Richard Cowan - Chief of Staff

Richard Cowan lives in Redwood Heights with his wife Kathy and daughter Maegan and was the Past President of the Redwood Heights Improvement Association.  Prior to joining Jean's staff, he was the Executive Director of Legal Assistance for Seniors and former director of Conciliation Forums of Oakland.  Richard is the President of the Ronn Guidi Foundation for the Performing Arts, and is on the Board of Directors of Conciliation Forums of Oakland, Friends of the Oakland Ballet Academy, and Grandparents and Relatives as Second Parents (GRP). He is also a founding member of Save Oakland Seniors.  

Richard coordinates staff and oversees our day-to-day operations. He also staffs the Budget, Economic Development and Rules Committee for Council Member Quan. His responsibilities also include district wide Neighborhood Commercial and Economic Development, Redwood Heights and Lincoln Heights neighborhood issues. 238-7041
rcowan@oaklandnet.com

Michael Johnson- Policy Analyst
An Oakland native and resident of East Oakland, Michael is a graduate of UC Riverside.  He is fluent in Spanish and has traveled in Latin America and Africa. Before coming to work for us Michael was an HIV counselor and outreach worker.

Michaels's responsibilities include the Allendale, Laurel, Lower Dimond, Maxwell Park, and High Park neighborhoods. In addition, he  staffs the Public Safety Committees.  238-4742

Sue Piper - Community Liaison
 

Sue Piper comes to District 4 with a wealth of experience in education, emergency preparedness and community organizing.  A two-time PTA president (Kaiser Elementary and Oakland Tech High School) and former co-chair of the Friends of Oakland Public Schools, she has partnered with Jean as a leader of every school parcel tax and bond measure since 1993. A 1991 Oakland Firestorm survivor, she and her husband, Gordon, led the effort to create the Gateway Emergency Preparedness Exhibit Center overlooking Highway 24. She has chaired her neighborhood C.O.R.E. group since 1993. Most recently, Sue coordinated the successful Measure Q & E campaign, raising funds for the Oakland the libraries and schools.  A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and the UCLA School of Public Health, Sue brings more than 35 years of professional experience in public relations and marketing communications. In addition to working part-time for the office, Sue continues to provide PR consulting to education, health and nonprofit organizations.

She will serve as the office liaison to Montclair, Crestmont, Oakmore neighborhoods and the Oakland Public Schools. Sue will staff the Life Enrichment Committees. 238-7042

spiper@oaklandnet.com

Ellen Dillard - Administrative Assistant
 

Ellen immigrated to the United States with her family in 1989; she is a graduate of Cal State Hayward.