My Professional Background

Like many of you, my first job was a paper route. “It builds character,” my father said. “Look honey, our paperboy is a girl,” people would say as I collected the monthly bill, while I was in middle school. I started working as a county Park Aide and Lifeguard while I was in high school, eventually moving up to a Police Service Aide for a small-town police department. At the age of 21, I became a Police Officer, and for a long time, the only female in the department. I worked almost every assignment: patrol, crime prevention, several years-long assignments as an undercover narcotics officer/detective, and as a homicide detective.

I put myself through both college and law school at night, while working both full-time and extra jobs to pay the tuition. During this time, I served six years on a homeowner’s board and six years on a Police Advisory and Review Board in my community. After almost ten years as a Police Officer, I became a Deputy District Attorney, eventually the lead attorney for sexual assault and child abuse crimes. During this time, I received several awards for exceptional service. After more than ten years of service, I took a position at the San Francisco Police Department as an attorney, in the internal affairs division. I was promoted to Supervising Attorney, where I handled the most serious and sensitive matters. In recent years, I have run my own small business, advising small and large city/county governments, handling conflict matters, and handling matters involving employee discipline and termination cases. I have also represented employees and high-ranking officials in similar matters.

In the many years I have lived in Lake Tahoe, I have advised and legally represented a number of local residents and businesses, pro-bono, never taking a dollar. I have a long history of working hard; working for, working against, and working with local government. I have a strong background in managing governmental affairs, investigating misconduct, working with community groups and solving local problems. I intend to bring that to use in the City Council position.