The Winnebago County Board in Wisconsin is the county's legislative body, composed of 36 Supervisors who set policies, approve budgets, establish tax levies, and oversee county services, operating under state law and county rules to represent their constituents and promote community well-being, meeting monthly in Oshkosh. This is a non-partisan position. Elected supervisors serve a 2-year term.
I bring a mix of government experience, community leadership, and real-world business perspective. I’ve served on the Winnebago County Board since 2022, including work on the IT Committee, the Diversity Affairs Commission, the Ad Hoc Committee on Rules, and the Parks & Recreation Committee (currently). I’ve also served on the Menasha Parks & Recreation Board and I run the Hart Park Neighborhood Group, which keeps me closely connected to residents and the everyday issues families care about. In addition, I serve on the Valley Homeschoolers Board of Directors, which involves collaborative decision-making, coordinating volunteers, and helping lead programming for local families. On top of that, I’ve owned and operated multiple small businesses for years and worked as an NWTC Academic Advisor; experience that’s made me organized, practical, people-focused, and comfortable balancing budgets and priorities.
County government can improve energy and efficiency by treating energy as an operating cost we can manage. Start by benchmarking all facilities and using energy audits to prioritize the biggest savings first; LED lighting and controls, HVAC upgrades and commissioning, insulation and air sealing, and better building automation and scheduling. If we build new, we should build smart for long-term operating costs by considering geothermal and wind where site conditions make sense, plus other on-site renewables using the assets we already have; including wind potential near Lake Winnebago.
Renewable energy should be considered as part of a plan, not a one-off project. Funding options include Focus on Energy incentives, state and federal grants, and performance contracting where verified savings help pay for upgrades over time.
1. Fair distribution of county resources countywide. Too often, money seems to stay in Oshkosh, even though Winnebago County serves 175,000+ residents across multiple cities, towns, villages, and unincorporated communities. We all pay taxes, and funding decisions should reflect needs across the entire county. I propose ongoing conversations with local Mayors, Village Presidents, and City Council Members to understand priorities in every area, then use that input to guide budget planning and project selection.
2. Reducing “pet projects” by focusing on countywide impact. While I represent Menasha, I also have a responsibility to speak up for every resident. We should prioritize grants and initiatives that benefit everyone, not just select communities. A recent example is Resolution 226; I supported it and appreciate the intent, but it is disappointing that the direct benefits only reach Oshkosh students. Moving forward, we should pursue grant strategies designed to serve resident
The Spirit Fund is a limited, one time opportunity and the County Board has real constraints on how the remaining dollars can be used under the ARPA resolution, especially since much of what is left is accrued interest. With that in mind, the best use is to address neglected, necessary projects that reduce future costs and protect what taxpayers already own. That includes deferred maintenance and major repairs to county facilities and parks, safety and ADA upgrades, and other capital needs that we cannot keep pushing down the road.
The County’s role is to be a practical partner that removes barriers and helps communities increase housing supply; not to create layers of new programs. Affordable housing improves when it is easier, faster, and more predictable for local builders to build smaller, attainable homes. Many ordinances make this impossible, such as minimum home sizes like 1,200 sq ft on a 1/8-acre lot. We should move away from one-size-fits-all rules and allow smaller homes, cottage courts, ADUs, and tiny home clusters where appropriate. Countywide actions could include model ordinances, coordinated permitting support, pre-approved small-home plan templates, and infrastructure planning that helps projects pencil out across all communities.
