Lori McDonnellIncumbent
Candidate for City Council Member (At-Large), Pacific Grove · Incumbent
McDonnell holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in psychology, both from San Jose State University, specializing in human factors and industrial/organizational psychology. She spent more than 18 years as a Senior Research Associate in the Human Factors division at NASA Ames Research Center, working on crew resource management and decision-making projects aimed at improving aviation and space safety. She now works as a Clinical Research Coordinator conducting vascular surgery studies for Stanford University School of Medicine, after previously holding the same role at the Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research. She chairs Pacific Grove's Climate Action and Adaptation Committee, represents the city on the Community Human Services board of directors and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, and volunteers with the Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Project, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, and the Harbor Seals of Pacific Grove monitoring program.
Positions in brief
Her priorities center on directing new housing toward residents rather than hotels, protecting the local environment, and supporting downtown businesses.
McDonnell has said the city should encourage housing rather than hotel development, including accessory dwelling units, and find ways to help residents — especially seniors — stay in their homes rather than being priced out. She has opposed the American Tin Cannery hotel project and raised concerns about a forest-management plan at George Washington Park, saying the city should protect the park's resources as its native butterfly population returns. On downtown Pacific Grove, she has focused on drawing both residents and tourists, including ideas like converting parts of downtown into greenbelt gathering spaces, and on finding ways to help local businesses thrive.
On the issues
Wants the city to encourage housing, including accessory dwelling units, rather than hotel development, and to help residents avoid displacement.
“a lot of residents seem open to that”
Source →Opposes the American Tin Cannery hotel project and has raised concerns about protecting habitat at George Washington Park.
“protect that resources and that the butterflies are returning there.”
Source →Wants to draw both residents and tourists downtown and find ways to help local businesses thrive.
Source →Wants to ensure senior citizens aren't priced out of Pacific Grove.
Source →
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