Primary Election Date: 06/08/2010
General Election Date: 11/04/2010

Who Am I?

I am a native Californian, raised in a traditional Italian-American family. I graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a degree in Humanities and enjoyed a career in domestic and international marketing with the Walt Disney Travel Company. I have been married to my husband, David, for 30 years and have two grown children, Michael and Maria.
I was elected to the Cardiff School Board and have also served as president of several non-profit organizations. In 2008, I served as San Diego County Democratic Party Vice-Chair.

For over 20 years, I have been recognized as a leader in my community and have received awards for leadership:
In 2008 San Diego Biz magazine recognized me as one of the most influential business women in San Diego.
The National Women's Political Caucus awarded me their “Rising Star” award.
In 2009, Governor Dr. Howard Dean presented me with the Red to Blue Award at the California State Democratic Party Convention for my efforts to change San Diego County from red to blue, and the 50th District from a solid Republican District to a swing District.
San Diego Magazine included me as one of the "50 People to Watch in 2010” because they see me as the favorite to win in this race.

My grassroots campaign for Congress in 2004 against Randy “Duke” Cunningham started the momentum for change for Democrats in San Diego County. In 2006, I faced three brutal elections in 6 months against the full force of the Rove attack machine and nearly won in a district where I faced a 14% voter registration disadvantage. My campaigns helped ignite the fervor for change that resulted in the new Democratic majority in Congress in November 2006.

Until recently, I published my newsletter “The Buzz” to keep Democrats inspired, informed and involved. I continue to work tirelessly to raise funds, to support and elect a record number of Democratic candidates and to help keep San Diego County blue!

Why Am I Running?

I am running to increase recognition and economic growth in the the 50th District which is home to one of the highest concentrations of high tech, bio tech and green tech innovation in the world and to deliver the vision and values that voters demanded when they resoundingly voted to elect Obama for President in the 50th District. I have worked hard to change the dynamics of the district want to continue the our momentum for progressive change. Since my first run for Congress, much has changed. The Republican advantage has been cut in half. The incumbent won with only 50% of the vote in 2008. Democrats have built a solid infrastructure with over 500 trained precinct leaders in the District. Now it's time to deliver in 2010.

My goal is to be a stronger voice for my District to increase good paying jobs, foster enterprise and boost small business. I will also be on the front lines in Congress to deliver affordable health care, quality education and locally produced and distributed renewable energy to all Americans. I will partner with civic, business, education, health care, non-profit, environmental, and labor leaders to identify challenges, find solutions, and get the job done. In Congress I will collaborate with my colleagues to serve hardworking taxpayers who desperately need our leaders to work together to solve problems that we face as a nation and put consumer interests before powerful corporate interests.

Hold Me Accountable!

Jobs and Economic Growth

Creating good paying jobs to sustain our economic recovery is a top priority. I will work to increase jobs that provide fair wages, safe working conditions and benefits that allow all workers to work and live with dignity. I will support incentives to increase our manufacturing base and to replace those that have been lost in the private and public sectors. In my district increased investment in research and development, tax credits, small business loans, grants and incentives will increase innovative high tech, bio tech and green tech enterprises that will strengthen our economy locally and improve lives globally.

To avoid the abuses that led to the financial meltdown and ensuing crisis in home foreclosures, loss of wealth, diminished credit and loss of jobs and restore trust in our financial institutions, ,must implement sensible safeguards to protect consumers and hold financial institutions accountable for losses due to taking reckless risks.

Health Care

I am fully committed to continuing the process of providing affordable, quality health care to all Americans. Our current health care system is economically unsustainable and morally unacceptable. I will work with health care providers and experts to craft a sensible and affordable health care plan that emphasizes wellness, quality care and cost efficiency. I support a vigorous public option to increase competition, lower costs, and offer a reliable alternative to those who are have been denied coverage or are not eligible for employer-based health care plans. Health care and health insurance and reform are critical to the well-being of American families.

Clean Renewable Energy and Environmental Protection

I strongly support incentives to develop clean energy sources including solar, wind and third generation biomass such as energy from algae in ways that are environmentally sound and financially feasible. Clean renewable energy is our path to energy independence, national security, sustained economic growth and responsible environmental stewardship. Conservation and recycling of water and waste are the most effective and affordable means of decreasing pollution and preserving our natural resources. I oppose drilling off the California coast. My goal is to balance environmental protection and conservation with the needs of commerce and residents. I supported the American Climate and Energy Security Act of 2009 (ACES) as the first step toward comprehensive national climate and energy policies.

My DFA values:

I have been a friend, supporter and partner to DFA since it began in 2004. I appear regularly as a speaker and guest at our local meetings. I participated as a speaker at DEMfest in 2006 in San Diego where Governor Dean rallied DFA supporters to work on my campaign. I promoted DFA in my newsletter “The Buzz” to increase membership and visibility. In 2006, I received the most votes for the national DFA endorsement.

When Governor Dean was promoting his “50 States” plan, I took my campaign to the streets of the 50th District to put his message into action. I fought the fight in a Red district that had been ignored and dismissed. For this effort, I was recognized by the Red to Blue Organization in California and presented with an award by Governor Dean at the 2009 California State Democratic Convention.

I support health care for all, workers rights to organize, fair wages, quality public education, equal rights, civil rights and human rights including a woman's right to choose and marriage equality. I believe that government must provide education, training and support networks including childcare, public transportation and neighborhood safety to increase opportunities for all Americans.

Our energy policies must promote the use of clean renewable energy that is locally produced and distributed as well as the use of efficient electric vehicles and other technologies that reduce pollution. Our environmental policies must balance responsible growth and development with protection of our air, water and land.

Congress must be fiscally responsible while assuring the solvency of social security, Medicare and Medicaid. Congress must take their responsibility seriously to increase oversight, efficiency, transparency and accountability. We must reduce the our national debt and stop deficit spending by cutting massive corporate subsidies, no-bid contracts and tax loopholes. We need to end our military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq and transition to sustainable stability in the region by continuing to support diplomatic, humanitarian and economic development in the region.

I would be honored to have the endorsement and support of DFA as I gear up my campaign to bring a progressive voice to Congress from California's 50th District.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

My campaign will again depend on an energetic army of grassroots volunteers from my broad base of over 10,000 supporters who, combined with San Diego County Democratic Party's “GO Team”(Grassroots Organizers) members, will strategically target Democratic voters and our Decline to State (independents) voters who make up nearly 25% of the district and will likely determine the outcome of the election.

I have organized thousands of grassroots volunteers in previous campaigns and understand that grassroots organization is the key to voter turnout and winning elections. I have been a leader in building a grassroots organization (GO Team) that grew to over 500 precinct leaders in the 50th district for the 2008 election. I have been and, will continue to be, active in helping to organize voter registration and fundraising efforts to support to increase Democratic registration and turnout.