A year ago I had the opportunity to meet Santa Clara County District One Supervisor Mike Wasserman.  The circumstance that entailed that meeting was deeply emotional.   My sister and I were receiving a plaque by the county that declared November to be National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month.  Mike was the presenter.  My oldest brother had been diagnosed just a few months earlier in July 2011 and we knew his illness was terminal.  (Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of nearly all cancers.  Since that time my brother passed away in November 2011.  It was the saddest day of my life.)  

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Out of that time came my acquaintance with Mike.   I stayed in touch with him and grew interested in local politics including an effort to help the homeless in our area based on information I received from his office.  You can read a little bit about what I do for Destination Home here.  

The more I learned about the homeless and our local government the more my interest increased.  I asked Mike if I could shadow him for a day as part of a photo essay.  It was a great opportunity to capture a slice of time in his hectic schedule.  In the process I learned a TON about our county government.   To learn more click on this link to his website.  Check upcoming events, join his mailing list and volunteer your time.  If you have a child in high school or college, perhaps they can even become an intern.  

By the way, one of the facts that Mike told the group of third grade students is that the population of Santa Clara County (1.9million) is larger than that of 14 different states.   No wonder traffic on 101 is crazy.   So check out the photos and learn more on Wasserman's website.  Get involved in your local government.  AND GET OUT AND VOTE this November!

7:30 am - meet daughter to get monthly haircut

9:00 am - address students at local elementary school about local government

9:45 am - meet with County fire chief

10:30 am - return to county offices

10:45 am - staff meeting

11:15 am - land use meeting

11:30 am - Stanford Trails proposal

12:00 pm - non profit meeting

12:45 pm - lunch break if county cafeteria

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