Occupation
President Pro Tem of Columbus City Council and Union Attorney
Education
Ohio University (BA), University of Toledo (JD)
Columbus' growth over the past decade, which is projected to continue into the future is both the biggest opportunity and challenge facing our city. We must make investments in our physical infrastructure to support our residents quality of life today and plan for future growth. Additionally, we must make investments in human infrastructure to ensure that working families have the supports they need to have affordable housing opportunities, access to career training, and a human services safety net services when needed.
I plan to continue my efforts to modernizing Columbus' zoning code to allow the development of more housing in our city. Increasing housing supply is one of the key ways to help stabilize and lower housing costs for our residents. Our base zoning code dates back to the 1950s and severely limits the ability to build new housing of all types in Columbus. I led the effort to pass the first phase of this zoning modernization process in 2024 and I am moving forward with new package of legislation in 2025 and hope to do the same in 2026.
Additionally, I am focusing on how we as a city can better algin our workforce development funding with career opportunities in growth industries for our unemployment and under employed residents.
Columbus City Council is the legislative branch of the city. Our key responsibilities are budgetary, oversight of the administration, and to legislate changes to city code. I have now been on Council for six different budget cycles and have gained significant insight into how this process works in different financial environments. Additionally, I have been proud to have lead a number of legislative efforts that resulted in significant code changes, including; passing one of the nations strongest wage theft laws, creating the civilian review board, a program that forgave over $300 million in medical debt for residents, expanding our responsible wage law to raise wages for city contractors, and many others.
I've prided myself in having an open door policy at Council. I've engaged in residents in many different ways, on social media, in community forums, one on one meetings both in city hall and out in the community.
I believe its important work with stakeholders to truly understand their position and their motivations. It's important to ensure fair unbiased information is part of that engagement process. Each situation is different, but being transparent and honest with all community stakeholders is paramount in every situation to build trust to try and find a resolution.
