I was born in Iowa and was raised in Modesto CA from the age of three.  I came to SLO County when I transferred to Cal Poly where I also participated in Army ROTC.  Upon completing Cal Poly, I immediately went to work full time as a National Guard officer where I spent 30 years including the last 8 as a Colonel responsible for all federal funds, equipment, property, and contracting for the California National Guard.  In 2011-2012 I served as the Finance Director for the City of SLO.  Upon leaving that position I became a serial volunteer in Atascadero.  My favorite activity was being a police volunteer responsible for removing grafitti. I also served as a CASA mentor for foster youth, on the board of RISE (North County womens' shelters and countywide sexual assault response), building signs and maintaining trails for ALPS, participating in Rotary including as club president 2017-2018, Adopt a Road trash pickup and many others.  I first moved to Atascadero in 1985 when my wife Melissa began a long career teaching in Atascadero schools and have always loved the surroundings, the small town atmosphere, and the strong volunteer spirit.

I am a moderate.  Always have been and always will be.   I approach all issues ready and willing to take in new information, listen to all sides with an open mind, and consider as many ramifications as possible.

Education and Qualifications: I earned my Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cal Poly, SLO in 1996 and have been employed in this field since. I was appointed to the Atascadero Planning Commission in 2011 and elected Chairperson in 2015 and 2020. I’ve also served on the City’s Design Review Committee and the County’s Regional Transportation Advisory Committee.

California Licensed Architect

Married 29 years, wife Sue

Two children – Amanda 25, CJ 19

Moved to the Central coast in 1991

Earned Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly SLO in 1996

Moved to Atascadero in 2003

Practiced architecture in Atascadero for 17 years

Planning commission 2011 to present (Chairperson 2015 & 2020)

Atascadero City’s Design review Committee 2013 to present

Regional Transit Access Committee 2013 to present

Atascadero Kiwanis Club (President 2015-2016) (Treasurer 2016 to present)

As a Councilmember I will:

Model open and transparent public communication and work cohesively and respectfully with my Council colleagues, city leaders and our residents.

Work with other community leaders to bring jobs and business to Atascadero to further enhance our economy and maintain our infrastructure.  I will work vigorously to see that head of household jobs are brought to our community.  This community’s economic development is vital especially during these difficult times and the future we are facing.

Use my experience as an architect and Planning Commissioner to help guide development in a direction to strengthen the well-being, history and economy of our City.  A well designed and planned city can greatly enhance the efforts towards economic development.

I graduated in May 2020 with my paralegal AA and immediately went to work in a local, busy Family Law practice.  I have been on the Planning Commission in Atascadero for the past year and it had really helped me learn the processes behind building up Atascadero.  I was a board member in AYSO Atascadero from 2013 - 2019 and learned how to recruit volunteers and help organize the largest youth sports organization in Atascadero.  

I am married with two children and I hope to help invest in Atascadero so they can flourish here and hopefully one day raise their own family here on the Central Coast.

I want to bring more diverse voices into the conversation of how to invest in Atascadero.  I support Measure D-20 and I hope to spur a conversation of how to best invest those funds not only in public safety, but recreation, small businesses, and infrastructure.

I hope to bring Community Choice energy to Atascadero as we look to the future and find ways of making our new buildings greener and more efficient, but also keep them affordable.

We need to bring in more affordable housing by looking at our zoning rules as we revise our General Plan next year. 

I want to not only start a conversation, but I look forward to listening to the people of Atascadero about what they need and want in their town.