About Sam
Proven community leadership
For more than 20 years, I have been an active member of the Pacifica community, working with residents and local organizations to understand our challenges and advocate for practical solutions. I currently serve as President of the Pacifica Land Trust and board of the Pedro Point Community Association. I have also served with a range of community organizations, including the Economic Development Committee, the GGNRA Liaison Committee, the Library Foundation, the Fog Fest Committee, the Pacifica Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Committee, and the Pacifica GPU Community Outreach Committee. I also support Pacifica Homes Are Not Hotels, and its grassroots efforts to address the growth of un-hosted short-term rentals.I am a consistent presence at City Council meetings, where I ask questions and contribute data-driven public comments aimed at serving the long term best interests of our city. I’ve learned that effective local leadership means understanding the facts, being honest about tradeoffs, listening to residents, and working persistently toward practical solutions. That’s the kind of leadership I would bring to City Council.
Endorsed by former mayor Sue Digre and current council member Mayra Espinosa. See All Endorsements
Watch Sam’s presentation at a public forum about nature-based solutions.
The Pacifica Land Trust (PLT) is a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The PLT cannot and does not support or oppose any candidate or ballot measure and has not endorsed my candidacy. My statements, views and opinions are strictly my own and do not reflect the official stance or position of the PLT.
Sam and Andrea at Spark SF, a popular outdoor food truck park and community gathering space in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood that is also a model for Pacifica as well.
My History and Love for Pacifica
I have lived in Pacifica for 23 years, and from the beginning I thought I had discovered the best-kept secret in California.
I met my wife, Andrea, while we were both serving in the Peace Corps in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. I was a middle school teacher and she was a maternal health volunteer. It was the toughest job we ever loved. Afterward, our careers took us around the country, but I was increasingly homesick for California. When I accepted a job in South San Francisco, I began exploring Pacifica's trails, beaches, and open spaces—and knew I had found home.
I bought a little bungalow in Pedro Point, learned to surf, and adopted a neglected 10-year-old dog who became my hiking companion. Eventually, Andrea and I made Pacifica our home together. Over the years, we've shared the joy of raising seven adopted dogs and the heartbreak of saying goodbye to four.
Sam enjoys giving back to the community including being a youth soccer referee
I grew up in Riverside County after my parents immigrated to California when I was three. We were a family of eight and struggled financially - often living paycheck to paycheck – but my parents were eventually able to save enough to buy a small house that they still live in today in Norco - a small town with a strong close-knit community (My hometown friends often call Pacifica “Norco by the sea”).
It was living there that my parents taught me the importance of looking out for your neighbors. When someone was struggling, our door was always open as a safe harbor, and there was always room at our dinner table for neighborhood kids whose parents had to work late just to pick up a few hours of overtime.
I also saw firsthand what can happen when development moves forward without enough thought for the community. Developers in Riverside County promised affordable housing, but all my hometown got instead was suburban sprawl, more traffic, expensive homes, and hills and meadows disappearing beneath new construction.
I don't want that future for Pacifica.