Councilmember JIM PALMER was elected to the Tustin City Council in November of 2006.  Jim was born and raised in Orange County.  Jim is married to his wife Michelle and has four children named James; Kody; Nancy; & Sophie.

Jim believes that good government begins with principles.  His top ten principles are: Individual Freedom; Personal Responsibility; Property Rights; Stronger Families; Domestic Tranquility through National Defense; Government Transparency; Less Government; Accountability; Lower Taxes; and Local Decision Making.   Jim believes that a strong Councilmember needs to be knowledgeable and involved with Public Safety; Housing; Safe Neighborhoods; Traffic Improvement; Strong Schools; and development of the Tustin Legacy.

Jim’s strong belief in serving others and excellent reputation as a leader have recently led him to a Presidential appointment and Senate confirmation to a role as a Director on the Board for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which he will be serving through 2011.

Jim currently serves the Citizens of Tustin through his service on the Orange County Library Board, Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency, Water Advisory Committee of Orange County, Senior Fund Board of Directors..  He serves as alternate for the Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee, Orange County Council of Governments Orange County Fire Authority and Orange County Sanitation District.  In addition, Jim serves as a liaison to the Tustin Pride Committee, and the Tustin Community Foundation.

Jim is very active in Orange County leadership.  He presently serves as President and Board Member, Orange County Rescue Mission, Inc., an outreach for assisting homeless men, women and children achieve self-sufficiency, and includes the Village of Hope, House of Hope, Hope Family Housing, in Tustin, California and Mustard Seed Ranch in Northern San Diego County; Member and Former Two Term Board Member, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alexandria, Virginia; Member, Tustin Area Historical Society, Tustin, California; Presenter, CMA Christian Management Association, San Clemente, California; Board Member, Priority Living Inc., Tustin, California;  Board Member, Orange County 2-1-1 Steering Committee, Orange County, California; Chairman, Professional Service  Responders, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County, California; Director, Security and Safety Division Spirit West Coast – Del Mar, Tustin, California; Co-Chairman, Tustin Mayor’s Prayer & Thanksgiving Breakfast, Tustin Community Foundation; Member and CPAC Certified, American Association of Christian Counselors, Forest, Virginia; Member State of California Chapter, National Association of Forensic Counselors, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Council Member, Homeland Security Advisory Council, Region One, Orange County, California; Commission Member & Chairman, Housing and Community Development Commission of Orange County, Orange County Housing Authority, Santa Ana, California; Chairman, OC Homeless Issues Continuum of Care Leadership Cabinet, Orange County, California; Founder and Board Member, Shelter & Hunger Partnership of Orange County, OC Partnership, Tustin, California.

Past Leadership & Service to Orange County includes School Site Council, Former Parent Member, Red Hill Elementary School, North Tustin, California; Citizens Police Academy 2002, Graduate, Tustin Police Department, Tustin, California; Former three-term Chairman, Housing and Community Development Commission of Orange County, Orange County Housing Authority, Santa Ana, California; Founder and former Chairman, Shelter & Hunger Partnership of Orange County, OC Partnership, Tustin, California; Former Council Member, Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council of Orange County, Orange County, California; Co-Founder and Former Member, Orange County CEO, Santa Ana, California; Co-Founder & Former Board Member & Executive Director, Irvine Temporary Housing / Families Forward, Irvine, California; Former Co-Chairman of Logistics, United States Olympic Committee, Orange County, California; Former Dean & Chairman, West Coast Training School of AGRM, Western United States; Co-Founder & Former Board Member, Orange County Homeless Issues Task Force, Orange County, California; Former co-host, Weekly radio program on KKLA 99.5 International Radio Program “Changes” segment called “Windows on the World.” Southern California & Europe; Former Council Member, Presidential Weed and Seed Steering Committee, The White House, Washington D.C.; Former Chairman, Orange County’s Housing & Community Development Department’s Advisory Board, Orange County, California; Former Treasurer, Pacific District of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, Western United States; Former Member of the Advisory Board, Orange County Cold Weather Armory Program, Orange County, California; Former Board Member & Treasurer, Christian Resource Institute (CRI), Rancho Santa Margarita, California; Former Member, Orange County Mental Health Board, Orange County.