Her Roots are in Orange

Putting Families First

Putting Families First

I credit my parents for influencing me to become the person that I am today. They taught me certain values such as your family is everything, hard work brings its own rewards, honesty in all dealings, do the right thing when people are not watching, and treat all people with dignity and respect. My Mother and Father taught me these values in a very simple manner...by living them. I think that we should expect nothing less from the leaders that we elect to public office.

Growing up in Orange was a great experience.

My father was a member of what many people call the “Greatest Generation.” I am so proud of my father. He was a World War II Veteran and a decorated Army Air Corps officer. He moved our family to Orange in 1964. It was a wonderful time in my life. My friends and I would walk to the Orange Plaza and play at Hart Park. We went to each others homes for overnight stays and family barbeques.

We all attended local public schools. I was proud to be a Banner Girl at Villa Park High School. It was during my High School years that I got my first job as a bakery assistant at Mayfair Grocery Store. I also worked at the concession stand at Orange Drive-in Theater.

My Husband Dave and I have been married for 33 years.

We met at Villa Park High School and have been together ever since. My husband was a City of Orange firefighter and was one of the first paramedics in Orange. Eventually Dave was promoted to Fire Chief of Orange.

We have three wonderful children; Stephanie, 30, a businesswoman, Catherine, 28, a small business owner, and Brandon, 26, an NBC Investigative Reporter at the Hartford Connecticut affiliate.

I have learned many lessons as a small business owner.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and an MBA from California State University, Long Beach. However, the greatest business teacher is experience. I have owned several successful small businesses yet, there is one that I remember the most fondly. For many years we owned the Glassell Street Christmas Tree Farm on Glassell and Taft. Making the farm successful took many days and nights of hard work. Every holiday season it was packed with families searching for just the right tree. We never made much money from the Christmas Tree Farm, but seeing the happy faces of countless children over the years made us feel like we were the richest people in the world.

People ask me “why run for City Council and put yourself up for personal attacks?”

I am running because my Mother and Father taught me to do the right thing. I was encouraged to run by citizens of the City of Orange who feel that they have no voice at City Hall. These people include new families being priced out of home ownership, growing families who feel that bad city planning will lead to a worsening quality of life, and senior citizens who have little or no access to senior services.

I have a simple litmus test for the manner in which I will represent you on the Orange City Council. Will my vote make the quality of life better for all Orange families? Will my vote make your neighborhood safer? Your parks and schools better? Will my vote help our parents and grandparents? This is my political philosophy. I hope that it merits your support and vote.