Cristina Medina Dirksen is inspired by her neighbors, friends, family & fellow community volunteers to boldly and fairly listen and speak for the people of District 3 and all of the diverse residents of the City of Marina, Ca.

Cristina and her firefighter husband Doug have called Marina home for more than 20 years. They are raising their 13-year-old triplets in Marina and have made volunteering a family value.

Cristina is Past President of the Friends of the Marina Library and serves on the board of Marina Youth Arts. She’s also part of a select group of California women taking part in Emerge, California.

She is a former newspaper journalist (locally, The Monterey Herald & Salinas Californian) and has worked in corporate and business law. She now works in philanthropy for a Monterey County nonprofit where she is aware of the important roles of nonprofit organizations and the power of supporting and transforming community.

She has helped lead campaigns that resulted in more funding for the City of Marina, and has taken active roles in the elections of trusted leaders on our MPUSD board, Monterey County Board of Supervisors, MPC Board of Trustees, Marina Council & Mayor races.

Marina neighbors and friends TRUST Cristina to do right for Marina.

Issues that Matter to Cristina

• strengthening Marina’s response to resident and business needs as a result of COVID-19 economic impacts

• action on urgent need for transparency & communication from your local government leaders

• recreation support -our parks have become vital to our mental health during SIP, let’s support & reimagine how it steps up for our youth as a safety net

• fiscal responsibility & spending, ensure sales tax funds go to the areas touted, recreation, roads and fire

• giving Marina street-level attention; improved infrastructure, sidewalk improvements, entryway, blight ensuring funding is sustained

• commitment to our support & equip public safety, investment in fire department stations and accommodating to a modern workforce which will attract all genders

• safeguarding water, natural resources & open space/recreational opportunities at the on the former Fort Ord.

• spurring economic opportunities for residents & businesses, supporting and growing existing businesses

• internet - let’s fix the dead spots in the Dunes & highway corridor NOW, develop a plan to make internet access available to all, improve speed (5G) and bridge the digital divide that has dire consequences on the educational progress of our children

• affordable housing - make sure we have capacity of staff to progress on meeting our housing element mandates, fast track affordable housing, advocate that such housing be build FIRST in future developments

• bridging the cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic divide and including ALL residents in actions and study of where Marina can do better in addressing systemic policies that hamper progress