Rooted deeply in the coastal range of Washington County and shaped by a lifetime of service in the community. After traveling across six continents, her experiences have led her to bring uncommon wisdom, resilience, and care to every role she holds. She lived and served in Africa in the early 1970’s, survived breast cancer in 2008, and now tends a 24-acre “gentlewoman” farm, filled with gardens, animals, and the joyful presence of her 10 grandchildren.
Tenacious and trustworthy, Ayla is guided by seven enduring principles. To tend to her “Self”: Stillness, Silence, Solitude and Spiritual Discernment are the keys to her endurance and wisdom.
To tend to her Community: Simplicity, Service and Sacred Study guide her leadership and common sense. These values ground her life’s work and her approach to community leadership-protective, thoughtful and action-driven. Her motto is Contemplation without action is meaningless.
Her greatest pride is raising her three sons: Noah, Jesse, and Mitchell. As a nurse, teacher, and chaplain, Ayla has served others with compassion and humility, always learning as she leads. Her life is proof that, healing, teaching, and spiritual guidance all belong in her bag of gifts she shares with everyone.
Ayla is ready to serve in a new way-defending local values, both in historical and in new development ways. Her goals are to see a county that thrives by being self-sufficient, entrepreneurial, health and safety oriented and upholding constitutional laws that provide for freedom to live with purpose and dignity. She believes that no one should “live by another’s leave”. Together, we can restore balance, protect what matters, and plan for what’s next.