Candidate for
Director; Soquel Creek Water District

I was born a second-generation native Californian in San Jose, a small farm community filled with apricot, prune, peach and cherry orchards with beautiful spring blossoms and delicious summer fruit. It was also home to the many canneries that provided seasonal jobs for men, women and students. As the years went by, the orchards were replaced with houses, buildings and roads; and San Jose became an industrial community.

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

I graduated from Bellarmine and the University of Santa Clara with a BS in Philosophy and a JD in Law.

BUSINESS BACKGROUND

Upon graduation from Law School, I was appointed to the faculty and taught for four years, then resigned from my Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean position to enter private law practice in San Jose. The first twenty years were focused on real estate practice, representing contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, title companies, lenders, sellers, buyers, brokers, a redevelopment agency and a city, during a period of rapid growth and development. The last 22+ years, I specialized in family law and lawyer malpractice matters. I was certified as a Family Law Specialists by the California State Bar in 1981, and recertified in 1985, 1991, and 1996. My wife and I moved to Santa Cruz County in 1991 and commuted to work in San Jose until my firm (Vatuone, Meckler & Miller) opened and office in downtown Santa Cruz in 1995. I retired in 1998.

A large part of my career was devoted to the resolution of disputes, acting as an advocate, Judge Pro Tem (Civil and Family Law Courts), a Mediator and Court Appointed Arbitrator. I have held an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for 25 years.

I served on Board of Directors of several non profit corporations including the Santa Clara County Bar Association; I also served as a director of a business corporation, Race Street Fish & Poultry, for more than 25 years.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND

I am registered democrat and have been active in several campaigns of former Senator Alfred Alquist. This is the first time I have ever run for public office.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

My past community services include service as a member of the California State Bar Investigative Committee and a Trial Examiner in State Bar displinary cases against lawyers; as a member of the Board of Trustees, Santa Clara County Bar Association; President of Catholic Social Services, Santa Clara County; member of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the County Bar Association and Chair of it's Fee Mediation and Arbitration Committee and Legal Education Committee; participating panelist in many continuing education of the bar programs; member and Vice Chair of California State Bar Consortium on Lawyer Competence, 1984-1990; Master Bencher (Retired) of Inn XII, American Inns of Court.

I am currently working as a Sheriff's Volunteer at the Aptos Service Center and a Lead Plaintiff in a class action securities fraud case in Federal Court in San Francisco. I am also working with the Bellarmine Alumni in establishing endowments of teachers' salaries and student scholarships.