Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)
When I make a decision, I don't come to it with my mind already made up. I show up, I pay attention, and I wait for the facts - and if new information changes my mind, I say so. In 2024 I lost my council race by 12 votes and kept showing up anyway, at commission meetings, budget sessions, and community events, because that's not a campaign strategy, it's just who I am. Brooklyn Center deserves a council member who treats every vote like it matters to the people living with it. I want to bring that same approach to policy and the levy, where the real decisions happen.
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)
My priorities: public safety, fiscal responsibility, and smart growth. Safety means a fully staffed police department, a 24-hour fire duty crew, and crisis response we actually measure - not just fund. Residents already pay more than most comparable cities - each budget season on the Finance Commission, I ask hard questions about where that money goes. And growth means the right development, not just any development - development that sustains itself and grows our tax base.
How do you plan to engage with and represent all members of our diverse community?(500 characters)
I know I don't look like every resident here, and I take that seriously. My job isn't to assume I understand every experience - it's to meet people where they are. I'll keep showing up at community events, stay accessible to residents, and return every email and phone call - not just during election season. Representation isn't something I already have - it's something I keep earning.
What steps will you take to ensure transparency and accountability in city government? (500 characters)
Good government is a skill, not a talking point: digging into the documentation, verifying it against the facts, and staying accountable to results, not just intentions. As Finance Commission Vice Chair, I served on the panel that selected our new auditor and helped draft updates to the Purchasing Policy after audits flagged gaps - work now headed to Council for approval. I'll explain my reasoning on every vote and work to be sure accountability is achieved.