Campaign Phone
334-758-3631
I bring experience in small business ownership, supply chain, real estate, and a passion for government affairs. As the owner and operator of a small retail tea shop in downtown Columbus for almost five years, I saw firsthand how infrastructure, parking, walkability, and city planning affect local businesses. While Auburn and Columbus are apples and oranges, operating a downtown business in our larger neighboring city gave me a unique perspective. Combined with my professional experience and interest in infrastructure, economic development, housing, and responsible growth, I believe I can bring a practical, real-world perspective to Council.
I believe Auburn's biggest challenge is managing growth responsibly. I graduated high school on the eve of the 2008 financial crisis, and as a young adult I saw how a lack of foresight allowed growth in some communities to become unsustainable, damaging housing values, tax bases, and opportunities for younger generations. Growth can be an indicator of success, but it must be supported by infrastructure, transportation, housing, and public services. I would advocate for data-driven planning, coordinated infrastructure investment, responsible development, and meaningful public input.
I think Auburn has done many things well, which is part of why people want to live here. However, continued growth requires us to constantly reevaluate whether our planning is keeping pace. I don't want to assume what worked yesterday will automatically work tomorrow. Roads, utilities, transportation, housing, schools, and public services should be considered alongside development, not after the fact. Economic prosperity also means supporting existing residents, local businesses, families, and entrepreneurs. We need growth that strengthens Auburn without sacrificing what made people want to live here.
I think Auburn’s budgeting priorities and revenue structure could be made more fair to the people actually paying the taxes. I would like to see a gradual reduction, and eventually potentially the elimination, of property taxes through a tiered approach that replaces that revenue with other sources, such as employment and consumption taxes. I recognize property taxes are a major revenue engine for Auburn and most cities, so this would be a radical proposal requiring serious study. But I think there may be an avenue for it.
I think Auburn has an excellent Public Safety Department (PSD). It is accessible, professional, and, in my experience, generally pleasant to interact with. I may give them a 6/5 on Yelp lmfao. I have often joked that Auburn is the most over-policed, but non-aggressive city in my experience. I know PSDs everywhere face challenges, but I have been fortunate not to have negative experiences here. Having seen how different things can be across the river in Columbus, I would prioritize maintaining Auburn’s professionalism while addressing future needs as the city grows.
No, not entirely. Honestly, I don't think most growing American cities are managing infrastructure particularly well, and some are struggling just to sustain what they already have. I can't point at Auburn as the boogeyman, but I think we have an opportunity to set an example through “Auburn Excellence.” This becomes especially important as infrastructure-intensive industries like data centers and domestic production expand. If Auburn wants to compete in this next phase of "American Exceptional" growth, we need infrastructure capable of supporting it. We should pick up the baton and run with it.
I think Auburn City Schools are second to none in this region. An Auburn High diploma is almost as good as gold in this world. As the system expands, I think our priority should be maintaining that quality. Auburn is an economic hub and cultural melting pot, strategically located along I-85, and people come here for that unique combination. Looking forward, I would like to see greater diversity on the school board. With the academics, engineers, professionals, and varied backgrounds in this community, I think we could build an education system that becomes the envy of the South.
Absolutely! I don't think the data center formula has been fully worked out, and there are still growing pains that need to be addressed. My biggest concern is the amount of resources these projects can require. If a data center must be located here, I think we should require serious consideration of the most environmentally responsible solutions possible, especially after the drought we experienced. That means looking closely at water use, energy demand, cooling systems, and the strain on existing infrastructure before approving projects. We should not accept growth today that creates a liability tomorrow. I think those data center projects that use a anti-freeze like solution to cool the chips could be feasible. It's hot enough!!!
Auburn citizens are some of the most passionate grassroots advocates in the state. At almost every function I attend, I meet someone engaged in community advocacy. I would like to see Council build on that energy by making meetings, decisions, and information easier for citizens to follow through online platforms and other accessible tools. I also believe every councilperson should represent the passionate ideas of the people they serve while balancing what is best for Auburn collectively. Accessibility and approachability are key. If you see me on the street, give me a holler—we can always “have a talkin’.”
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Campaign Phone
334-748-3075
The City of Auburn and its citizens have made a significant, 4-year investment in training me to be their representative. I would like to honor their commitment by seeking re-election for the next four years as the City Council Representative for Ward 5. Professionally, I spent 28 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force serving my Country and acquiring leadership skills. Following that, I was self-employed for 20 years as a financial advisor. For my career as a financial advisor, and for my last 13 years in the USAF, I commuted to Montgomery from Auburn. As a consequence, I have lived in Auburn over 55 years, almost all of that time in Ward 5.
Almost everyone I talk to while campaigning, agrees that the biggest problem Auburn faces is how to handle the City’s rapid growth while retaining its essential character. That challenge involves expanding Auburn’s size, while maintaining Auburn’s small-town feel. That “small town feel” has been maintained by having several Industrial parks, away from the city center, for our expanding industrial base. One thing I don’t think we have adequately addressed is student housing, The City of Auburn and its University have “grown up together,” and each is blessed by the other, but we need to slow the building of high-rise student housing, especially in the central corridor.
The City of Auburn is currently performing several studies during the 12-month moratorium on building in its central urban corridor which include: infrastructure, traffic flow, and zoning. All are critical in knowing where the problems are, and determining which direction Auburn can most logically expand. To improve the quality of life for residents, the City has placed a high priority on building and improving parks, like Lake Wilmore, Richland Road Athletic Fields, and the new education facility at the Kreher Preserve. Additionally, I would like to see more sidewalks throughout the City.
The City Manager and Finance Department are doing an excellent job of managing our resources. The Council receives regular reports on the budget from the City Manager, and we are blessed to have steady growth in our town’s revenue. The recent bond rating we received will allow the City of Auburn and Auburn City Schools to finance the new Plains High School and Junior High with low interest expense. Citizens continue to make traffic flow, infrastructure, city schools, public safety, and parks and recreation the top priorities for Auburn in the biennial citizens’ survey, and that aligns with how the Council has allocated funds over the last four years.
Auburn’s Public Safety Department is exceptional. The Police Chief, Mike Harris, and Fire Chief, Matt Cain, under the direction of Public Safety Director, Will Matthews, all do an outstanding job of being prepared for threats ahead of time. It is the stated purpose of the Council, and the Citizens of Auburn (through surveys), to place Public Safety high on our list of funding priorities. We have recently upgraded our drone surveillance capability, and we purchased a new “tiller” firetruck, which is highly maneuverable. With a driver in both the front and rear, it can navigate the streets of Auburn with ease.
I do think the rate of growth is sustainable, which is why this question on infrastructure is such an important one. The Council is anxiously awaiting the results of the studies we have commissioned concerning infrastructure, traffic flow, and zoning in order to manage this growth intelligently.
The members of the Auburn City Schools Board of Directors are appointed by the Auburn City Council after a lengthy interview process. We have been, and continue to be, blessed by outstanding applicants to this board. The Superintendent of Education, the administration, and all the teachers, do an outstanding job of educating our children and grandchildren. It is one of the main reasons people move to Auburn. My wife and I, plus all four of our kids, are proud to say we graduated from Auburn High School. It is a big accomplishment.
This new and complex issue requires careful planning in the areas of water and power usage. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) relies on data centers. While it is important to gain and maintain a lead over our competitors in the area of AI, the construction and operation of data centers should not cause undue burdens on any one geographic area. We have a data center in Auburn, and before we gain another, I would need to be convinced that we could support its water and power needs. I am watching a Federal Initiative that would require data centers to supply their own power requirements.
All of the City Council Meetings are announced ahead of time and are open to the public. The State “sunshine law” requires that all council deliberations must be done in public. The agenda (everything that the Council receives for the meetings) is available to the public at the same time the Council members receive it. All citizens have to do is sign up for the City’s “e-notify app,” which can be downloaded to your phone for free.
I also encourage citizens to come to the meetings, where you can address the Council on the issues that are important to you.
I am available for any citizen who wants to raise an issue that affects our community.
