October 13, 2009 

15th District Assembly Candidate Abram Wilson Honors Those Who Serve

Law Enforcement, Fire Protection, and Veterans Honored for Public Service to Our Country and Communities

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jason Roe (866) 961-4760

Livermore, California – San Ramon Mayor and 15th District Assembly Candidate Abram Wilson honored six outstanding East Bay Leaders on Sunday who have played a major role in keeping our communities safe at home and abroad.

Those honored at the event included:

Contra Costa Sheriff Warren Rupf, a 44-year member of law enforcement, is the longest serving member of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff.  He has served at virtually every rank, in every assignment, beginning in 1965, and is among the most popular public figures in law enforcement in the State of California.  Sheriff Rupf announced his endorsement of Wilson.

Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena of Livermore is in his eighth year of successful civic leadership and has revitalized the City of Livermore.  Mayor Kamena has helped to build a strong economy and a vibrant downtown and has served with distinction since he was first elected in 2001.  Mayor Kamena announced his endorsement of Wilson.

Sabina Imrie, who has served as the Manager of Emergency Medical Services, Spokeswoman, and Public Information Officer for the Pleasanton-Livermore Fire Department, was one of the first three women firefighters hired by this Department and was honored last month in Pleasanton upon her retirement.

Major General Ron Lowe, Major General Lowe is a Retired Army General who continues to give back to severely wounded veterans through his service on the National Board of Directors of the Sentinels of Freedom Foundation.  He was a founding member of the Sentinels of Freedom, along with Mayor Wilson.

Iraq War Veteran Mariela Meylan.  Mariela's story is particularly inspirational. The sole survivor of a suicide bomber’s attack in Iraq, Mariela spent 9 month in a coma, followed by 3 ½ years of therapy and surgeries.  She has received support from the Sentinels of Freedom Foundation and recently begun horseback riding through the help and support of Hoofprints on the Heart, a non-profit organization.

Jay Wilkerson of Pleasanton, a 14-year Veteran of the armed forces, suffered severe head and hand trauma in Iraq. In March of this year, Jay relocated to Pleasanton with the help of the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation and is finishing school at Las Positas Community College at works for the City of Pleasanton.

Mayor Wilson is running to restore fiscal responsibility to Sacramento.  In the City of San Ramon where he has been Mayor for nearly a decade, budget reserves exceed an unprecedented 50%.  Mayor Wilson has helped to revitalize a stagnant relationship between business and government through public-private partnerships and has worked collaboratively with local government leaders to develop an innovative disaster preparedness plan for our Bay Area cities and counties so our communities will be safe.