You cannot represent people you never talk to. I have spent decades on boards and task forces, and the best information never came from a podium. It came from porches, church basements, farmers markets, and kitchen tables. As commissioner, I will hold rotating neighborhood meetings so every part of the city gets face time, not just the folks who already show up at City Hall. I will keep real office hours, answer the phone, and meet people where they are, in person and online.Listening is only half of it. The other half is reporting back. When you tell me something, you deserve to know what I did with it. That is how trust gets built, one honest conversation at a time.
This one is personal. As Chairman of the Alachua County Affordable Housing Board, I have watched teachers, nurses, and the people who keep this city running get priced out of the place they call home.
The city cannot fix this alone, but it holds real levers. Cut the permitting delays that add cost and kill projects. Put new housing where it belongs, along transit corridors, in commercial centers, and on underused land, so we grow without bulldozing established neighborhoods. Partner with builders on affordable units. Protect renters from unjust evictions.
We should not have to choose between a young family that needs a first home and a retiree who wants her street to stay her street. Honest planning serves both.
The amendment would raise the non school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Local estimates put the annual cost to the City of Gainesville at roughly $12 million.
That is real money, and it pays for real things. Police and fire. Roads. Parks. Code enforcement. School funding is shielded and public safety is prioritized, so everything else absorbs the cut.
I understand why relief is on the ballot. Families are squeezed, and government has to earn every dollar it takes.
If it passes, the answer is not panic, and it is not quietly swapping taxes for new fees. It is a sober look at every line, protecting core services, and telling residents the truth.
Communication is key to effective government and the single most effective way for politicians is EMAIL access and responsiveness. Being available for in-person meetings and having regular office hours are effective as well. A simple website updated frequently is also effective.
Affordable housing is very complicated as many people have different opinions as to what that really means. Requiring AH Units in new construction is essential. Gainesville has a robust system in place. Documentation and transparency are lacking for the general public and that needs to change.
The impact will be substantial in Gainesville because rather than addressing the impact and finding solutions, it is secondary to the constant blame game that the current city commission has on everything from the GRUA, to the Governor and the POTUS. They scream about local rule but create an atmosphere of hostility rather than mending bridges and finding solutions. They have demonstrated a lack of fiscal responsibility when faced with the inevitability of lost revenue and rising prices by not offering reasonable solutions. They just tax and spend.
Campaign Phone
407-914-8107
I will continue to keep my constituents informed of City business and policy developments through social media, email, at community events, and any medium possible. More importantly, I will continue to urge my constituents to reach out to me to share their opinions on City business and policy. Fair representation is only possible when there is a free-flowing exchange of ideas.
The City of Gainesville should play several roles in addressing the affordable housing crisis. I will continue supporting our City's efforts to direct federal, state, and local resources to projects that increase and preserve our affordable housing stock. For example, using various funding sources, we have already provided resources to build or preserve over 800 affordable homes. I also supported and will continue supporting the strongest possible inclusionary zoning policy, which requires developers to set aside some of the homes to build as affordable.
Because Gainesville residents expect and demand high-quality public services, we will have to find a balance between increasing revenues from sources we're permitted to access and reducing services we can reduce without harming our most vulnerable neighbors. The most important thing, however, is that this tax proposal is reckless and will cause pain. Everyone should vote no.
