Education
Doctorate, Public Policy & Administration
Experience
Councilperson, Town of Haverhill 2021 - Present; Executive Director, Northwest Community Consortium 2014- 2022
Campaign Phone
5619517560
I have served as a Councilperson since 2021 in the Town of Haverhill. My governance experience includes adopting an annual millage rate by resolution, approving ordinances, approving construction contracts that involve infrastructure improvements, housing development and street-lighting. I have voted on zoning issues, proclamations, worked w/ County staff to install lights at the local basketball courts, approved the annexation of land into the town and forged partnership with Cros Ministries
Housing Affordability -- Leverage PBC Community Land Trust seek partnerships with municipalities to identify buildable lots that could be considered for the program to build workforce and affordable housing both single family and multi-family units.
My first priority would be to protect core County services, including public safety, Fire Rescue, infrastructure, emergency management, and programs that serve our most vulnerable residents. Palm Beach County’s size, rapid growth, diverse communities, and significant infrastructure needs make long-term planning especially important. We must coordinate County spending and capital investments with population growth while maintaining the infrastructure and services our existing residents expect.
Housing Affordability. Many residents pay more than 30% of their income for housing which presents a cost burden. I propose expanding inclusionary/workforce housing requirements. Require a meaningful share of units in new residential developments to be affordable or workforce housing, particularly in high-growth areas. Also use publicly owned land for housing. Conduct an inventory of underutilized County-owned property and make appropriate sites available through long term ground leases,
Education
Master of Public Health - Rollins School of Public Health Emory University, Bachelor of Science in Health Science Education - University of Florida
Experience
Criminal Justice Committee, Homeless Advisory Board, Children's Services Council, Leadership Florida, Leadership Palm Beach County, United Way Hunger Plan Childhood Subcommittee — Chair, Health Care District Board, etc.
Campaign Phone
5616899787
My School Board experience gave me a firsthand understanding of how to build partnerships across nonprofit, civic, religious, and government sectors to get things done. I have worked directly with local businesses to help them compete for government contracts, and I bring years of budget management experience to this role, having worked alongside both the staff who build budgets and the employees who depend on them.
My priorities are straightforward. Manage growth responsibly so residents have a voice in development decisions and infrastructure keeps pace. Fix our traffic through smarter signal technology and real transit investment. Expand workforce housing so teachers, nurses, and firefighters can afford to live here. Fully fund public safety and support the people who protect us. And spend every tax dollar like it belongs to the people, because it does.
As County Commissioner, I will work to reduce spending on nonessential services to ensure we have the adequate funding we need to to keep high quality essential services. Besides cutting spending, we should also explore other ways to create revenue to maintain the quality of life our residents expect. We need to ask ourselves what is the primary role of government and if we are prioritizing what our residents and community really need to function. It won't be easy but there is always a way.
The rising cost of living is the number one pressure District 2 residents are feeling right now. At the county level, that means reviewing every line of spending, eliminating waste, and pursuing outside funding before asking taxpayers to carry the load. It also means expanding workforce housing options and supporting local businesses that create jobs and keep dollars circulating right here in Palm Beach County.
