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About Huffman


Biography

Robin Huffman has lived in Paradise since 1989. Huffman is Associate Faculty teaching anthropology at Butte Community College since 2001, and she taught at CSU, Chico for nine years. Her husband Maurice “Big Mo”, in addition to being a favorite local blues musician, is the CEO of an import/export business which he started in Paradise. Their son Miles works in the family business and attends Butte College.

Experience in Office

Huffman was elected to the Paradise Town Council in 2004. During her term on the Paradise Town Council, Huffman served on the Boards of Directors for both the Butte County Association of Governments and the Butte County Air Quality District. Huffman carefully watched over the budgets and helped update plans and shape responsible policies.

Education

After receiving her MA from California State University, Chico in 2000, Huffman began teaching university courses. While working Huffman has continued her education with classes in anthropology, law, geography, and economics.

Background

Huffman worked at the Headquarters of the U.S. Army, Europe in Heidelberg, Germany from 1984-1988. She worked directly for a two-star general and with his staff.

From 1982-1984 Huffman worked at a large computer corporation in Colorado after earning her BA at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1981. She worked directly for mid-level management in Research and Development.

Huffman worked at Paradise Alliance Church for the Senior Pastor and his pastoral and administrative staff and congregation from 1989 until she returned to a university to work on her MA in 1998. Huffman earned her MA in Social Science With Distinction in 2000.

Community Advocate 

Huffman's advocacy in Paradise jump started when an out-of-town developer proposed building a big-box store outside the edge of town. Along with the citizens group Save Our Gateway Huffman tirelessly made the case that the project would be a net loss for the local economy.

When a favorite place to go mountain biking along the old railroad grade in Magalia was cut off by an iron fence, Huffman worked vigorously to protect the public's right-of-way.

Before being elected to Town Council Huffman served on the Paradise Redevelopment Committee along with local business leaders.

From 2009-2010 Huffman served on the Board of Directors at Butte Environmental Council. She worked from 2010-2011 as BEC's Advocacy Director, participating in many public meetings and helping shape the Butte County General Plan 2030. Huffman continues to work with staff and residents to improve the community.

The Most Highly Qualified Candidate

Huffman is a popular speaker, writer, and advocate for her community. She has a solid and varied background working in business, education, government service, non-profit, and elected office. Robin Huffman has the practical work experience, knowledge, and skills that Butte County needs.

There is not another candidate who is more qualified or committed to serving your needs. Elect Huffman for Supervisor.

“I know Robin Huffman as one who fully understands the impact of today’s economic reality. She is the type of level-headed thinker that we need in a leadership role. I am confident that as the District 5 Supervisor, she will make the correct decisions to ensure a positive future for our local community.” 

Fred Hayden, Paradise

Serving During Hard Times

One might wonder why I would want to take on leadership in Butte County which has $93 Million in debt from unfunded liabilities for pensions and retirement benefits. Too much of the budget is going to servicing debt instead of providing essential services. Local unemployment figures remain much higher than the average. In the last few years we have seen a nationwide housing bubble burst and a worldwide economic meltdown with very little recovery on the horizon. I am a candidate for Supervisor because I want to make sure that Butte County is a good place for my family and your family to live no matter what happens in the big economy.

Need for a Strong Local Economy

While our financial future is uncertain, this news does not have to be too concerning. Leadership needs, however, to cultivate a prevailing understanding of the true nature of our predicament before we can together take appropriate actions, which includes advancing the local economy. My confidence in your ability to adapt outweighs every other concern. The truth is that local leaders need to safety check our economic lifeboard: a strong local economy.

Growth Is Uncertain

Governments and corporations at all levels have based their plans on the assumption that growth can and will continue indefinitely. Butte County is no exception. Economic growth has slowed, and a permanent return to growth is not predictable. Debt to GDP ratios are completely unsustainable. Our incomes are not keeping up with inflation.

Dependence on Unhealthy Growth

Butte County cannot necessarily depend on the State and Federal governments to provide grants and programs into the future. Our current dependence on this funding must not be understated. Butte County "revenues" (from government subsidies) for Public Assistance programs, for example, exceeded $140 Million in 2011. Butte County has already experienced many cuts in funding from the State and Federal government, and there is no evidence that this trend will reverse. At the same time there is greater demand for public assistance. It is essential to replace these dependencies with a strong local economy. A strong local economy is not built overnight; however, our large economy can fall quickly and hit us very hard. We must plan now for an economic disaster should one occur.

Traditional energy sources show diminishing returns, and alternative energies are not being deployed quickly enough. There is no set of alternative energy sources on the horizon that appear capable of filling the gap left by the depleting cheap-and-easy energy sources which fuel our economy.

There is not enough surplus to maintain both growth and prosperity. Given that shortfall, choosing growth is at the expense of prosperity.

A likely convergence of economic, energy, and environmental resource constraints in the near future combined with the great impact such a convergence will have means we need to act now.

Solution Is Local

The best solution is to develop and diversify our local economy, and there are many ways to do this. As Supervisor I will work cooperatively with local farmers, producers, distributors, bankers, investors, teachers, educational institutions, non-profit groups, land owners, and everyone interested in localizing our economy.

The facts all around us are showing us that we have entered into a profoundly new reality that requires greater self-reliance. We absolutely must come together to build the community of our dreams.

We Have What It Takes

Butte County can become resilient to the downward economic trends. I will help coordinate an informed, intentional effort to travel on the path towards resilience. I will take the actions necessary to ensure that we are headed towards prosperity with all our systems working. We are people who have all the skills, knowledge, resources, ingenuity and drive to create a strong local economy.

Good Leadership Is Essential

There is no shortage of challenges, and I will manage them directly. In particular I will be a business advocate working to undo unreasonable Local, State, and Federal regulations. As a leader I am effective because I focus on the goals most important to the community, I have integrity in working with others, and I take care of business.

Vision and Plan For Action

I am running for Supervisor because I am deeply concerned about our immediate economic future, and I have a plan for action that will produce a strong local economy. I look ahead to envision what life will be like in 20 years and what kind of tools we have now to build a community that will work for us down the road.

Butte County can become a place where public assistance is seldom needed because everyone has work; where police, fire, and medical services provide for your needs; and where we have a local economy that will not collapse, and will be there to defy inflation, continued recession, or a major burst of an economic bubble. We must choose our path carefully. The path I will take is for local prosperity.

Robin Huffman

 

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