Election 2026: Community engagement, fiscal oversight define Strawberry Recreation District race
The two residents who sought a vacant Strawberry Recreation District board seat last year are running for the same seat Nov. 3, this time before voters.
The board picked Doug Twillman, a finance veteran and triathlete, on a 3-1 vote in September 2025. Aliza Hawkins, a marketing professional, mother of two and certified counselor, is challenging him in a rare contested election for a district that has historically struggled to find candidates.
Twillman and Hawkins are vying for the one open two-year seat. Incumbents Peter Teese, Sohrab Saghezchi and Sarah Waterfield, along with newcomer David Morgenthaler, will compete for three open four-year seats. Board members receive $100 per regular meeting, with a maximum of $500 per month.
Election 2026: The Strawberry Recreation District two-year candidates at a glance
Election 2026: Read complete coverage at thearknewspaper.com/election2026
Established in 1949, the Strawberry Recreation District is an independent special district serving about 6,000 residents in areas of unincorporated Mill Valley and unincorporated Tiburon east of Highway 101. In addition to the rec center and headquarters on East Strawberry Drive, it maintains four parks, a public dock, several walking trails and the Water Tank Hill open space.
According to the district, it receives 3.5 cents per dollar of basic property tax paid to Marin County, roughly 15% of its annual revenue. The rest, about $3 million, comes mostly from fees for classes, facility rentals and memberships.
The district hired playground company GameTime in July under a $2.4 million contract to build a playground on grass between the tennis courts and baseball fields at Strawberry Park. A revised quote and a separate bid for a restroom pushed the total past $3 million on Sept. 8, and the board told the company to come back under its $2.5 million ceiling. The district plans to break ground in 2027.
Aliza Hawkins: Challenger wants more residents involved
Hawkins, 39, said she would focus on drawing more residents in and on inclusive programming. She describes herself as social, outgoing and deeply connected to Strawberry.
She moved to Strawberry from Southern California with her husband, James, and their two children about 2½ years ago. The family bought a home near the recreation center last year.
“We love the Strawberry community,” she said. “We really have fallen in love with this community and are planning to stay here forever.”
As a mother of two — Hudson, 12, and Eva, 10 — she said she has built close friendships with other Strawberry parents.
“I definitely feel like we have a heartbeat on the parents in our community,” she said.
Her family regularly uses the district’s facilities and programs. They have a pool membership, attend district events and have participated in classes and youth programs. Her daughter attended the summer program, while her son plays for Tiburon Little League, which uses Strawberry recreation facilities.
Hawkins called the recreation district “a community hub” serving both Strawberry residents and people from surrounding areas.
“I really believe in supporting residents of all ages — people with kids, people without kids, seniors, everything in between,” she said. “I felt like running for this position would be an opportunity to serve and give back.”
Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in counseling, both from The Master’s University. She recently spent nearly five years at Rakuten Advertising, including her final two years as a senior account specialist before taking a break to focus on raising her children. She previously worked as a marriage and family counselor at Lighthouse Community Church in Torrance, a profession she now plans to return to.
She said her background in marketing and advertising could help the district increase awareness of its programs and encourage greater participation.
“I would love to see more community engagement as well, just even letting people know more of what we have going on,” Hawkins said. “I think I really have a lot to bring to the table on that front.”
Her priorities include ensuring residents feel included and represented, broadening participation and helping the district remain financially stable.
“What’s so great, I think, about Strawberry Rec already is that so many different people groups are served and have a place and have things that they take part in,” she said.
Hawkins grew up in the Palmdale-Lancaster area of Los Angeles County and was active in sports, particularly fast-pitch softball. She said her family pushed her to excel academically. She started attending college classes while still in high school, earning her associate degree and high school diploma on the same night. Before completing her master’s degree, she also worked as a licensed California real estate appraiser.
As a parent, Hawkins said she understands the importance of youth recreation but wants the district to serve residents at every stage of life.
“We want our kids to grow up in a community that’s not just people who have kids and people who have young kids, but really a diverse representation of ages and different stages of life,” she said.
Hawkins said her family intends to remain active in Strawberry regardless of the election’s outcome.
“We are still going to be very involved in this community and want to be a part of seeing it thrive,” she said.
Doug Twillman: Appointed incumbent stresses fiscal oversight, playground
Twillman, 66, points to fiscal oversight and completion of the district’s playground project as his leading priorities.
“I’m committed to seeing the playground through,” Twillman said. “I’m very, very excited about it.”
The board appointed Twillman to replace board member Cale Nichols, who resigned in August 2025 after moving out of state. Saghezchi cast the dissenting vote, favoring Hawkins. Twillman has been vocal in board meetings about financial prudence, and this summer he helped launch the district’s fundraising campaign for the new playground.
Twillman has been a financial analyst and consultant for more than 30 years, most recently in commercial real estate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of California at Davis and a master’s in business at the University of San Francisco. He is also a triathlete who swims at the Strawberry Recreation Center pool several times a week. He said his experience in finance and capital markets has shaped his contributions since he was appointed to the board.
Twillman noted that when it comes to the board’s current struggle to whittle down the cost of the playground, his concern is less about the final figure than ensuring the district receives a dependable estimate before committing to construction.
“Whether it’s $2.5 or $3 (million), it does not become as important as making sure that once we sign up for that number, that within reason we stick to it,” he said.
Twillman said he and General Manager Nancy Shapiro requested a meeting with GameTime to get more details about its estimate. He also said the district may hire a project manager to oversee the work, a decision that would go to the board.
“We have someone who can pay specific attention to the details on a daily basis,” Twillman said, describing the potential hire as “a bit of an insurance policy” that, if handled properly, could pay for itself.
Twillman and his wife, Coni, have lived in Strawberry since March 1999, when they moved to Vista Del Sol. He said the community’s location, wildlife, neighborhoods and proximity to San Francisco and other parts of Marin County have kept them there.
“It is such an ideal location,” he said. “It’s an ideal community. It’s one that I enjoy actually experiencing on a daily basis.”
Reflecting on his time on the board, Twillman said he understood from the beginning that public service would involve more community discussion than the finance-oriented business environment in which he typically works.
“I knew that I would need to be a good listener,” he said, adding that decisions require “much more of a community vetting process” and “a need to hear people out.”
Twillman described the district as stable and said extending Shapiro’s contract this year was important for maintaining continuity. He also credited the district with seeking community participation and transparency as it develops the playground’s specifications and budget.
“The budget should be well understood so that we can hold the contractors accountable and the community can hold us accountable for a successful physical and fiscal outcome,” he said.
“I take this responsibility seriously,” Twillman said. “As you can tell, I prepare, I ask questions, I do my best to exercise independent judgment, yet work collaboratively.”
He said he is asking voters to let him continue the work he has started and help carry the playground and the district’s other priorities forward.
“I’m proud of the Strawberry Rec District,” Twillman said. “I’m certainly optimistic about its future.”
Reach Belvedere, Strawberry and public-safety reporter Tyler Callister at 415-944-4627.