Please join me in welcoming Lea Tate, a 2016 Redding City Council candidate, as we learn more about her and her campaign.
Lea, thanks for taking the time to talk with me today at A News Cafe.com. You have something special coming up Fri. Nov. 13, can you tell about that, first?
Yes… I have a very exciting announcement! I will be declaring my Redding City Council candidacy at the River Park Amphitheater behind the Civic Auditorium, next to the river. This is my first opportunity to speak to our community about why I am running and ways we can improve the community.
Before I get to the million-dollar question about why you’d like to be on the council, can you tell a little about yourself, please?
I would be happy to… My family moved to Redding when I was 2. I attended local schools graduating from Shasta High School in 1993. I earned my Bachelor Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1997. I moved to Fresno and received my Master’s Degree (1999) and Doctorate in Psychology (2001) from the California School of Professional Psychology. I worked at Kaiser Permanente in Fremont, California for several years. A great clinical psychologist opportunity was available with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and I moved back to Redding in 2008. I am proud to work at the VA and as an Associate Administrator at Patients’ Hospital of Redding. My father opened Patients’ Hospital over 20 years ago and it has remained an excellent model of healthcare in the community. In my spare time, I have a contract with the State of California and conduct disability evaluations with infants, adolescents and adults. I spend time participating as a Board Member of the Cal Alumni Club (Northern C’s) and the Riverview Golf and Country Club. Some of my favorite things to do in Redding are going to Shasta Lake in the summer and walking with my family on the Sundial Bridge. I love traveling and I try not to embarrass myself using conversational French. I am married to my husband, Matt, who works as a City of Medford firefighter. We have 2 energetic daughters, Kennedy (5) and Kenzey (2).
Well, it’s an extreme understatement to say you’re busy. It begs the question, why run for office when you have so many plates spinning already?
All of us are busy! My schedule is no different than other working parents who have committed themselves to improving the community. The common denominator is that all of us, men and women, are all busy IN Redding. Each of us have a stake in this community and all of us should do what we can; large or small. The last election changed the atmosphere in the Redding City Council in a positive way. I am excited about the recent and future momentum in our city. I want to be a part of the solution; I believe that my expertise in mental health issues is an asset and will be helpful with current Redding concerns.
If elected for a seat on the Redding City Council, what would your priorities be?
Currently, we have multiple issues but my priority would be focused on mental health, substance abuse, crime, safety, domestic violence, homelessness and how all of these societal concerns are related. Several individuals and organizations have attempted to combat these issues one-by-one. In my opinion, we need to look at these issues as a whole. We do have organizations that are doing a great job of catering to willing participants (Good News Rescue Mission and One Safe Place). We need to look at our current model of care and see if we can reduce redundancy and improve delivery of services. This conversation needs to begin and we need to include the appropriate individuals from the City of Redding and Shasta County.
Do you have a slogan, and if so, can you tell us about it?
I currently do not have a slogan! The campaign marketing team has created an innovative Tate for Redding City Council logo that does a great job of representing me and my personality: bold, sharp and concise.
Lea, one of the biggest topics around Redding lately is the subject of transients, homeless and street people. And we often hear people complain that the city leaders aren’t doing enough to make citizens feel safe again. Can the city council do anything, and if so, what?
This is a complicated issue that is affecting our nation, as a whole. Small towns and large cities are struggling with how to combat this problem. I have learned that working in a large organization it often takes time to formulate a plan and implement tactics. Recently, there have been recent positive discussions with Redding City Council such as, police and fire department staffing, social hosting ordnances and addressing abandoned shopping carts. The community wants action and I believe that City Council can be effective working with county, state agencies and local business to meet these challenges.
What is it about you that you believe would make you a good council member?
My collaboration skills, leadership attributes and my ability to prioritize will contribute positively to the Redding City Council. I am known for my ability to recognize critical issues and complete projects. By prioritizing correctly, you can do the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in our city. A crucial characteristic of being a successful clinical psychologist is having the patience to listen to what people have to say and open to hearing opposing opinions.
Thanks, Lea. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Yes, I would like to share the catalyst that prompted me to take more of a proactive role in local government. I was deployed as a first responder for the American Red Cross to Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. I spent almost 2 months there providing round-the-clock mental health services. After arriving in Mississippi, I was quickly promoted to supervisor for the State of Mississippi mental health teams. I worked with state and federal agencies to manage this horrific situation. Watching the devastation in Mississippi first-hand inspired me to do more for my community and encouraged me to think outside the box for solutions.
