Debbie's judgment is built on a public-service career that spans local, regional and state government.
Groundbreaking of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a project Debbie helped advance as a California State Coastal Conservancy project manager.
Prior to retiring at the end of 2021, Debbie worked for more than 20 years at the California State Coastal Conservancy, a department of the California Natural Resources Agency. She managed a variety of coastal public access, restoration and land acquisition grant projects, while also serving as the agency's legislative analyst and liaison to the Assembly, Senate and Department of Finance — tracking legislation, preparing bill analyses, and meeting with legislators and committee staff.
She also served four years as an alternate member of the California Coastal Commission for the Central Coast Region, giving her direct experience with state coastal land-use policy and decision-making.
Debbie was a key player in advancing the wildlife crossing at Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills. As a Coastal Conservancy project manager, she managed the grant for the project's initial design and environmental documents, helping move it from concept toward construction. The crossing, now nearing completion over US-101, will reconnect critical habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Debbie served as project manager for the Conservancy's West Coyote Hills acquisition — a grant authorization of more than $10 million to help the City of Fullerton acquire land for open-space protection, wildlife habitat, watershed management and future public access. She prepared and presented the staff recommendation, which the Conservancy Board approved unanimously.
Debbie worked on a major public-access and visitor-improvement project at the park, including new trails, circulation improvements, native landscaping, signage and visitor amenities.
Debbie helped administer a Coastal Conservancy program that trained young people for shoreline conservation, environmental education and stewardship work.
Debbie was the project manager for a youth environmental-education program connecting students with wetlands, marine wildlife and coastal conservation, including visits to the South Bay Salt Ponds and Living Coast Discovery Center.
In addition to serving as Mayor and Council Member, Debbie is a director and former Chair of the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside, and current Chair of OneShoreline, the San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District. She is also a board member of the San Mateo County Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo) and the San Mateo County City and County Association of Governments (CCAG), the county's regional transportation planning board.
Leads regional work on flooding and sea-level-rise resilience for the Coastside.
Represents Half Moon Bay on county governance and regional transportation planning.
Former Chair; has been transparent in her support of consolidating the Coastside's sewer agencies into a single special district.
Served four years as an alternate member for the Central Coast Region.
