My name is Dan Buffalo and I am running for the Lakeport Unified School District Governing Board.

My wife, Megan [Casey], grew up in Lakeport. She introduced me to Lake County, and we decided to make it our family’s home, loving every moment since.

I have a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and a master’s degree from USC. I am a certified public accountant (CPA) and serve as the chief financial officer for the City of Ukiah, responsible for managing an $83 million budget. Formerly, I had the privilege of serving as the finance director for the city of Lakeport.

Over the course of my 13 years as a professional in local government, I developed a record of building successful teams and organizations.

I am a proud father of three wonderful children – two who currently attend Lakeport Unified schools.

One of the reasons we moved to Lakeport was the quality of those schools, which had a reputation for attracting great teachers and offering excellent academic programs.

Education is something I value greatly. I come from a family of educators, and I married into a family of educators. I am also an adjunct professor at Mendocino College, Lake County Center.

The practice of education is a part of me, and it has provided me with a valuable perspective.

I chose to run for Lakeport School Board because the decisions this board will make over the next two years – and the next decade – will have a direct impact on our community.

Our businesses depend on a capable workforce. Our hospitals, police and fire departments rely on well-educated doctors, nurses, officers, and firefighters. Our neighborhoods grow stronger and more secure because of good schools.

There are three important aspects of my platform:

Great people: Good schools start with great people. We need to support, retain, and recruit outstanding teachers, volunteers, and administrators. We need to promote a culture of respect and dignity. And we need to foster a learning environment that is safe, secure, and free of Distraction.

Classroom resources: Experienced teachers know best how to deliver a lesson and make their students successful. We must trust them, and provide important resources. This means securing materials, supplies, and services teachers need to instruct, and students need to learn. For our younger students, this includes providing aides in the classroom to mitigate
disruptions to learning, enhancing volunteerism, and encouraging greater parent-teacher collaboration.

Smart money: I will honor the will of our community as to how district resources are best spent. I will fight to appropriate every dollar in its budget (including bond money) to maximize the educational value to our students. This includes funding for academics, athletics, and activities that teach basic life skills. We can afford nothing less.

With your support, I believe we can affect positive change on a school district in need of new energy, new ideas, and a commitment to do what’s best for students and the community.

I have the expertise, insight, and perspective to find the right solutions to fix our district’s problems – always with the best interests of our students and community’s concerns at heart.

Please join in voting for Dan Buffalo, Jennifer Hanson and Carly Alvord on Nov. 6. Together, we will be able to make a big positive change for our schools.

Get more information at www.fixLUSD.com or contact me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-245-3576.

Dan Buffalo lives in Lakeport, Calif.