Deb Tuohey is a long time resident of Ashcroft, having moved to the area over forty years ago for the prospect of work as an early childhood educator. With her husband's long roots, that go back to the conception of the Village of Ashcroft, she quickly became a pillar of the community.

She raised her family in the Village, and her sister also ended up moving to the area. In the early 2000's, Deb and her sister bought the failing Ashcroft Bakery and started to learn how to make baked goods. As they started out they made several lumpy loafs of bread or odd shaped muffins that were still bought by the appreciative village citizens. Her sister would even write sympathetic stories about the misshaped pastries and breads to brighten customers days.

Eventually the bakery started selling coffee and quick lunches to fill a need that wasn't being met at the time. After time and many investments the coffees incorporated lattes, and espresso shots to round out the menu. One of the signature bakery items is the fresh baked cinnamon buns, and pizzas that are only baked on Thursdays and Fridays. When you are looking for something a little bigger the bakery will make you a specialty cake. They can do almost anything including cakes in suggestive shapes. On most mornings you can find a group of avid coffee drinkers and gossips use their own key to get into the building and make their own coffee without the aid of any bakery employee.

A few years ago Deb attempted a retirement strategy and leased the business to a local entrepreneur, but as things quickly deteriorated in the business Deb stepped back in to keep things running smoothly. But her brief hiatus from work sent Deb in a new direction that included local municipal politics.

She states that her job would bring in many villagers and their concerns about the Village, and in the 2018 municipal election Deb ran as a councilor for the Village of Ashcroft. Despite her standing in the community Deb did not assume that she would make it in and when the votes were cast she celebrated in the bakery with her family and friends. She joined Nadine Davenport (another local business owner), Jonah Anstett who is an Ashcroft volunteer firefighter, Marilyn Anderson a local retiree and Mayor Barbara Roden who is the editor of the Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal.

Some of Deb's successes as a councilor include the construction completion of the new Ashcroft water treatment facility, and advocating for a crosswalk near the busy intersection of Bancroft St and 1st Ave in Ashcroft. Her business keeps her connected to the local population, which gives her a unique chance to listen to the villages problems and suggestions.

At this time Deb says that she will likely run again, even though there are some issues that she has with the red tape and bureaucracy. She wishes that when a project is voted on that it can just happen, which isn't the case in most situations.