Candidates

While academic qualifications and experience are key in selecting someone for public service, we also believe that a person’s core values, trust in our fellow community members and a strong moral compass, may be even more important. We individually and collectively ask for your vote.

Meredith Blain

Meredith Blain asks for your vote

I am Meredith Blain, a candidate for the SCPOA Board of Directors and I ask for your support and vote as well as your vote for my fellow candidates, Melissa Stever, Karen Paul and David Dudley. In 2017, my husband, David, and I bought our home in Swansboro and we love it here!  David served on the SCPOA board and held the position of Treasurer.  Until recently, I had no interest in serving on the SCPOA board.  What changed for me was the realization that the things that attracted us to Swansboro are at great risk of changing! My platform for running for a position on the SCPOA Board is simple: Maintain the roads and common areas and keep the annual dues as low as possible. More amenities mean more expenses. Controversial projects cause costly legal fees and division within the community. I currently serve as a volunteer for the Mosquito Fire Protection District. I am responsible for administering FEMA grants, which includes preparation of grants and seeking reimbursable expenses. Also, my background in government contracting allows me to help with the procurement of goods and services and provide guidance with updating the department’s purchasing policies. I have served as a member on many boards and enjoyed the work.  I have a degree in business management with 20 years of experience in finance, policy, facilities maintenance, and management. I promise to welcome all members of SCPOA to bring issues to the Board and will listen carefully to our members. Closed meetings will be reserved only for confidential matters.

Past experience includes:

Board Secretary, San Francisco Golden Gate Jeepers. I was 16!  Prepared meeting minutes and updated directories.

  • Site Council, Washington Elementary School, San Leandro. Member at large, focusing on Title 9 expenditures.
  • Board Director, Orinda Park and Recreation Foundation. Member at large, supporting recreational youth sports.
  • Softball Commissioner, Orinda Park and Recreation. Six years supporting girls’ athletics.
  • Board Member, Educational Foundation of Orinda. Fundraising campaigns and event coordination.
  • Board Member, Secretary, Miramonte Boosters Club, Orinda. Fundraising and coordination of spending for high school sport programs.
  • Homework Club, Tenderloin After School Program, San Francisco. Connecting local professionals with neighborhood kids to mentor, tutor and provide help with homework.
  • Board Member, El Dorado Home Wine Makers Club.  Past Secretary, Vice President.  Currently serving as the Past President, Harvest and Activities Coordinator.
  • Board member, President, The District Auxiliary, also known as D’ax. Serving as the fundraising arm of the Mosquito Fire Protection District.

David Dudley

David Dudley asks for your vote

My personal mission as a prospective member of the board of directors of the SCPOA is to sustain the resources of our community and help protect our values and integrity of our area. I am a homeowner in SCPOA community since 11/8/2021. I pledge to be passionate, yet reasonable and thorough in my work on the board and be a fair-minded team payer. I am dedicated to working collaboratively with other board members and other entities in our area. I will strive to maintain public confidence in all endeavors. I believe integrity, unselfish leadership and focused discipline of the board is critical to maintaining and serving our community. I will be ever mindful of the membership fees and be sensitive to the needs of the community as a whole. I promise to be fully engaged in my thinking about our future and be sensitive to the people, their diversity and their needs. I understand the importance of our charitable fund-raising ability to help support our critically needed Mosquito Fire Department without which we would be in an impossible situation of ensuring our community safety. Thank you for your support and vote.

Past Experience:

Volunteer First Responder Mosquito Fire Protection District Support Group.

  • Volunteer, Swansboro/Mosquito Community.
  • Past committee member of the America Cancer Society.
  • Past Senior peer counselor, Fremont City Life Elder Care.
  • Mechanical Technician, Defense Contractor.
  • Retired business owner, property maintenance.

Melissa Stever

Melissa Stever asks for your vote

My Name is Melissa Stever and I’d appreciate your vote so that I can serve your best interests as a SCPOA Board member.  In February of 2018, my husband and I purchased our house in Swansboro Country and retired here in 2019.  We love everyone’s self-sufficient independence and that people are always willing to lend a hand when needed.  We believe in the beauty of its slow pace, lasting friendships, and community events and want very much to maintain all of it.  After our fleeting first year, we discovered the many ways to engage and support the various local organizations, in and around Swansboro.  In the past year, I was elected Treasurer for both the Swansboro Pilots’ Association and the Mosquito Firefighters’ Association (MFA).  I have since worked diligently to create the new District Auxiliary; a non-profit organization created to keep our fire services local.  I am passionate about my volunteer work and will bring the mindset of servant leadership to the new SCPOA Board.  As your Board representative, these are the things that matter most to me:

  • Ensure that issues, discussions, and decisions of the SCPOA Board be completely transparent and provide documentation of individual costs to maintain our infrastructure/assets/liabilities, upon request
  • Operate within our means by focusing first on the stated goals and priorities of SCPOA bylaws
  • Diligently strive to lower our skyrocketing insurance premiums while maintaining quality coverage
  • Maintain and protect the airstrip/runway for our members and emergency aircraft
  • Support our local fire station so we continue to receive the benefits of quick emergency response times and lower fire insurance premiums
  • Implement consistently lower dues that our members can both understand and afford
  • Treat every single member of SCPOA with respect and listen to their concerns and suggestions
  • Improve relationships with all of our valuable local organizations

In my first 15 years of employment, I was the financial officer for my HOA and owned three businesses, so I understand how to work for success.  After receiving my law degree, I worked for 20+ years researching, writing, and litigating for the Public Defender of the County of San Luis Obispo.  My prior work history, as well as my legal education, provides me with the competence to understand the nuances of business activities, accounting principles, insurance requirements, property and contract law, white-collar crime, and the legal ramifications of bad business actions.  I also learned how very important it is to listen empathetically and make a positive difference in the quality and safety of people’s lives.

I believe my experience and desire to serve would make me a valuable Board member and hope you do as well.  I am always happy to discuss the concerns of SCPOA members and would appreciate hearing personally from you.  Please give me a call or contact me through email, anytime. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

(530)363-5617  Melissa@SwansboroCountry.com

Karen Paul

Karin Paul asks for your vote

I am Karen Paul. I am running for the SCPOA board and ask for your vote for myself, Meredith Blain, David Dudley, and Melissa Stever. I am running to ensure that the community is being allowed to provide input to the board and the board is doing what the community wants. I would like to hold more community forums for people to come out and talk to the board to voice concerns or opinions. This is supported in our bylaws, but I do not see it happening currently.  I will make sure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity, no matter what their position is on any issue.

When questions or concerns are raised, I will ensure that answers are given. I do not see the current board doing this. I also want to make sure that all of the decisions by the board are documented and transparent for the community.  This is also an area that I have seen lacking in current decisions by the board.  I also want to ensure that any projects are fully investigated to know the full financial impact prior to the start, which could result in a waste of our dues money.  In the November 2022 finance committee meeting, the board discussed the continuation of more “excess” funds coming from settling past dues accounts and a plan to continue to spend on whatever projects they choose. I question if this is what the community wants and if you agree, please vote for us. Why am I a good candidate? I am new to the community and do not carry any bias toward anyone.

The people whom I have met in the community are unique individuals and all have different backgrounds and experiences and have a lot to give to the community.  I will continue to support our community, and all organizations in it, and look into ways to help the board regardless of the outcome of this election.  Finally, my husband and I moved to this community for our retirement and to be closer to our son, who lives in Sacramento.  We enjoy outdoor activities like gardening, hiking, fishing, and playing with our two dogs.  We have met a lot of neighbors since moving here and I am looking forward to meeting even more.  Please vote for me in this election and bring the board closer to the entire community.  You can reach out to me with any questions at any time by email (Kpaulscpoa@gmail.com ) or phone, at 530-852-1743. I look forward to talking to every member of the community.  Thank you for your time!  Karen Paul

Past experience includes:

  • Almost 40 years of IT management experience with large telecom companies, including financial responsibility for multi-million-dollar projects and company budgets.
  • Experience in making sound financial decisions to ensure that projects stay on budget and complete as they are expected.
  • Experience in risk management and contract negotiation which can benefit the board. I currently have volunteered to be on the welcome packet committee.
  • I volunteered to help with the website to get it up to date and to help make it easier to use. I also volunteered to help with the finance committee to look into what we can do to get liability insurance that we need at a fair price. I volunteer for the MVFA in their activities and the fire station communication committee to support the fire department.