A lifetime of advocacy

During my 29 year career as a California State Park Superintendent, I developed management skills and created statewide community involvement programs. As president of the Cleveland National Forest Foundation for 25 years, I have worked to preserve open space and protect wilderness areas. The Foundation helped to change state laws that will reduce pollution and build healthier communities. I’ve also served on the Board of Heartland Human Relations and continue to work with community organizations to protect human rights. My past experience also includes being a supervising State Peace Officer for 22 years, an instructor for Community Policing, as well as a consultant for cultural diversity, youth leadership, and community involvement.

For the city of La Mesa, I served on the Wellness Committee to improve nutrition for our youth. I recently advocated for the establishment of the City's Citizen Task Force on Homelessness and served on the Citizen Public Safety Oversight Task Force.

I grew up in Los Angeles then attended Humboldt State University to obtain a BS in Wildlife Management with an emphasis in recreation. Nine years ago I established the annual Yosemite Pilgrimage, which gives recognition to the contributions of Chinese Americans and others whose stories are not well known in the history of the Sierra Nevada mountains. In my free time, I like to hike, backpack, go bird watching, and bake bread.

I have lived in La Mesa for 35 years and raised three children. For 40 years I’ve been married to Mary Ellen Shu, a former clinical social worker who works for the La Mesa Spring Valley School District. My two daughters and son all attended La Mesa Dale Elementary, La Mesa Middle School (now La Mesa Arts Academy). All three graduated from Helix High School as valedictorians. Together with my daughter-in-law, all of them now have graduate degrees and careers.