About Janet
Salinas City Councilmember Janet Barnes has represented her hometown's 3rd District since 1998, winning re-election three times by wide margins. She is a member of regional boards, commissions and non-profits across the Central Coast, and has been a schoolteacher for over 25 years. In all aspects of her life, Janet has been guided by a desire to make the future better – for our children and for all of us.
Janet's record of success on the City Council includes playing a key role in bringing about:
- A larger, better-equipped police force
- The Monterey County/Salinas Gang Task Force
- A new fire station
- Better code enforcement
- A new skate park, soccer field, swimming pool, golf course and animal shelter
- Major library renovations.
- The re-paving of 90 percent of the city's streets
- The California Rodeo Association's Sports Complex
- A plan for a new Senior Center
- A new Boys and Girls Club facility.
In addition to her Council service, Janet is active on a wide range of boards, commissions and community-based organizations. These have included the Fort Ord Reuse Authority; the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments; the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority; the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (alternate); the League of California Cities, Monterey Bay Division (President); the League of Women Voters; the United Nations Association of Monterey Bay; the Salinas Library Commission; the Salinas Park and Recreation Commission; the Salinas/Kushikino Sister City Association; the Senior Center Board and Meals on Wheels.
Janet is the recipient of the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship in Spain. She is the USA leader for Children's International Summer Villages in Denmark, Japan, Norway, and Canada; the community host for the International Defense Management Resource Courses at the Naval Postgraduate School; the recipient of the Monterey Peninsula Bahai Humanitarian of the Year Award (for medical relief to Colombia); a participant with Global Uplift in rebuilding earthquake-destroyed homes in India; and an organizer of toy distribution after the devastating tsunami that hit Phuket, Thailand.
Janet has an A.A. in Business Administration from Hartnell College, a B.A. in Liberal Studies with a California Teaching Credential from San Jose State University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Panetta Institute at California State University Monterey Bay. She is a proud member of the California Teachers Association and teaches in the Salinas Elementary School District. Janet is the mother of two grown children and has four grandchildren.
