ABOUT ME
Gina Dawson
I’m running for City Council because I want to protect and share the very qualities of Lafayette that drew my family here 12 years ago – a vibrant, safe community, the great schools, and the natural environment.
Since moving here, I have successfully worked with residents, the City, and whomever I needed to collaborate with, to protect and improve on these very qualities. A seat on City Council will allow me to plan and work to create equitable and welcoming access to Lafayette's amazing quality of life for all people. I will also protect the community's values and natural beauty that makes this city such a great place to live.
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These unprecedented times call for a proven, results-based leader. I believe I am that person. I hope to have your vote in November.
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LIVING IN LAFAYETTE
I love California. I was born and raised on the Peninsula and have lived and worked in a dozen cities up and down this state. After graduating from CSU Chico with a double major in Organizational Communications and Psychology, I spent 12 years working in senior management positions at tech companies ranging from computer manufacturers to a start-up voice activated mobile app developer.
I left tech when my husband and I moved to Sonoma County, did a brief marketing stint at a Napa riverside winery, then worked as Marketing Director for the National Women’s History Project . I am proud to be running for an elected office in this centennial year of women winning the right to vote!
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I moved to Lafayette 12 years ago with my family including my amazing husband, Michael, and my high-school aged son and daughter -- each a beaming light of pride and joy. We chose Lafayette for our home because it has a lot to offer – a vibrant community, great schools, a bounteous natural environment (all those beautiful trees). Once here, I dove into volunteering to get to know and love the community, starting with cranking out the weekly newsletter for Burton Valley Elementary to forming a Lafayette Gas Safety Alliance, representing the concerns of residents at a table with the City, PG&E, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
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LEADING IN LAFAYETTE
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Co-founded the volunteer Gas Safety Task Force, resulting in important gas pipeline safety improvements.
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Formed the Lafayette Gas Safety Alliance with residents, PG&E, the CPUC, and the City.
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Presented my plan to form a community gas safety stakeholder alliance at a national pipeline safety conference and to federal officials.
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Co-founded Save Lafayette Trees, an environmental justice non-profit, saving scores of trees from destruction.
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Founding Board Member of the Lafayette Hillside Memorial (formerly "Crosses of Lafayette").
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Co-created the Lafayette Farmers Market, a community project with Sustainable Lafayette.
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Founding member of Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE) and Co-chair of Communications.
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Planned and implemented communications campaign to transition LASF to LPIE.
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Led the Lafayette-opoly fundraising campaign, LPIE's first successful fundraising project.
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Created Burton Valley Bobcat weekly email communications.
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Volunteered in Burton Valley classrooms.
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Gina Dawson, Lafayette CA - candidate for Lafayette City Council