Occupation
Columbus City Council Member
Education
BA from Ohio Wesleyan University
Qualifications for Office
I currently serve as the Councilmember for the Crown District.
The biggest challenge that comes to mind is the rising cost of utility bills. Due to the rise in demand for utility resources from data center development and population growth, and decreased power generation due to state regulations, we are paying more out of our pockets for annual rate increases. My office has been focused on combating these hikes and delivering relief for our residents, especially those on fixed incomes. We are looking to address this challenge by expanding enrollment in our Utility Assistance Program, which provides bill credits to support residents in need. In addition, my office is leading the charge in developing Utility Reselling legislation to provide transparency and eliminate junk charges for residents.
Depending on the status of existing legislation focused on regulating the Utility Reselling industry and expanding recycling, a priority in my second term would be to pass any final language. In addition, I hope to focus on a few key legislative issues going into my second term: Green building standards and incentives for developments; Working to identify and address food deserts by establishing food co-ops. Food co-ops will be supported via council discretionary spending. Green building incentives will appear as a decrease in enterprise funds, but savings will be realized through utility operations.
A Councilmember is responsible for oversight, utilizing the power of the purse, and being the frontline representation for the city at large and our in-district residents. I have been proud to be in this role since January of last year and am excited to serve another term next year when I am re-elected in November. There is so much work to be done and we need to hit the ground running on day 1 to address the crises that have been building up as well as the ones created by the chaos at the Statehouse and the federal government.
Engaging with residents and stakeholders has been a priority during my first term in office. We have focused on hosting community discussion in different parts of the city to inform residents on key issues facing the city. In addition we have hosted numerous office hours in the district and across the city. When it comes to engagement around policy, we have hosted several committee hearings to discuss key initiatives for the departments and solicited feedback from residents on potential legislation. I will continue to find ways to engage residents in our work to build consensus and inform them about important initiatives. I will also continue to be present at community events, local organization events, and area commission meetings.
I value the art of being able to sit down with someone and talk about similarities and differences to find common ground to move forward together on an issue. I have been able to do that during my first term on Columbus City Council and have delivered on important issues for our residents. We have more work to do and I look forward to bringing together different parties from our housing community, our corporate communities, our residents, and working together to find solutions to the looming problems that must be solved to move our city forward.
