Sarah Spinks
Template:TOCnestleft Sarah Spinks
Background
My path to becoming more civically engaged began in 2011 when I started organizing artists. That led to an appointment to the Vista Public Arts Commission and a few months later I was elected Chair. I got involved in local politics when I started attending Vista City Council meetings in 2015 to navigate moving the tattoo shop I work at from Bonsall to Vista. I learned how conservative the leadership was/is and I started meeting more of my neighbors with Democratic values interested in civic engagement.
In 2017, I joined the Democratic Club of Vista and helped work on two campaigns for the 2018 cycle. Together, we elected a progressive Latina, Councilmember Corinna Contreras. This last election we had a Blue Wave in Vista. I helped as an elected club representative as Secretary of the Democratic Club of Vista & Vice Chair of the SD Progressive Democratic Club North Chapter. I volunteered for the following campaigns: Bernie (primary), VUSD Trustees Cipriano Vargas & Julie Kelly, Tri City Hospital Boardmember Adela Sanchez, Vista D3 Councilmember Katie Melendez and Vista City Council D2 Candidate Elizabeth Perez.[1]
Public Facebook Group
Members of the DSA San Diego - North County Branch public Facebook Group - January 13 2021 included Sarah Spinks.
Standing for AD 76
In 2019 Sarah Spinks stood from AD 76 for the California Democratic Party Central Committee.
At nineteen, I participated in a study abroad program in Tuebingen, Germany through my alma mater Cal State San Marcos (BA Literature 2004) that broadened my world view, but also helped me deepen my understanding of myself and where I come from and where I still live, Vista, CA. After college, I took a leap and began a career as a tattoo artist. The ability to listen is necessary for collaboration, and one cannot truly listen to others if they lack empathy. My entire career, and now my work in the community, all of the successes I have experienced were because of my ability to be patient, listen and understand others.
In 2011, I began to deepen my involvement with the City of Vista and became a leader in art activity, eventually becoming chair of the Public Arts Commission and starting a small non-profit, The Backfence Society, engaging community through art where we provide platform for creativity and also perform trashwalks through a program called Only Losers Litter.
Through the arts, I have met many community stakeholders and learned of their passions for the betterment of Vista and North County. During the 2018 election, I assisted two democratic candidates as they ran for seats on Vista City Council, championing for inclusive community engagement, public safety, infrastructure and climate action goals. [2]