Candidate for
Superior Court Judge; County of Orange; Office 22

I was born in Montebello. California. I am a second generation native Californian. My father, an Army veteran, worked tirelessly as a machinist to support our family. My mother worked as a seamstress. I remember how often it was that my mother could be found at her sewing machine doing piecework to earn extra money. My father worked at night so that we could have a parent at home at all times. From these good people I learned the importance of hard work, American values, and good citizenship. My parents still reside in Brea, where our family moved in 1971.

I attended Sonora High School in La Habra. My maiden name was Tollison. (Classmates-I would love to hear from you.) I began a long history of volunteer work while in high schood working with the local Lion's Club. I lived at home and worked part-time to pay my tuition at Cal State Fullerton. (Go Titans!) My favorite job was at Disneyland. I worked in the parking lot and on Main Street. I was the first member of my family to ever graduate from college. While in college, I studied Public Administration in the Political Science Department. I also had a minor in U.S. History. I still enjoy the study of our country's past. Currently, I am reading a biography of Mary Todd Lincoln by Carl Sandburg that I found in a second hand bookstore. After college, I continued my studies at Cal State Fullerton in their graduate program in Public Administration.

I married in 1976 and had three children, Donny, Danielle and Crystal. Truly, the most rewarding part of my life was the time I had with them when they were young. During this time, I continued to do volunteer work by serving on the board of directors of our children's pre-school. I was President of the Huntington Beach Mom's and Tot's Club. I taught others how to screen the vision of children for the Society to Prevent Blindness and was selected as their volunteer of the year in 1983. I was president of the high school Cheer Boosters Club in support of my oldest daughter, and on the Board of Directors of the Interscholatic Equestian League.

While we are on the topic of volunteer work, I'll just finish the list. I have done volunteer work for the March of Dimes, Volunteers in Parole, and I have worked hand in hand with MADD in bringing to our youth and their parents the important message of safe alcohol free driving. I currently volunteer as a chapter leader for The Compassionate Friends. Also, I am the President of Drive S.A.F.E., a non-profit organization that sponcers safe driving assemblies for teenagers in our Orange County High Schools. I helped enact the new graduated license law that has reduced teenage car fatalities by forty-percent statewide.

In 1984, I started law school part-time at Western State University, College of Law. While in law school, I earned the top grade in eight of the thirteen reuqired subjects. I was consistently on the Honor Roll and I received numerous other academic awards. I was invited to serve two years on Law Review. I also I worked for a law professor, assisting him with his various articles submitted for publication. I was elected Student Bar President. I graduated as number one in my law school class, valedictorian, and magna cum laude. My son told me, "Mom, it is ok if you do not pass the bar, it will just be very embarrassing." I am not sure whom he was concerned about, himself or me... but neither of us had to find out. I passed the bar the first time.

I started out in the practice of law as a sole practioner. I ran my own business, met the overhead and did a variety of types of law. These included real estate, federal forfeiture, adoption and general civil litigation. However, most of the cases I did were family law. I enjoyed this work, but I wanted to return to the area of law that I had loved the most in law school, criminal law. I went to work in the Orange County Public Defenders Office. I am proud of the time that I worked with this dedicated group of lawyers who assist the indigent. I served as an officer and the President of the West Orange County Bar Association during this time period.

In 1995, I was honored to accept a position with the Orange County District Attorney's Office. This is the best job a lawyer can have. A prosecutor has a dual duty to advocate for their client, the People of the State Of California, and to do justice. It is this obligation to do the right thing in all matters that makes the job so rewarding. I have been privileged to put forth my best efforts to protect our streets, schools and communities since becoming a prosecutor. I have prosecuted all types of criminals from vicious gang members to violent robbers and burglars. I have spent thousands of days in the courtroom. I have done hundreds of hearings, motions and trials. I am currently prosecuting major economic crimes and insurance fraud. These cases are complex and require good organizational skills. I have enjoyed this work tremendously.

I am a long time member of the California District Attorney's Association and I am currently on a committee to bring prosecutors and investigators from all over the state fo California together for a four-day fraud conference. I present a regular review of new laws and cases for all of attorneys and paralegals in the Economic Crimes Unit. I do community outreach on the basics of Workers' Compensation fraud law for both civil lawyers and others that may encounter a fraud during thier work.