Stewart Named Rural Policy Specialist

Position to focus on research and data-mining concerning rural living conditions

Humboldt Sentinel
12/10/08
By Sentinel Staff

ARCATA -- Connie Stewart has accepted an appointment as Director of Special Projects for the California Center for Rural Policy at Humboldt State University, a research and data-mining unit aimed at improving rural living conditions on the Redwood Coast.

The California Center for Rural Policy is an advocate for joint rural community action in 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.

Stewart has been Assemblywoman Patty Berg’s senior field representative to Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity County since 2002. As Berg’s representative, she took an active role in addressing major public policy issues including health care, economic development, infrastructure and the environment—all topics on the center’s agenda. Berg has left the Assembly in compliance with statutory term limits.

“As a former policy leader, I know what a difference having good local data can make,” Stewart said. “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,” Stewart said.

Stewart has dedicated her entire career to civic service and leadership with a broad array of organizations. She has been a member, boardmember or chair of Redwood Coast Rural Action, Community Health Alliance, Humboldt County Leadership Team, Humboldt Energy Task Force, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, the Local Government Commission, Arcata Community Recycling Center, North Coast Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the KHSU-FM community advisory panel. She is also a long-time blood drive organizer.

A member of the Arcata City Council from 1996 to 2004, Stewart served as mayor from 1999 to 2001. After earning her bachelor’s degree in speech communication at HSU in 1988, she worked at the Northcoast Environmental Center, where her responsibilities included coordination of its newsletter, Econews.