Previous Offices Held
Last held office for Oakland Budget And Advisory Committee for one 4 year term
Top Three Priorities
Top 3: keeping Oakland affordable, growing our tax base, and improving long-term planning.
Why are you running?
I’ve spent the last four years serving on Oakland’s Budget & Advisory Committee, where I’ve had the opportunity to work with department heads, review budgets, ask questions, and learn how our town operates. I’m running for Town Council because I want to take that experience to the next level and help keep Oakland an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.
What is the biggest challenge facing your town/county? The biggest opportunity?
Our biggest challenge is maintaining the services residents expect while dealing with rising costs and the pressure those costs put on taxpayers. Our biggest opportunity is economic development. Oakland has tremendous potential in our downtown, along KMD, and at FirstPark. Growing our business community and tax base can help reduce the burden on existing property owners.
If you could change one thing about how the town/county functions, what would it be and why?
I’d like to see the town do more to communicate not just what decisions are made, but why they’re made. Local government can be complicated, especially when it comes to budgets, taxes, and major projects. Residents should be able to easily understand what the town is doing, why it’s doing it, and how those decisions affect them. Better communication builds trust and encourages more people to get involved.
Do you support more development – i.e. more housing construction and business building in your town/county? Why or why not?
Yes, I support responsible development. Oakland needs additional housing and business investment, but development should make sense for the community and the infrastructure available. More housing gives people opportunities to live here, while more businesses and taxable investment can broaden our tax base. We should encourage growth without losing what makes Oakland a great place to live.