Candidate Endorsement Information

Susan Ornelas – Candidate for Arcata City Council

Susan Ornelas

1645 Virginia Way

Arcata, CA 95521

Profession – Executive Director, Jacoby Creek Land Trust. Earlier jobs include organic farmer (began Willow Creek Farms); HSU lecturer of Sustainable Agriculture; Schatz Energy research engineer; and consultant to many land development projects. I hold a Masters Degree in International Development Technology, and a bachelor degree in Environmental Resources Engineering.

Other Elected / Appointed Offices Served - I served on the board of the North Coast Growers Association, Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, and the Food Council in the 1990 – early 2000’s. Since being elected to City Council in 2008, I have served as a Chamber of Commerce, Mainstreet and the Sister City project liaison. I also have served on the boards of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority and was chair of the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG).

Reasons I am running for office- I have been successful working with people over the last eight years, and am excited to continue bringing a common sense and positive approach to the many projects in which the City will be involved. I am particularly proud of the accomplishments of affordable housing (Plaza Point, Sandpiper, and Arcata Bay Crossing); as HCAOG chair I guided the Bay Trail and Indianola Overpass forward through the Coastal Commission approval; I led the charge to provide a Public Restroom in Arcata at 8th & F Streets; and as a Council we proposed the High Energy Use tax, which passed by citizen vote and returned neighborhoods for people. I am glad the City Council recently also passed the Medical Marijuana Innovation Zone. While we don’t really know what will happen with cannabis as a product in California, I felt our careful, but timely, approval of this zone will help entrepreneurs.

What have I done for the Community? It began with starting an organic farm in the early 1980’s, and bringing produce to the Coop – I wanted to educate people about the agro-ecosystem, and how people had a role in the ecosystem as stewards. Then I established the Arcata Educational Farm in 1993 (now Bayside Farm) and, taught at HSU - educating 100’s of young people about sustainable agriculture. I consulted on the Potawot Health Village site, assisting them with the establishment of a CSA garden and orchard. Recently, I made an agreement with Food for People to bring them healthy grass-fed beef at a low cost from the Land Trust’s ranch.

I have volunteered for events such as North Country Fair, I Block party, Oyster Festival, and the Fourth of July Jubilee. Currently, in my City Council role I am raising funds for a beautiful mural off Samoa Blvd. – the Marvelous Marbled Murrelet Mural! We are more than three quarters of the way funded!

Relevant Platforms / Issues

Issues I intend to work on, in the City of Arcata, include:

1)Increasing housing opportunities for all income levels, with an eye for sustainability in materials and design;

2)Art in the City – currently working to fund a beautiful mural off Samoa Blvd.;

3)Climate Change preparation;

4)The Arcata Wastewater and Marsh System Upgrade;

5)Encouragement of the Creamery District development;

6)Working with HSU in addressing diversity integration;

7)Maintaining high quality environmental conditions;

8)Working with business owners on economic development;

9)Maintaining excellence in City working conditions.

Media Coverage Plan – I am planning a ‘talker’ about myself, and my campaign, to be mailed to all households in Arcata. I also plan to attend all the debates, and other opportunities for public outreach. I plan to walk ‘door to door’ in some neighborhoods in the City. Buttons! I will make and distribute buttons!

List of Community Supporters – I have not yet developed a list of supporters.

Members of the Campaign Committee – So far I solely have my Campaign Manager, Shannon Gibson, a citizen of Arcata. We are just getting a campaign off the ground.

Type of Financial Support available – I will take personal contributions from constituents.

I intend to win this campaign! I will work actively to be an Arcata City Councilperson!