| Job History: |
 | Born and raised in Papua New Guinea (first ten years; born July 19, 1962) to Lutheran Missionary parents. Home-schooled the first three years. Grew up in a rain-forest with the same stone-age people studied by Jared Diamond (then an ornithologist). Jared is a family friend. I later entered the sciences because of Jared and other scientists like him who would visit our remote station.
I have studied Western and non-Western medicine, earning a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University (specialty: limb prosthetics and amputee functionality). I have also informally studied Feldenkrais and Reiki and other energy methods of healing. I graduated Valedictorian from Mira Mesa High School in 1980. My undergrad degree in Engineering is from Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA. After graduate school I suffered through a long period of unemployment as I worked to develop a funded position for myself at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, before moving to La Mesa and teaching math in the Grossmont Union High School District. I began working as an Air Quality Inspector at the Air Pollution Control District, San Diego, in 2001 (current job, which I really like). My experiences substitute teaching and being an environmental regulator really taught me to "think on my feet" in challenging situations. I am committed to affecting change to and through the political process.
California delegate to the Green National Committee (G.N.C.), December 2004 to present. We submit and vote on measures related to party function and advocacy
Member, County Council of the Green Party, San Diego County
Green Party U.S. presidential candidate, 2004 primaries. Running again in the 2008 race. Participated in 12 presidential debates and panel discussions, including at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, January 2004.
Collected signatures, helping to get David Cobb, myself and the Green Party on the ballot in Rhode Island in 2004.
Highlight was the presidential nominating convention in Milwaukee WI. Before the final round of nominating I was one of three remaining presidential candidates. In the second round I "won" all the delegates from Massachusetts. David Cobb received the nomination. Ralph Nader focused on working outside the Green Party. On national television I said the Green Party is not a single-issue party, but if it were, that issue would be Global Climate Change. I am pleased that our governor and others are catching on.
Elected Treasurer of the Green Party County Council, San Diego, 1996-1997
Co-chair of the Communications Committee, Green Party County Council, San Diego, 1996-1997
Registered Green since 1995. Participated in numerous state meetings as a delegate, including nominating Ralph Nader in 1996
Currently member of Environment California and strong advocate of alternative energy legislation.
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| Important Issues: |
| I support the Constitution. I view most historic documents by first trying to understand the intent and then applying that intent to modern-day issues. For example, in the Second Amendment ("the right of the people to keep and bear arms") the real issue is the common law right to self defense, followed by the need to have a “well regulated militia" to help defend others who are like us (i.e. fellow citizens). At some point, with personal arms “big enough” to threaten the security of those around us then personal defense breaks down as a good reason for owning overly powerful weapons. Those who lived centuries ago probably had no idea how powerful the weapons of today would be. My party supports gun control. I support the right to keep and bear arms, but the real issue is “just how powerful should my personal weapons be?” Especially with our government moving toward totalitarianism I would rather have a populace sufficiently armed to fight back. I think a sensible approach would be to encourage or even require all adults to have regulated, controlled access, as part of local “militias” or “community guards” to weapons that are way too powerful for personal, unchecked use [note that this is not “national” service. Our military are abused and misused by corporate interests]. My party also supports “decentralization” and recognizes that real strength lies within community. We need to balance our personal freedoms and fears with community responsibilities. The Constitution is a living document and should ideally be interpreted in how it applies as the times change.
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I am running as a Green for President.