Service

Voting and Elections

Santa Clara County Citizens Advisory Commission on Elections
Position: Commissioner (Past Chair)
The seven member Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors and the Registrar of Voters with respect to promoting the integrity, efficiency and accuracy of voter registration and election processes, encouraging the widest possible citizen participation in elections, promoting voter education and outreach, and providing information and advice to the Board of Supervisors and Registrar of Voters.

Useful Links

Locate your new California district here
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Men may also be members.
The United States Elections Assistance Commission is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing guidance to meet requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as audits the use of HAVA funds.
Verified Voting, “Safeguarding elections in the digital age.”

Politics

Peninsula Democratic Coalition
Position: President
If you want to get involved politically at the local level, the PDC is a great way to do it. The highly respected Peninsula Democratic Coalition (PDC) is the largest Silicon Valley Democratic Club, with a long history of promoting Democratic candidates and ideals, with members in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Emerge America
Position: National Board Member
Emerge America identifies and trains Democratic women to run for office, get elected and to seek higher office. The number of elected Democratic women is flat or even declining. Emerge America’s role is to serve the 14 states where they currently work, open new state programs and build capacity to train more women in each of their current states.

Some of my favorite political organizations

Emily’s List is dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to national office.
Ignite delivers non-partisan political and civic education programs to young women in high schools and colleges. Their goal is to build a movement of young women across the US who are civically engaged who ultimately pursue elective office.

Philanthropy

Los Altos Community Foundation
Position: Investment Committee member
LACF promotes community building activities in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills that strengthen values; preserve the communities’ physical heritage; enhance community philanthropies; promote positive relationships among community members; create a shared vision of the future; and, promote a culture of giving.

Some of my favorite non-profits

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte/Advocates: Planned Parenthood Mar Monte serves over 250,000 women, men and children every year throughout mid-California and Northern Nevada through medical services, education programs and advocacy initiatives.
Center for Reproductive Rights: The only global legal advocacy organization dedicated to reproductive rights, the Center for Reproductive Rights has worked to advance reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right for the past 20 years through expertise in both U.S. constitutional and international human rights law.
Medical Students for Choice: Dedicated to developing tomorrow’s abortion providers and pro-choice physicians.
Global Fund for Women: The Global Fund for Women plays a leading role in advancing women’s rights by making grants that support and strengthen women’s groups around the world.

Recent Email/Blog Posts

Since 2008, I’ve maintained a “political” email list. Mostly monthly I send an email about events, activities, and actions that can be taken. I sometimes attach reports of events or activities I go to. I try to keep the emails short and you can ask to be removed any time. For more details, click the “Terms & Conditions” link below.