Message from the Supervisor…….
We are blessed with a remarkable landscape and an exceptional lifestyle here in South Orange County. Our coastal hills, coastal canyons, beaches and unique communities have given us a quality of life second to none - and I know all of us want to preserve and enhance that quality of life in the years to come.
As you may know, I'm originally an east coaster.
Being from Oil City, Pennsylvania, I truly love the outdoors… I grew up hiking and hunting and fishing - not surfing and sailing. I even enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle in Idaho and Alaska while in the USAF. But come to California I did and wound up my business career with Rockwell in Orange County.
It didn't take me long to understand that the "certain something" that either draws us here or keeps us here is directly connected to our coastal setting. We do have a very special gift here in Orange County, and we must assume the stewardship of these unique places and be accountable. I have tried to do that - and I will continue to wear my environmental stripes with great pride!
To do that, I've worked hard to engage the County and the cities in an ongoing campaign to work together to preserve, protect and enhance these natural resources. These efforts include:
We are blessed with a remarkable landscape and an exceptional lifestyle here in South Orange County. Our coastal hills, coastal canyons, beaches and unique communities have given us a quality of life second to none - and I know all of us want to preserve and enhance that quality of life in the years to come.
As you may know, I'm originally an east coaster.
Being from Oil City, Pennsylvania, I truly love the outdoors… I grew up hiking and hunting and fishing - not surfing and sailing. I even enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle in Idaho and Alaska while in the USAF. But come to California I did and wound up my business career with Rockwell in Orange County.
It didn't take me long to understand that the "certain something" that either draws us here or keeps us here is directly connected to our coastal setting. We do have a very special gift here in Orange County, and we must assume the stewardship of these unique places and be accountable. I have tried to do that - and I will continue to wear my environmental stripes with great pride!
To do that, I've worked hard to engage the County and the cities in an ongoing campaign to work together to preserve, protect and enhance these natural resources. These efforts include:
- A comprehensive, integrated approach to restoring and improving our watersheds and wetlands to improve water quality, restore natural systems, and enhance habitat;
- A science-based open-space reserve system designed to protect the wetland and upland habitats and wildlife in South Orange County;
- A collaborative solution to beach issues through the Orange County Coastal Coalition;
- A strong, year-round water quality testing program and a state of the art water quality laboratory to enable local research;
- A pro-active urban runoff agenda, developed jointly with our cities and special districts, to dramatically reduce dry season run-off, clean up nuisance water and clean up our creeks;
- Opposition to double-tracking from San Juan Capistrano through San Clemente; and
- Transportation alternatives which will create options for business and the traveling public.