I have just been "appointed in lieu of election" as the only candidate for the Santa Cruz County Board of Education representing Trustee Area 3 covering Santa Cruz Westside, Bonny Doon, North Coast, Felton and nearby unincorporated areas. The County Board of Education works with the elected-Superintendent to set policy, approve the budget, oversee public charter schools, hear school district appeals, and champion quality education for all our kids, including special, alternative, and… Show more I have just been "appointed in lieu of election" as the only candidate for the Santa Cruz County Board of Education representing Trustee Area 3 covering Santa Cruz Westside, Bonny Doon, North Coast, Felton and nearby unincorporated areas. The County Board of Education works with the elected-Superintendent to set policy, approve the budget, oversee public charter schools, hear school district appeals, and champion quality education for all our kids, including special, alternative, and career technical education, as well as for special populations not served by traditional district schools.My actual term of office begins December 2024. Show less

The Santa Clara County Leadership Academy is supporting the next generation of local government staff leaders through an intensive year-long program in leadership development, project research, public presentations, management skills, story-telling, creativity and more through a varied multi-modal curriculum drawing on seasoned experts in local government.With the support and leadership of the Santa Clara County City Managers Association and local Human Resources Directors, the Academy… Show more The Santa Clara County Leadership Academy is supporting the next generation of local government staff leaders through an intensive year-long program in leadership development, project research, public presentations, management skills, story-telling, creativity and more through a varied multi-modal curriculum drawing on seasoned experts in local government.With the support and leadership of the Santa Clara County City Managers Association and local Human Resources Directors, the Academy selects 40 applicants per year to participate from 20 local agencies in Silicon Valley.The Academy was co-founded in 2010 by former Palo Alto City Manager Frank Benest, then Los Gatos Town Manager Greg Larson, and Rumi Portillo, then the Los Gatos Human Resources Director and then Palo Alto's Chief People Officer.As Director, I coordinate the selection of participants, development and implementation of the curriculum, serve as the principal instructor, and manage the integrated one-on-one coaching and team project elements of the Academy Show less

I am only continuing to support a few ongoing quality clients until they have their own administrative or political transitions.However, I have worked independently and through Management Partners (recently acquired by Baker Tilly) with over 37 cities, 15 special districts, 2 counties, and 2 universities on over 100 different projects including: * Priority setting and strategic planning, * Elected official team-building, ethics, priority setting,* Executive staff… Show more I am only continuing to support a few ongoing quality clients until they have their own administrative or political transitions.However, I have worked independently and through Management Partners (recently acquired by Baker Tilly) with over 37 cities, 15 special districts, 2 counties, and 2 universities on over 100 different projects including: * Priority setting and strategic planning, * Elected official team-building, ethics, priority setting,* Executive staff teambuilding/development;* Council/Board appointee evaluations, * Community engagement, * Executive recruitment & coaching, * Organizational assessment and process improvement,* Interim management, and* Other work to support our local elected and appointed leaders.My clients have included a wide array of local agencies:* CITIES/TOWNS of Alameda, Albany, Atherton, Belmont, Berkeley, Culver City, Cupertino, Dublin, East Palo Alto, Emeryville, Fairfax, Gilroy, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos Hills, Manteca, Martinez, Milbrae, Milpitas, Mountain View, Novato, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Pleasanton, Puyallup (WA), Rancho Cordova, Redwood City, Riverside, , Roseville, San Clemente, Sand City, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Saratoga, Sausalito, and Sonoma, * Monterey and San Mateo COUNTIES;* SPECIAL DISTRICTS: Coastal County Water District, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (now merged with Contra Costa Fire), First 5 Santa Clara County, Hayward Area Parks and Recreation DistrictHeber Public Utility District, Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, Metropolitan Transportation District, Pleasant Hill Parks and Recreation District, San Lorenzo Valley Water District, Santa Clara Valley Water, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, South San Luis Obispo Sanitation District, Transbay Joint Powers AuthorityWalnut Creek Shadelands Business District, West Valley Water District, San Jose State University, and the Starr King School for the Ministry (then at Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union), Show less

Although I had been moving towards full retirement over the prior year, being an Interim City Manager was an unexpected yet career-capping experience that I had long-wanted to try. Cupertino is an exceptionally fine community and the headquarters of Apple. I was able to stabilize the organization during leadership transitions and work with a truly excellent Executive Team and staff focused on quality services and customer response, Most challenging was trying to restore and strengthen… Show more Although I had been moving towards full retirement over the prior year, being an Interim City Manager was an unexpected yet career-capping experience that I had long-wanted to try. Cupertino is an exceptionally fine community and the headquarters of Apple. I was able to stabilize the organization during leadership transitions and work with a truly excellent Executive Team and staff focused on quality services and customer response, Most challenging was trying to restore and strengthen the Council-Manager form of government that has served this community so well since it was founded just a few decades ago. Show less

Served as CEO reporting to publicly elected board of directors (Town Council) for small, high quality local government serving affluent community in Silicon Valley. Supervised Police, Library, Public Works, Planning and Community Development, Parks and Community Services, Management Services (Finance, Human Resources, City Clerk, and Technology) and contracted Fire and environmental services. Led the construction and opening of a new Library, the Police Operations Building, a… Show more Served as CEO reporting to publicly elected board of directors (Town Council) for small, high quality local government serving affluent community in Silicon Valley. Supervised Police, Library, Public Works, Planning and Community Development, Parks and Community Services, Management Services (Finance, Human Resources, City Clerk, and Technology) and contracted Fire and environmental services. Led the construction and opening of a new Library, the Police Operations Building, a Creekside Sports Park and the historic Pageant Grounds, all on time and on budget. Proposed balanced budgets and added to reserves every year of the Great Recession without layoffs or significant ongoing service reductions. After several retirements and separations, rebuilt the entire management team, concluding with the hiring of Assistant Town Manager Laurel Prevetti who was subsequently appointed as my successor after I announced my retirement. Served as Senior Management Advisor to the Town throughout the management transition. During my tenure in Los Gatos, I served as President of Cal-ICMA, chaired the League of California Cities OPEB Task Force, provided the Opening Invocation for more than 2,000 colleagues at the 2010 ICMA Conference, and received both the Booster and Long Time Champion Awards from MMANC for my ongoing efforts to develop the next generation of local government leaders. In addition, I was the Assembly Speaker's appointee to the State of California Sex Offenders Management Board. Show less

Supervised Planning and Community Development, including Housing, Neighborhoods, Current Planning/Zoning, Future Planning/General Plan, and Building & Inspections. Also coordinated university negotiations, launched the Santa Cruz Climate Change Action Program, and worked on economic development and community relations.

Served as California Chief Deputy Controller supervising 1,000 employees in audits, payroll, financial reporting, accounts payable and policy oversight, including at CalPERS, CalSTRS, Franchise Tax Board, Board of Equalization, State Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission, and affordable housing financing agencies. Reorganized and rebuilt management team following prior organizational dysfunction and led response to State budget crisis, gubernatorial recall and debt management. Served as… Show more Served as California Chief Deputy Controller supervising 1,000 employees in audits, payroll, financial reporting, accounts payable and policy oversight, including at CalPERS, CalSTRS, Franchise Tax Board, Board of Equalization, State Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission, and affordable housing financing agencies. Reorganized and rebuilt management team following prior organizational dysfunction and led response to State budget crisis, gubernatorial recall and debt management. Served as principal liaison to Silicon Valley, labor, local government, public safety and environmental interests. Also served as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager for Stanford classmate Steve Westly, winning what was then the closest statewide election in California in over 100 years. Resigned after serving as Vice Chair and candidate surrogate for an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign. Show less

I was hired as CEO following the near-bankruptcy of the organization under prior leadership. We became the first United Way to achieve over half of its contributions online, only to become mired in the Silicon Valley recession of early 2001. Even so, we raised over $1 million in response to the Sept. 11th attacks to support first responders both in New York and locally.In addition, during my tenure, the Board adopted a non-discrimination policy that all funded agencies and partners… Show more I was hired as CEO following the near-bankruptcy of the organization under prior leadership. We became the first United Way to achieve over half of its contributions online, only to become mired in the Silicon Valley recession of early 2001. Even so, we raised over $1 million in response to the Sept. 11th attacks to support first responders both in New York and locally.In addition, during my tenure, the Board adopted a non-discrimination policy that all funded agencies and partners were required to sign. The local Boy Scouts Council was unable to sign that statement given national Boy Scout policies at that time, so we were no longer able to fund the local Boy Scouts. I was recognized by BAYMEC as a "Hero" for my leadership on non-discrimination.Following my professional relocation to Sacramento, I joined the Board of that United Way and was honored as the State Campaign's volunteer leader of the year. Show less

Chief Executive Officer for medium-size city at the Crossroads of Silicon Valley. Directly supervised Police, Fire, Public Works, Planning, Parks & Recreation, Finance and other administrative functions. Rebuilt and reorganized management team following prior City Council initiated separations and resulting litigation. Milpitas was the first Silicon Valley city to adopt a voter-approved urban growth boundary and the first city anywhere to issue a building permit online.

Responsible for Planning, Zoning, Building, Economic Development, Housing and Technology, earning national recognition for technology leadership with state of the art geographic information system, visualization tools and high bandwidth networking. Coordinated unanimous approval of a 9,000 acre master plan resulting in the designation of over 3,000 acres as permanently preserved open space, including the McDowell Mountains and the upper Sonoran desert. Also initiated a General Plan update… Show more Responsible for Planning, Zoning, Building, Economic Development, Housing and Technology, earning national recognition for technology leadership with state of the art geographic information system, visualization tools and high bandwidth networking. Coordinated unanimous approval of a 9,000 acre master plan resulting in the designation of over 3,000 acres as permanently preserved open space, including the McDowell Mountains and the upper Sonoran desert. Also initiated a General Plan update based on broad based civic engagement as well as Downtown riverfront development. Show less

As Deputy City Manager, responsible for oversight of international airport, technology and telecommunications, strategic planning, organizational development, management analysis and environmental services. Created and led largest non-sworn department in the city consiting of all environmental related services including solid waste, water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater runoff, energy conservation, toxics and hazardous materials.

Created Budget & Policy Director position following voter approval of charter ballot measure. Served as Chief of Staff for one year during predecessor's leave.

Consulted on or managed a number of campaigns, including:1982 - LA Mayor Tom Bradley's first run for Governor1983 - Lt. Governor Leo McCarthy1984 - Campaign Manager for Congressman Norm Mineta1986 - Campaign Manager for Mayor Tom McEneryChair of State Democratic Party Campaign ServicesNumerous local and ballot measure racesWon 85% of all campaigns managed