Candidate for
Board Member; Cabrillo Unified School District

I have 18 years experience in corporate space planning, facilities management, and design. I've helped large firms and institutions to make their operations more efficient and improve their bottom line. I've worked with TRW, Johnson Controls, Lawrence Livermore Labs, DPR Construction and most recently, the Los Angeles Unified School District as a facilities consultant.

I sit on several technical and editorial advisory boards, I write trade articles, and I'm known in my industry.

I'm the only candidate running who has extensive experience in construction. Since we all want to finish our middle school quickly, I think it would be wise for the voters to consider putting someone with my background on the CUSD Board.

My parents were born in Latin America and came to the United States as immigrants. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, but learned english as my second language when I was young. I think my background gives me a unique insight into the educational needs of our hispanic students and their families.

My family and I have lived on the coastside for 12 years. Over the last 8 years I've contributed much of my free time and practical experience to improve our schools. I've served on school site councils, the PTA, school technology committees, and worked with the local cub scout pack. I'm committed to supporting our students and schools.

In 1995 through 1996 I served on our school district's Master Facilities Advisory Committee. Our mandate was to assess the facilites needs of our students, and plan for the future. After reviewing all the information over many months, we came to the conclusion that our students needed a new middle school on a new site. We also suggested that Cunha be converted into an elementary school to relieve overcrowding in the lower grades.

I helped to pass our school construction bond in 1996. One of the reasons I'm running in this election is to make sure that those construction funds are spent wisely, and where they will do the most good. The decisions we make today will affect our students, and the community, for decades to come.

While it's true that our schools are facing many other difficult challenges, we need to spend our construction funds wisely today. We must also continue to manage our other scarce school district resources carefully. If you put me on the CUSD Board, that's what I'll do.