Why I Want to Serve

I was born in Santa Rosa, California, to Warren and Doris Johnsen on the historic evening of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. By the time I was 10, my summers were spent at Clearlake in Kelseyville, where we would rent homes and boats with friends. Several years later, our family bought a house on Lakeport’s Main Street right on the lake, along with our own boat. These summers were divided between Clearlake and our home in Santa Rosa, where I would take a bus to ride my horse and work off my stable fees at Wild Oak Saddle Club.

During high school, I attended Ursuline High School and continued to spend my summers at Clearlake, which became an integral part of my life. Some of my fondest memories include teaching others to water ski, competing in slalom speed water skiing, decorating boats for the Lakeport July 4th boat parade, and enjoying trips across the lake and for picnics at the state park by boat.

For my undergraduate studies, I attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga, where I focused on Science and Communications. I went on to earn my Master of Science degree in 2005, which led me into the field of Five Element Acupuncture—a career I deeply cherished.

In 2010, I felt a calling to work outdoors, which led me to a new path. What began as a side project, inspecting legal cannabis gardens for the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department, quickly became a full-time endeavor. I received extensive training from CalFire, the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Cannabis Task Forces, the State and local Departments of Agriculture, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Eventually, I was recognized as a Subject Matter Expert, providing insights at the State Capitol for our district’s Senators and Assemblyman, Law Enforcement and the Governor’s office.

At the same time, I worked with vineyards and private ranches on environmental compliance, an area that felt close to home as my family were vintners. Over the years, I built successful and positive working relationships across five counties, including Lake County. My collaborations in these counties extended to Board of Supervisors, Building and Planning Department Officials, Code Enforcement Officials, Public Works Officials, Sheriff’s Departments, Air Quality Officials, County Cartographers, Appraisers, Engineers, Surveyors, Assessor Offices, Water Resources Department Officials, UC Extension Leaders, Agricultural Commissioners, and various government agencies. I also worked closely with Rural Counties Rural Cities (RCRC), Senators, Assembly Members, and even the Governor’s Office on matters of environmental compliance and policy.

In December 2023, after many fulfilling years, I retired from Julia Carrera & Associates.

Since retiring, I’ve devoted my time to volunteer work and community involvement in Lake County, remaining active in a range of areas:

• Lake County Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee Member
• Certified Tourism Ambassador
• Western Region Town Hall
• Upper Lake Citizens Patrol
• California State Valley and Blue Oak Working Group (helping draft a Lake County Oak and Oak Woodland Ordinance)
• Upper Lake Community Services District Formation Committee
• Westside Community Horse Park
• Local Planning Area Committee (Upper Lake/Nice area)
• Earth Day Clean-Up
• Coastal Clean-Up
• Central Town Hall
• Eastern Town Hall
• Animal Welfare Organizations
• Voting member of the Lake County Continuum of Care
• Bachelor Valley Grange 
• Moose Lodge #2284, Clearlake Oaks 
• Lake County Chamber of Commerce 
• Baconfest 
• Pear Festival