Bridge the Divide! Vote Independent (No Party Preference)! Vote Stein!

I’m running for Congress as an Independent so that I can look myself in the mirror and know that I tried to do my little part to fix America, to bridge our country’s partisan divide, the divide between politicians who have lost touch with us and who no longer talk sense to each other, nor to us, the divide between left and right, the divide between Democrats and Republicans, the divide between red and blue, to bridge the divide that is slowly, surely eating away at our country.

Let’s work together to change America’s trajectory. But let’s also recognize that we are part of the problem. Repeatedly, we vote for the same two billionaire-financed parties and their I’ll-do-anything-to-get-elected candidates. I am offering you an opportunity to change that!

One (of many) ways we can start healing our country is to elect Independents (called, “No Party Preference” in California). Independents who will look out for you and me more than for the special interests, will look out for us more than they look out for their parties and the big money players who finance them. Right now, there’s 535 people in Congress, but only one (or two depending on how you count them) Independents and they’re not in the House of Representatives. That’s no way to bridge the partisan divide in a nation I fundamentally believe is overflowing with reasonable citizens.

I pledge to you that I’ll work with all, for you and us, but remain staunchly Independent. If I don’t, throw me out of office.

Who better to stand up for “we the people” of Silicon Valley, “we the people” of the Coastside, “we the people” of America, than me? One of the best things I’ve got going for you is that my life doesn’t depend on me getting elected. Yes, I 100% want you to vote for me. Yes, I 100% want to win to do my little part to fix America. But, if I lose the election, I will do just fine. After all, I am lucky enough to live near the ocean. This means, I don’t have to kowtow to any party or special interest group.

I know Silicon Valley very well, while still having a lot to learn too! I’ve spent 25+ years as a lawyer in Silicon Valley representing employees, entrepreneurs and executives (and lots of others) to make sure they don’t get taken advantage of. I’ve even written a book on the subject called, “Negotiate Like a CEO: How to Get Ahead With Lessons Learned From Top Entrepreneurs and Executives.” You can get it on Amazon (any profits I earn from the book during the campaign will be donated to charity). I’ve spent a career negotiating, a career fighting for individuals, a career compromising, and yes, sometimes conceding for the greater good. In a healthy democracy, negotiating and compromise are necessary. In the old days, there was even a Senator knows as, “The Great Compromiser.”

I also spent 5+ years as a Board member of Coastside Hope, one of San Mateo County’s eight core public service agencies, a non-profit providing food, rental assistance, support to the neighbors in my community. Neighbors helping neighbors.

When I’m not caring for people, I care for our environment. I’ve dug up lots of invasive plants over the years for Coastside Land Trust (the Coastside’s version of the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)), an organization I’ve supported for years.

I have a Stanford law degree. I know the statistics. I know it’s hard to win as an Independent. In fact, it’s basically impossible for me to win unless somehow I can get you to think outside the proverbial box, to consider an underfunded, outmanned, sort-of-ugly candidate more than a candidate of one of the two established parties. But I’m trying.

How often do I hear, “something needs to be done?” I’m running as an Independent because that’s what we need, no matter how hard the road.

I can’t fix our country all by myself and I won’t tell you otherwise. I am the beginning, not the end. To fix our nation’s divide, it will take many Independents getting elected, it will take many changes to our laws and ultimately it will take “we the people” engaging more, voting more, working more consistently to bridge the divides in our communities.

We in Silicon Valley are leaders. We are early adopters. This election, let’s start bridging the divide. Vote Independent (No Party Preference). Vote Stein in the June 2, 2026 primary. Thank you.