Business Columnist, Guest Editor
traceynovatopatch@gmail.com  In 1979, my family moved to Novato when my dad was stationed at Hamilton A.F.B.   I attended San Francisco State University and graduated with a B.A. in Broadcast Communications and a B.S. in Business Management. I have an MBA from Dominican University and a paralegal certificate from Sonoma State University. I've worked a media-centered career with stops in broadcast sports for Fox, corporate communications, and public access management for the North Bay at Comcast Cable. From 1999 to 2010, I was a contributing writer and columnist for the Novato Advance. In addition to writing and editing for Patch, I also work as a freelance marketing writer for small businesses in the North Bay.  I volunteer for many non-profits including:  Hamilton Field Community Development Foundation, Terra Linda Rotary Club, Marin Humane Society, Novato's 50th Steering Committee, and Flamenco Universal. I've lived in Novato since 1979 and after several moves and three high schools, it's now the place that I call my hometown with my husband of 20 years, Tom Martz. Politics:  Fiscally-conservative Democrat Religion: I was raised in the Catholic faith but I do not consider myself a member of any organized religion. I am respectful of all faiths and traditions that call for tolerance, peace and basically, being nice to one another. Hot Button Issues: High-density affordable housing; the city's budget; pension reform; Measure F; Novato Unified School District and school closures; SMART train stations; crime and police staffing; continued development of properties at Hamilton; commercial real estate downturn; and the development of areas that we are used to seeing as open space will be issues that I will likely be reporting on over the next 5-10 years.