Personal

Married with one son, two stepsons, and one granddaughter. Grew up in poverty and abuse and am determined to work toward ending it for others. First generation in the family to graduate from high school. Dedicated to establishing nutrition, housing, healthcare, and education as basic human rights. Dedicated to re-establishing the separation of church and state and believe that freedom of religion should include freedom from religion (if one so desires) in a true secular state-otherwise the nominally secular state becomes a de facto theocracy.

Political

While a high school student worked on a campaign (on local level) for the first time as a volunteer for John Kennedy in 1960.

Ran for city council in Portales, New Mexico, in 2002 and 2006.

Co-founder of Friends for Democracy in 2004, a Portales organization dedicated to restoration and preservation of constitutional rights.

In March 2005 defeated a 14-year incumbent to become county chairperson on the promise to reinvigorate the Democratic Party in Roosevelt County through dedication, innovation, and old fashioned hard work.

Believer in executive responsibility as a reasonable balance of leadership and administrative ability, a combination of moving things forward and making things work.

Community Involvement

Two years on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Roosevelt and Curry Counties.

Five years as a volunteer in the Roosevelt County Teen Court program. Train student "attorneys," supervise jury deliberations, and occasionally serve as judge. Wrote instructional material on defendant's rights in teen court and the relevance of constitutional rights in the process, this material still in use.

Member of the Kiwanis Club of Portales. Past president and in second consecutive term as district lieutenant governor. Responsible for Kiwanis clubs from Tucumcari to Hobbs.

Exalted Ruler-Elect of the Clovis-Portales Elks Lodge (B.P.O.E. 1244).

Co-founder and officer of five 501 (c) (3) corporations in two states. Wrote articles of incorporation and by-laws and successfully completed all state and federal applications for tax-exempt status.

Professional

Adjunct faculty at Eastern New Mexico University.

News Director for regional public radio (KENW/KMTH-FM covering most of eastern New Mexico and West Texas), NPR and PRI affiliate.

Wrote a weekly column called "Just Lookin' Around" which appeared each Sunday in the Portales News-Tribune 2003-06

Highly experienced in copywriting, announcing, and public speaking.

Author of 15 produced plays and experienced professional actor.

Biographee in Who's Who in America Millenium Edition.

Education

Completed a four-year distance learning program at Blackstone School of Law, earning LL.B. degree.

A.A., Los Angeles City College.

B.A. and M.A.; California State University, Los Angeles, in theatre arts with a minor in creative writing (English department).

Ph.D., University of Utah, in theatre (playwriting emphasis).