From the Globe Political Desk

Longtime environmentalist and activist Whitney Dotson says he will draw on his four decades in public health and many years in natural area protection to make an important contribution as an East Bay Regional Park District board member.
    If elected, he plans to continue his advocacy for open space access and maintenance of natural environments for the physical health and psychological well-being of the community.
  Since 2005, Dotson has served on the Park Advisory Committee. During his tenure, the committee voted to support the East Bay Regional Park District’s Board of Directors’ presentation of what is now referred to as Bond Measure WW, the extension of Measure AA, which was passed in 1988.
   “I will spearhead the collaboration of stakeholders to provide appropriate access to park district open spaces and resources, and enforce environmental management, conservation and restoration,” said Dotson.
    Dotson was born in the Seaport Housing Project in Richmond, and at age 5 he moved to Parchester Village. His father, the late Reverend Richard Daniel Dotson, was one of the early settlers in Parchester Village in 1950 who was instrumental in protecting what is now Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park. Carrying on the family tradition, Whitney formed the North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance, which successfully protected the former Breuner Marsh adjacent to Point Pinole and Parchester Village.
    Dotson earned a bachelor’s degree in education and health from San Francisco State and a master’s degree in public health administration from UC Berkeley. He worked as a program developer for Contra Costa Health Services to develop the Center for Health in North Richmond and then became associate executive director of the Neighborhood House of North Richmond.
    Dotson presently serves on the Golden Gate Audubon Society Board of Directors, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water Program Advisory Committee, Citizens for East Shore Park Board of Directors, Trails for Richmond Action Committee and the Community Advisory Group to the Department of Toxic Substance Control. He is a fellow at the Brower Dellums Institute for Sustainability Policy Studies at Merritt College.
    As a member of the East Bay Regional Park District board, Dotson says he will work to create interactive environmental education centers in each geographic region of the park district in partnership with other regional agencies and school districts in order to educate youth on East Bay ecosystems. One of his priorities is to create social marketing strategies that promote equal access for all communities, with special emphasis on low-income and disabled populations.
    Dotson also plans to develop strategies to address historically controversial issues such as dog use, habitat protection and bicycle trails. “It is my intent to bring all stakeholders together to address all controversial issues and reach consensus through a respectful process of negotiation,” he said.
    “I ask you to support me in our collective partnership to ensure access for all communities to existing East Bay Regional Park District resources, and through our collective efforts continue to protect and expand our regional park network.”
    For more information about Whitney Dotson’s campaign, visit www.WhitneyDotson.org or call (510) 367-5379.