I have been a member of the Board of Directors of the Valley of the Moon Fire Protection District since 2003 and a resident of the District for 25 years. I am a retired Lieutenant of the San Francisco Fire Department after 30 years' experience. I have a BA magna cum laude in Geography from Sonoma State University and was a substitute teacher in the Sonoma Valley Unified School District and a past Sonoma Ropes Course leader.

I assisted the City of Sonoma and the Valley of Moon Fire District Chiefs and Captains in the development of Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority's "Standards of Response Coverage," a business plan for our combined fire departments. I developed a SVFRA, GIS computer-based Standards of Coverage senior project at Sonoma State University, including a model providing the optimum locations for Station 2. I have been a California certified Fire Training Officer, Fire Safety Director, EMT and Urban Search and Rescue member. Further qualifications include CPR instructor, lifeguard, advanced open water diver and USCG Search and Rescue Crewman and Boat Engineer.

I have organized and participated in various multiple-agency disaster drills in the San Francisco Bay Area. I keep current with fire district business by attending our monthly VOM Fire District meetings, Sonoma County Fire District Association bi-monthly meetings and annual conferences. I have the highest respect for the dedication and professionalism of our department members: officers, engineers, firefighters and paramedics.

e-mail Bill Norton