Elected Officials


Deborah Brandon

Board Member, John Sweet Unified School District (Crockett, CA)

Board Member Since December 2014

15 Years in the JSUSD PTA’s 10 as an Officer

Over 25 years in Finance

Currently A Financial Analyst in the Health Care Industry

Active Member in Several Community Organizations

Resident of Crockett, CA

Kate O’Brien

Director, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, Board of Directors (Simi Valley, CA)

First Became a Board Member: December 2000
Current Term of Office: December 2020 – December 2024

 
OCCUPATION: Civil/Structural Engineer. Owner since 1994 of Kate O’Brien, P.E.

 

OTHER AFFILIATIONS (past and present): Community Action of Ventura County; Ventura County Special District Association; Simi Valley Education Foundation; Simi Valley Rotary; Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce; National Association of Women in Construction (Past President); Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce; Menlo Park Arts Commission; Planned Parenthood of San Mateo County Clinic Defender.

INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE BOARD: “I’ve have always been interested in community involvement. The Park District is a good sphere of influence in the community and a place where I can provide effective leadership.”

Scott Kent Fowler

Board Director, Feather River Recreation and Park District (Oroville, CA)

Jonathan Hall

Vice President, Tehachapi Cummings Water District Board Division 2 (Tehachapi, CA)

Jonathan Hall was elected to the Board, short-term in 2006. He ran for a full-term position in 2008 and 2012 and was re-elected. Mr. Hall represents the District as a Board member for the Association of Water Agencies/Joint Powers Insurance Authority. Mr. Hall is a retired software engineer for military defense communications.

John R. Harrington

Mayor (San Gabriel, CA)

John Harrington was elected to the San Gabriel City Council in March of 2011. He holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School. John has over twenty years’ of legal experience specializing in complex financial transactions, municipal law, and public works construction. In addition to being admitted to the California State Bar, he holds a real estate broker’s license and a general contractor’s license.

John graduated from Saint Francis High School in La Canada-Flintridge and has maintained a strong bond with his Alma Mater. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications California State University Northridge.

John and his wife Sonia have two daughters that attend San Gabriel Unified Schools. The Harrington’s value our strong school system and the great family venues in our city. John has been actively involved in many community organizations. He has coached his daughters in PONY baseball, AYSO soccer and in the San Gabriel Girls Fast Pitch Softball league.

John is committed to expanding family venues and experience through community events. He has focused efforts in developing and funding the activities that make living in San Gabriel a memorable experience.

Being a business-friendly city is of utmost importance. He has devoted countless hours to attract quality businesses to San Gabriel. His top priority is to enable the community to pursue additional family-oriented companies and increase quality venues aggressively.

In 2005 along with Eloy Zarate, Senya Lubisich, and Eric Kirchhoff, John helped found the Friends of La Laguna. This non-profit organization was necessary to prevent the City from demolishing the (now) historic La Laguna playground in Vincent Lugo Park. This marked the beginning of John’s political involvement in San Gabriel. He has championed San Gabriel’s place in history. Along with a strong effort from staff, he helped usher in San Gabriel’s award-winning Historic Preservation Ordinance.

John is also the former Vice Chair of the San Gabriel Unified School District Facilities Oversight Committee. The School Board appointed John to this Committee because of his expertise in school construction and development. He accepted this nomination because he believes that our schools are vital to the success of our community.

Active involvement in many issues that directly affect both the City of San Gabriel and the San Gabriel Unified School District is essential to John. He understands the economic value that development can bring to a community while respecting the past, and believes that all development must be responsible and respectful to the community.

Actively bringing the community’s voice and representing their opinion to the elected bodies of the region is vital to John. For example, he serves the San Gabriel Valley on the Metro Service Council, bringing transportation issues to the forefront. He has spearheaded issues such as increased paving, reducing massage parlors, lowering taxes, and making the city more responsive and accountable to the residents.

Brian Holtz

Director, Purissima Hills Water District Board (Los Altos Hills, CA)

Brian Holtz received a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi Honors College (1987), and an M.S. in Software Engineering from the University of Michigan (1990). Since 1990 he has been a software engineer in Silicon Valley, working at Sun Microsystems, Yahoo, Kabam, and Walmart. He has been principal inventor on seven software patents, three involving computer security. As secretary of the 2008 Libertarian Party Platform Committee, he was the primary author of the current generation of the LP platform. He believes that water pricing should reflect its costs and scarcity, and is the best way to achieve water conservation. He believes that PHWD customers should be free to do whatever they want with the water they buy, as long as they impose no nuisance on their neighbors and no problems on PHWD infrastructure.

Brian’s wife Melisse has an MBA from Stanford and works in portfolio planning at Genentech. They moved to Los Altos Hills in 2006 with their three daughters.

Bob Karwin

Mayor Pro Tem (Menifee, CA)

Councilmember Bob Karwin and his wife, Janissa, moved to Menifee from Escondido in 2001. Since then, they have raised two incredible children who have lived their whole lives in Menifee and thrived in the public schools here. By day, Bob is an attorney. In 2006, after working as a trial attorney in Los Angeles for almost ten years, he opened his own office in Menifee and has had the opportunity to represent hundreds of Menifee residents who have had their lives changed by an injury suffered in an auto collision, dog bite, or a dangerous condition on property. Bob ran for City Council because he loves this city and wanted to be a part of its continued success. He is a committed fiscal conservative and vows to make sure the city’s resources are used only for the best interest of its citizens. He is also a big supporter of local law enforcement. He feels It is essential to keep officers fully funded and properly equipped so they can do their job to keep our communities safe. Bob grew up around Boston, Massachusetts and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston College. Yes, he knew Doug Flutie. In 2002, he moved from Boston to San Diego where he later earned a law degree from the University of San Diego.

Along with his professional and political activities, he is an avid guitar player and songwriter. He is also in the process of improving his skills as an off-road Jeep driver.

Working locally has given him the time to serve as a volunteer to the youth in Menifee. Many know him as the “Voice of the Wildcats,” P.A. announcer for Paloma football and girls’ volleyball. He has also coached both boys and girls basketball, baseball/softball, and soccer. Aside from sports, he has volunteered as coach and mentor for the Paloma Valley High School Mock Trial Team. From 2015 until his election to City Council in 2020, he served on Menifee’s Planning Commission, with three consecutive years as Chairman. District 1 is a unique community that includes one of America’s first 55+ developments. Bob’s wife’s parents have lived in “the Core” for over ten years and have always kept him in touch with the people and issues of the original Sun City. He feels it is an honor to serve this historic neighborhood.

Ryan E. Kelly

Imperial County Board of Supervisors, District 4 (Imperial County, CA)

Ryan E. Kelley was elected to represent District #4 (Brawley, Bombay Beach, Calipatria, Desert Shores, Niland, Salton City, Salton Sea Beach, Vista Del Mar, and Westmorland) in 2012. He is a lifelong and third generation resident of Imperial Valley. His civic commitment began as an Eagle Scout with Troop 22, Boy Scouts of America, and continued as Exalted Ruler of the Brawley Elk’s Lodge #1420. It was his desire to make a positive change that prompted him to become involved in local government; and today, he strives to make decisions that benefit our communities.

As an Imperial County and Brawley Firefighter, he fought fires across Imperial County. As a Paramedic, he treated and cared for patients from Bombay Beach to Salton City. As an Imperial Valley College Instructor, he taught fire science and emergency medical services to the next generation of firefighters and EMTs. As the Imperial County Emergency Medical Services Administrator, he developed and enhanced the Emergency Medical Services system and capabilities.

Beyond attending Brawley Union High School, Ryan holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Long Beach State University and an Associate’s of Science degree from Miramar College, as well as, a Paramedic Certificate from Imperial Valley College. Education and educational opportunities are important to Ryan, as he wants to build upon the options available to our youth.

Supervisor Ryan E. Kelley lives in Brawley with his wife Robyn, their daughter, Bridget and son, Conor.

Scott Mandell

President, Studio City Neighborhood Council (Los Angeles, CA)

Nils Nehrenheim

City Council Member, Redondo Beach City Council, District 1 (Redondo Beach, CA)

Redondo Beach District 1 Council Member Nils Nehrenheim was sworn into office on June 6, 2017 for his first term, and re-elected in March for a second term through March of 2025. Nehrenheim’s public activism within community groups he both founded and participated in, focusing on land-use, resonates resoundingly with the voting Redondo Beach majority. As an activist, Nehrenheim co-wrote a citizen’s initiative for zoning in King Harbor, Redondo Beach, that qualified as a ballot measure and won by an overwhelming margin in March 2017. That measure was certified by the California Coastal Commission, without any changes, a first in California history! True to his word, Nehrenheim continues to bring change and much-needed reform as an elected official. He has staunchly advocated for increased transparency within City government across all disciplines, including but not limited to financial, managerial and process improvement. And most notably, he has successfully defended a personal lawsuit inflicted by developer-funded, court labeled “shills,” setting California election law precedence. That he runs an Internet-host company and is a County Lifeguard adds to his well-rounded expertise and effectiveness in serving his City and constituents.