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Education
Bachelor Degree
Experience and qualifications
Two-term elected Sheriff with more than 30 years of service to this district. Proven experience managing an approximately $11 million annual budget and leading more than 120 employees within county government. Five years of experience working with legislators, lobbyists, and stakeholders at the Indiana Statehouse to help develop legislation impacting our community. A proven record of leadership, public safety innovation, and fiscal responsibility, ready to deliver results on day one at the Statehouse.
Community involvements
Member of the Community Bible Church Milton, Board of Directors (BOD) for the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County, BOD Kiwanis Safety Village Wayne County, Wayne County School Safety Commission Co-Chair, past board member for JACY House and Purdue Extension.
The biggest issue facing Indiana is keeping and growing our workforce. Across the state, too many young people are leaving while employers struggle to find skilled workers. To address this, we must invest responsibly in infrastructure, expand career and technical education, and strengthen our communities without overburdening taxpayers. Here in our district, that means supporting rural communities, improving roads and broadband, and creating real opportunities close to home. If we get this right, we strengthen Indiana’s future.
To address rural healthcare challenges in Indiana, we need practical, targeted strategies. Supporting rural hospitals and clinics, expanding telehealth access, and creating incentives to attract and retain doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals in underserved areas. We should also strengthen partnerships between local providers and larger health systems, while reducing unnecessary regulations that limit access to care. In our district, these solutions can help ensure families have reliable, quality care close to home and keep our communities strong.
Recent legislation has increased oversight of our state universities, particularly in governance, program review, and accountability. I support a balanced approach. Universities should remain academically independent, but must be accountable to taxpayers. The legislature has a role in ensuring fiscal responsibility, workforce-relevant programs, and protection of free speech. At the same time, we should avoid unnecessary micromanagement and allow educators to lead in finer academic decisions. Strong oversight with limited government is the right balance.
Access to affordable, reliable childcare is essential to Indiana’s workforce and economic growth. When parents can’t find care, they can’t work, and businesses struggle to fill jobs. Supporting childcare access helps strengthen families, grow our economy, and keep communities stable. We should focus on practical solutions by encouraging local providers, reducing unnecessary regulations, and supporting employer-based and community-driven options. Ensuring families have access to quality childcare isn’t just a social issue, it’s an economic priority for Indiana’s future.
Education
Theology
Experience and qualifications
Quaker pastor and denominational leader.
Defending Local Control. Decisions about our communities should be made by the people who live here — not handed down from Indianapolis. In recent years, the state has overridden local ordinances, limited zoning authority, restricted how communities manage housing and growth, and stepped into local governance when communities disagreed. While Indiana talks about “home rule,” the legislature can strip away local authority at any time.
I believe District 56 deserves real local control. I will stand up for our towns, counties, and local institutions so that the people closest to the challenges are the ones shaping the solutions — not distant policymakers or special interests.
Rural healthcare in Indiana is becoming harder to access when families need it most. While District 56 is fortunate to have a strong regional hospital, many surrounding communities still face barriers to care. Patients often travel farther for basic services, and too many are losing coverage not because they don’t qualify, but because of paperwork and changing rules. That puts pressure on providers and families alike. Healthcare should be close to home, affordable, and reliable. We need policies that support our hospital, strengthen local clinics, reduce unnecessary red tape, and make sure working families can get and keep the care they need.
State universities are vital to Indiana’s future, but they work best when they have the freedom to serve students and communities—not when they are micromanaged by politicians. The legislature should set broad priorities like affordability, transparency, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. But decisions about curriculum, campus life, and academic direction should be led by educators and local leadership. One-size-fits-all control from the top down doesn’t work. We need balance—accountability without overreach—so universities can prepare students, support our workforce, and strengthen local communities without becoming political battlegrounds.
Expanding childcare accessibility is essential for Indiana’s families, workforce, and local economies. Too many parents in District 56 want to work but can’t find affordable, reliable care. That holds families back and makes it harder for local businesses to hire and retain workers.
From a local control perspective, communities need the flexibility to support childcare solutions that fit their needs—whether that’s home-based providers, small centers, or partnerships with employers and schools. One-size-fits-all policies from the state don’t work in rural areas.
Childcare is also a fair opportunity issue. When families can’t access care, they fall behind economically, even when they’re working hard. Expanding access means stronger families
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