Bill Denneen Names Winner of 2008 Eco-Award

Cambria, CA - May 18, 2008: County Planning Commissioner Sarah Christie was named the 2008 recipient of Bill Deneen's Eco-award. The presentation was made May 18 at ECOSLO's 7th Annual EcoSummit, held in Cambria at Camp Ocean Pines.

"I have long admired Sarah's work on behalf of the environment, and I am so pleased to add her name to all of the other wonderful recipients of this award," said Denneen. Christie has come under fire from the building industry and Farm Bureau for her strong positions. For instance, she was the lone vote against PG&E's steam generator replacement project at Diablo Canyon, and a recent proposal to rezone a portion of the Santa Maria River bottom to allow the construction of an asphalt plant.

Christie is Vice Chair of the County Planning Commission, where she has represented the 5th District since accepting the appointment by Supervisor Jim Patterson in 2005. She regularly speaks in favor of smart growth, affordable housing, and strong environmental protections, often from a minority position. She works full time as the Legislative Director for the
California Coastal Commission, representing the agency in Sacramento. She has also served on the Santa Margarita Advisory Council, the County Trails Committee, the Executive Committee of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, and as Chair of the Club's Political Committee.

"It's an honor and a total shock to receive this award today," she told the attendees at the Eco Summit. "There are so many people doing such incredibly important work all over this county, I am humbled beyond words."

"I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award today than Sarah", noted Morgan Rafferty, Executive Director of ECOSLO. “She has been a tireless advocate for the environment and the public trust in her role as Planning Commissioner and Legislative Director for the Coastal Commission. She definitely is cut from the same cloth as prior recipients Pat Veesart, Eric Greening and Pam Heatherington”.