Scott Kelley

I had a great childhood , growing up in Oxnard , CA and living just 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean . Oxnard is famous for its strawberries and my neighborhood was surrounded by miles of strawberry fields, orchards and vegetable plots.
The great thing about living in warm year-round weather was all the outdoors adventure. Whether I was playing soccer or little league baseball, bodyboarding on ' gnarly ' waves or riding my bike, life was good.
One thing I learned is that life is always in transition. A promotion for my dad prompted the Kelley family to move to Nevada in 1991. I traded the Pacific Ocean for the beautiful mountains and deserts of Northern Nevada . I attended Carson High School and did usual teenager stuff, but yearned to see the world .
In 1994, at age 17, I joined the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper journalist . The next six years (1994-2000) was a whirlwind of travel, training, excitement and combat. My paratrooper units were constantly deploying to war-ravaged countries (Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo) to restore order and bring aid to beleaguered peoples. We also trained with the militaries of many Allied nations ( Tunisia , Panama , Germany , Uzbekistan ). I left the military a man .
The highlight of my enlistment was being stationed in Northern Italy . The most memorable experience was the Kosovo War . In 1998-99, this 4,000-square mile corner of Serbia was ravaged by war and ethnic cleansing. When my unit parachuted into Kosovo , it looked like mini WW2 Europe - burnt villages, refugees, mass grave sites. NATO's role was to stop the killing and enforce the peace. We succeeded!
When I returned to Reno , NV in July 2000 it was amazing how much the community had changed. That Fall I enrolled at the University of Nevada and made many new friends . I studied journalism and graduated in 2004.
I had made up my mind to run for political office soon after graduation . The concept of public service was something I strongly believed in. My goal: change the world for the better.
The resulting 2006 Reno City Council campaign was a noble grassroots effort. I spoke against corruption and walked door-to-door to hear citizen concerns. I lost the election but received 21,000 votes (43%) on 1/25th the incumbent's budget and did this without compromising my values . Not bad for an opening political salvo. Now it's 2008 and after long and careful thought, and after talking about education with hundreds of friends, I am running for Washoe County School Board .
In 31 years of life I have learned some basic truths. Love is the greatest and most elusive of feelings. I believe karma is real and I like doing nice things for people.
Learning wisdom from my elders and studying the youth for new ideas are key. My mind craves knowledge and is always searching for answers .
I am spiritual but not religious .
Outwardly I exhibit patience and serenity , and rarely (if ever) lose my temper. Inwardly, however, my mind is a torrent of feelings, memories, ideas and strategies.
So, this is my Myspace -- let's chat! :-)
Scott Kelley
The FAMILY: The men, from left to right, are stepdad, brother, stepbrother, brother in-law, dad, Scott. The women, from left to right, are mom, sister and niece, stepmom.