"Profound Beats Profit."
Over the past 23 years I've had to make my company money; now I want to make my company matter. Many of you know me as the founder of EYE-ON ALARM. Here's the "whole me."
I am a husband, father, businessperson, rancher, writer, speaker, and events promoter. Stephanie and I are the proud parents of Hunter Justice, age 11, Rider Jerome, age 10, and Scarlet Begonia, age eight. We live on our ten-acre Grateful Bear Ranch in Placerville. We moved up here from the Bay Area two-and-a-half years ago.
I am a Communications Graduate of Cal State Hayward's Class of 1991. My security company is 18 years old. I am 41 years old. I was born and raised near Valley Forge, PA.
In Kindergarten, 20-30 kids at a time would chase me around the playground. This was perfectly fine as I talked them into it! We would just run as a pack. In second grade, I started a "children's liberation" movement with a formal petition to our teachers for better homework hours and longer recess. In fifth grade, I was chosen by the "so-called peer group leaders" as the fifth leg of a four-leg relay for our middle school's annual track-and-field day. Instead of sitting back and watching others as a "first substitute," I started my own relay team for the school's event. We won first place all of the next four years. My "Bad News Bears" set a school athletic record that stood for over 15 years!
At 11 years old, I was the youngest "paperboy" for Allentown's Morning Call. My fingertips are still "stained" with headlines. In Phiadelphia, politics are treated like sport. In High School I was Class President. In College, I was Editor-in-Chief of the Cal State Pioneer.
For my industry, I have served as the CA Alarm Association Vice President, as well as the East Bay Alarm Association President.
We moved up here to raise our three children on open land under starry skies at night. We moved up here because as middle-aged adults we have not just children, but aging parents for whom we care. My father Galen lives in our guest house on the ranch. It has reunited our PA family and provided a three-generation home for our kids.
I love this state. I bleed "gold." Ever since I was old enough to read I wanted to come here. I'm raised as a "yankee doodle dandy!" I plan to forever keep it that way! I have been in California since 1981. For all of my Bay Area friends, you are my occupational roots and professional glory. For my Gold Country friends, I cherish this land and our Foothill folks for the true treasure which Mother Nature and the big hearts who live up here provide.
I believe in public schools because I'm living proof of their positive effects for society. My family, like any family wishing to follow, climbed the social ladder. I thank America! I thank these United States for an "open system" with college education as the primary crafting tool of our country's future. Three cheers for the red, white and blue!
American dreaming. Moved from one coast to the other. Got educated. Chased a rock band around the country. Met thousands of optimistic people. We are everywhere! Started a business. Met and married a beautiful California girl. Been blessed with three great kids and their "Ranch Grandpa." I want to help give back what this grand old social experiment called Democracy has gifted to me..
This "business friendly" Democrat would like to create better jobs! This business savvy Democrat would like to reform Worker's Comp! I'd fight for the most affordable Public University system in the world! As a self-made businessperson, I'll turn over stones and cut the fat!
In our state, it's all about the schools, the jobs, the roads, the water, the growth. I read a lot. I listen to more people everyday. I react with passion in articulated terms directed toward the universal. I need your next level of confidence. We're printing buttons and bumper stickers and our live music event CDs!
My name is Todd W. Schwenk. I am running for State Assembly. Please vote for me for a better Democracy! Hey now to all who have joined our experience; get on the bus for all looking for golden roads yet realized!
Todd. W. Schwenk Tribal Leader www.gratefulbear.com
endorsed by:
United States Senator Barbara Boxer, State Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell, CA Teachers Association, AFL-CIO, CA Democratic Council, Sacramento Council of Labor, and All Cool People in the Sierra Foothills!
p.s. I did not win the 2004 State Assembly Seat, but I did not lose either. I got 56,701 votes as a first-time candidate. I want to change the world and almost 57,000 people joined me! How awesome is that? Stay tuned as I will run again in 2006. (I'm actually running right now, but don't tell my "Mrs.")
