Hi Rhonda – I see you have left a few questions for me here. I am happy to answer them but just want to let you know that emailing me directly (Angelique@AngeliqueAshby.com) is a much better way to reach me. I don’t check in on the blogs all that often. Not sure if you have visited my website (www.AngeliqueAshby.com) there is a section called ‘My Story’ that details my life to this point. If you haven’t read it maybe when you get a moment you will. There is also a section about my experience and accomplishments that describes some of the things I have done. In 1995, two years after I graduated from Sacramento High School, I had my son Nate. I was a single mom and we lived in low income housing in South Natomas. I used food stamps and subsidized childcare and worked full time while going to school and raising my little boy. Eventually, I made my way through UC Davis and then law school at McGeorge. During that time I worked at FamiliesFirst, a foster youth agency that cares for displaced children. My father, who is now my business partner, has had a distinguished career in the world of children’s services. When we opened our business we did so as an opportunity to build programs for children and families, particularly foster youth. In the end of law school I got married. My husband and I bought our house and within a year or so had my youngest son - Tyus. I talk a lot about the support I have from police officers and firefighters because they are very important, especially at the City governance level, but I have spent much of my life working on programs for children and families. As a consultant I have done many projects with organizations that serve low income families, especially youth. I designed one of the most success parolee reentry programs in the State. It has a very low recidivism rate and is based on the concept of building community around people exiting the prison system. I believe in meeting people where they are at and trying to bridge gaps in service to offer chances to find success. In law school I worked in the Public Defender’s Office and worked the homeless calendar by meeting with folks at Loaves & Fishes once a month, taking care of their legal concerns and representing them in court. It was an amazing experience and I learned a lot about homeless issues in Sacramento. In the schools I have done many things like volunteer one day a week after school for an entire year to help start a performing arts class. Last year I worked on a leadership team with a few other parents to take kids from Natomas Middle School to Washington DC. We raised enough money to take kids regardless of cost or ability to pay. I have helped bring anti gun violence programs to Natomas Middle as well as sponsor the Natomas Jr Nighthawks football and cheer program with scholarships. I helped underwrite an entire traveling baseball team so that kids could play regardless of ability to pay. Volunteering for the schools, youth sports, foster youth and homeless youth have been a part of my life since I was 12 years old and acted as the youth advisor on the board that established the California Runaway Hotline. Later at age 15, I was the youngest counselor to ever work for the hotline. In this campaign I established a youth advisory committee for seniors in high school to have a voice and an opportunity to experience a local election. The students on the committee are very involved and have been tremendous reminders to me of why I want to help this City. By the way, I am the only candidate with a youth advisory committee. We worked with Inderkum High School PTSA to help them raise money for Safe & Sober grad night and have found many ways to partner with parents involved at every grade level in Natomas. This community needs to do more for our youth and I do not mean opening centers – I mean providing programs and opportunities. You asked me about who I am listening to. The answer is anyone who has something to say. Last week I attended a Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood Association meeting where they told the candidates about specific concerns in their community (gang violence, graffiti, clean parks, access to a medical clinic, etc.). The incumbent did not even attend. In North Natomas the communities are concerned about their schools and public safety (fire, police and flood protection). My point is that the community members know which issues need to be addressed in their neighborhoods. It is my job to listen to them and then advocate on their behalf. That is what I think a good leader does. As for Kevin, he is his own person. I do have some volunteers on my campaign who worked with him and many who did not. I meant what I said about working with the mayor – I am looking forward to the chance to work with anyone and everyone willing to fight for Sacramento’s future – that includes you. Thank you for asking me the questions, I appreciate the opportunity to answer.

eja032 - Thank you for the words of support. I have absolutely made a pact with Sacramento Police and Firefighters and with the families of District 1 - I have made a promise that as their elected official I will work every day finding cost effective solutions to address the needs of this City. We are currently one of the most dangerous cities in the State, behind only Stockton and Oakland. That means statistically it is safer in Los Angeles than it is in Sacramento. That is not a title to be proud of and it is certainly one I feel should be addressed. In addition to the crime, Natomas has been built in a flood plain, now decertified and lacking any reasonable protections to the families who were told it was safe to live there. Portions of Natomas on the west side of I-5 are outside of national maximum standards for fire and emergency response times. These are the issues that have called me to action. I have done many things as a leader in the community to find solutions, like creating the volunteer run Police & Community Resource Center (which served over 1500 people in the first year it was open) or building on-line email networks that connect neighbors via cyberspace (which we call "virtual" neighborhood watch). I also took the lead on fighting for the new fire-station, which will be built and equipped entirely by developer fees already collected. I have built partnerships with the schools, chamber of commerce and community associations that have become the foundation of communication and collaborative effort throughout the district. I am a small business owner and a mother of two children. My husband and I chose this area as our home because we wanted to build a life for our family in a vibrant up and coming community. The vision of Natomas has not been implemented and instead it is full of broken promises, half built structures, roads and neighborhoods that don't connect and empty space where businesses, schools and parks were expected to flourish. It will be difficult now, in the current budget, to address these issues - including the much needed levee improvements. Like everyone else, I am disappointed that we are in this situation. We can't change the decisions of the past, but we can look to the future and work very hard to change our prognosis. I look forward to the opportunity and am grateful for your support. If you would like to learn more about this campaign or about the more than 250 community members who have joined the police and firefighters in endorsing me - please visit my website at www.AngeliqueAshby.com. Kathleen, thank you for writing this story it was a pleasure meeting you.