A resident of Santa Clarita since 1980, Edward Redd found the Santa Clarita Valley the ideal place to raise a family. As a youth advocate for many years, he understands the positive impact of parks and recreation on the lives of our young people. "Young people that participate in recreation programs learn life skills such as leadership, team work and healthy living. Teens that participate in team sports and other organized recreation tend to avoid anti-social behaviors. I'm proud to be on the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission, which works hard to ensure adequate parks and recreational programs are available for our residents as the City grows."

Ruthann Levison, Vice Chair
Term Expires: July 2010

Ruthann Levison believes that Santa Clarita is the best place to live and raise a family.  She and husband Mike have been married almost 50 years and discovered Canyon Country than 25 years ago.  They have two children and three grandsons.  Son David attended Canyon High School and Cal Arts, is married to Nicole, and they have a son.  Daughter Deanne and son-in-law Chuck (retired head baseball coach at Canyon High School) have two sons.

Ruthann’s first community involvement was to encourage trails and open space.  She was very involved in helping to bring about Golden Valley Ranch as open space.  This led to her becoming active on the Santa Clarita Valley Trails Advisory Committee (SCVTAC).  She is also part of the City’s task force which plans for large animal emergency evacuation.  Ruthann served on the site selection committee for the College of the Canyons facility in Canyon Country and currently serves on the Canyon Country Educational Center Advisory Committee.  She has also focused her attention on the development of trails in the Sand Canyon community.

As a new Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commissioner, Ruthann wants to see the needs in the community balanced so that everyone gets a satisfying “piece of the pie.

Janell Cornel, Commissioner
Term Expires: July 2010
Bios: Janell Cornell moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1997 with her husband Ted and two sons, Chris and Pat.  Both boys were active in local sports programs, and Janell saw first hand the valuable impact these programs have on young people.  She worked with students for many years at Saugus High School, and continues to work with young people today as an Administrative Assistant at Bishop Alemany High School.  She is also involved in the Santa Clarita Quilt Guild, having worked on the City of Santa Clarita Quilt, and she has served as past co-chairperson of community service for the guild.

Janell is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in Business Administration.  She has also worked in retailing, serving as a sales manager for Sears, Roebuck and Company, in Orange, California.

Janell enjoys serving on the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission, and is anxious to give back to this community that has provided such a welcoming home for her and her family.

Matt Halliday, Commissioner
Term Expires: July 2012
Bio: Matt moved to the growing Santa Clarita Valley with his wife, Joanne, and their three young children in 1994.  He found Santa Clarita the perfect place to raise his children and live in an active environment.  Matt has coached his daughter and two sons in a variety of sports and activities over the years: soccer, softball, baseball, basketball, and football.  He recently served as the Athletic Director for the SCVAA Warriors Youth Football program with over 300 young athletes.  Matt was honored as a 2008 National Finalist for the Positive Coaching Alliances Dual Coach Award.

Matt has always been an advocate of community sports programs and the benefits that flow from youth involvement: commitment, perseverance, integrity, and loyalty.

Duane R. Harte, Commissioner
Owner:
Academy Addressing and Mailing
Term Expires: July 2012

Duane moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1974, and he and his wife, Pauline, have lived in Canyon Country, Valencia, and Newhall where they raised their two daughters. Duane is the owner of Academy Addressing and Mailing, a direct mail advertising service in Sun Valley, and retired in 1990 as Senior Chief Petty Officer from the US Naval Reserve after 23 years of service.

Duane was honored as the SCV Man of the Year in 2003. He has always been very active in the community and has served in many capacities in the following organizations: Friends of Mentryville, SCV Historical Society, SCV Veterans Memorial Committee, SCV Chamber of Commerce, SCV Committee on Aging, Newhall Redevelopment Committee, SCV Historical Veterans Plaza Committee, Friends of the Libraries of the SCV, and the Santa Clarita Parade Committee. Duane is an 8-year volunteer for the Zonta Rent-a-Santa program, and previously served as Chair of the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission. He is currently the Founding President of the SCV Senior Center Charitable Foundation.

“As a 33-year resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, I have seen the population grow immensely. During my first term of office on the Commission from 1999 to 2002, I was very pleased to be part of the expansion of our park and recreation facilities, but I was also aware of the deficiencies that still existed. During my current term of office, I hope to be able to continue working with my fellow commissioners, City staff, and City Council in an endeavor to erase our park and open space deficiencies and provide the residents of Santa Clarita with the parks, recreation, and community services they pay for and so richly deserve.”