services and parks operations. My job was to listen, work with people, and help find solutions that made sense. When my wife, Sylvia, and I moved to Anchor Bay in 2016, we did not want to just live here-we wanted to be part of the community. We got involved by volunteering with local nonprofits, the Lions Club pay-and-take, Action Network, the Gualala Municipal Advisory Council, and the Mendocino Music Festival.

That hands-on work philosophy has led to tangible results. I helped restore Bower Park, secured a federal grant to rebuild the Community Center, moved the Gualala Streetscape Project forward, brought a resident deputy to the South Coast, and helped achieve recognition of Gualala as a census-designated place. I also served two years on the Mendocino County Grand Jury, making the weekly drive to Ukiah to represent our area.

I'll bring the same work ethic to the Board of Supervisors-protecting the environment, keeping our roads safe, supporting affordable housing, and standing up for the people who live here. If that sounds like what you want, I would be grateful for your support as your next 5th District Supervisor.