As Berg’s representative, Stewart took an active role in addressing major public policy issues—including health care, economic development, infrastructure and the environment—on the center’s agenda. Berg has left the Assembly in compliance with statutory term limits.
Stewart said, “As a former policy leader, I know what a difference having good local data can make. Part of my new job is making sure our research gets to community leaders to help them improve our quality of life. It’s important that rural people get to tell their own story and the center wants to make sure that policy makers get those data before they make decisions about what’s best for our community.”
A former Arcata mayor and HSU alum (’88), Stewart has dedicated her entire career to civic service and leadership with a broad array of organizations: Redwood Coast Rural Action, Community Health Alliance, Humboldt County Leadership Team, Humboldt Energy Task Force (co-founder), Redwood Coast Energy Authority (former chair and co-founder), the Local Government Commission, Arcata Community Recycling Center (board member), North Coast Big Brothers/Big Sisters (board member) and the KHSU-FM community advisory panel (chair). She is also a long-time blood drive organizer.
A member of the Arcata City Council from 1996 to 2004, Stewart was mayor in 1999-2001. After earning her bachelor’s degree in speech communication at HSU in 1988, she took up posts at the Northcoast Environmental Center, where her responsibilities included coordination of ECONEWS.
The California Center for Rural Policy is a catalyst for joint rural community action partnered by Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino Counties. Typical of its work is a report it issued last October on the severe consequences of child poverty for rural health.