Candidate for
Commissioner; Santa Cruz County Port District

My 32 years of public service in Santa Cruz County have provided the experience needed to responsibly serve the Port District. Ultimately, however, my qualifications owe just as much to personal history. I was born, raised, and educated here in Santa Cruz, and I've been a boat owner and a harbor user for over 30 years. My sense of connection to Santa Cruz community and the Small Craft Harbor runs deep.

My goal is to serve the Port District to the best of my abilities. The greatest contribution I can make is to use my skills to their full potential. My history of management with the County and my years of experience with local, state and federal agencies represent the core of experience I will bring to the office of Commissioner.

I am the only challenger for this office who has attended and participated in Port District Commission meetings over the past two years, thereby gaining firsthand knowledge of the District's budgetary process and the daily harbor operations. As a member of the Friends of the Harbor Group (FHOG) I have worked closely with its directors to respond to regulatory agency concerns during dredging operations. At California Coastal Commission hearings, my comments have been recorded in support of the Port District's efforts to secure ecologically sound dredging permits.

I believe in the need to maintain harbor infrastructure at manageable cost, while making every effort to ensure its future viability. This will require a collaborative effort by the District, the City, the agencies serving the harbor, and the surrounding communities. I have the ability to help the Port District set realistic goals and plan appropriately for the future.

The economic and ecological health of our gateway to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary is of the greatest importance to everyone in the region. Responsible stewardship is our duty for the present and for generations to follow. I am committed to the duties and responsibilities of this position. Humbly and sincerely, I now ask for your vote November 7, 2006.

Respectfully;

Dennis L. Smith