Training and Experience
Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Lexington Theological Seminary, Church pastor for 7 years, Ordained in the United Church of Christ
Volunteer/Community Service
Former Board Member of Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, Current Board Member of the Charles Musyoka Matuku Foundation, Media Chair of Greater Cincinnati Faith Leaders, Presidential Volunteer Service Award recipient.
I support bipartisan, citizen-led redistricting to ensure fair maps and restore trust in our elections. I will oppose efforts like the SAVE Act that create barriers to voting, because voting is a fundamental right. Any policy that requires payment or added cost to register or vote functions as a poll tax and should be rejected. We must protect and expand early voting and mail-in voting so people can participate in ways that fit their lives. Ballots postmarked by Election Day should be counted. Our goal should be simple: make it easier, not harder, for eligible citizens to have their voices heard.
The most urgent tax reform Ohio needs is ending the property tax crisis. Right now, townships and municipalities are forced to over-rely on property taxes, making meaningful relief nearly impossible. When seniors are taxed out of their homes and communities are pushed to fight over levies, it all traces back to our broken and unconstitutional school funding system. The state must pay its fair share of public education so local communities are not left carrying the burden. We also need a fairer tax code, including a graduated income tax so the wealthiest pay their share, and closing corporate loopholes so everyone pays what they owe.
The rising cost of living is the issue I hear about most, and it’s being driven by broken systems, not personal failure. We have to tackle it at the root. That means ending the property tax crisis so people aren’t taxed out of their homes, and building truly affordable housing by cutting red tape and addressing corporate ownership that drives up costs. We must also restore the conversation around a living wage so work actually pays, and cap the cost of prescription medications so no one has to choose between their health and groceries. Finally, fully funding public education will reduce the burden on local property taxes. Affordability isn’t one issue, it’s everything.
My top priority is fully funding public education. In 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled our system unconstitutional, and we are still living with the consequences. At the same time, I am listening to what I am hearing from constituents. Many parents have real concerns about lingering COVID-era learning models and accountability, and that is why I am paying attention. These concerns must be addressed with transparency and a focus on student success. For higher education, we must prioritize affordability by expanding access to college, trade schools, and workforce pathways without saddling students with lifelong debt.
As a progressive pastor, I do this work every day. I regularly work across denominations and differences to feed and shelter people, because real needs don’t ask about party or denomination affiliation. That experience has shown me that the way we do politics right now is not working. It is fueling division instead of solving problems. We reduce hyperpartisanship by focusing on shared values, showing up in community, and actually listening to one another. Civility is not about agreeing on everything, nor is it about ignoring accountability, but it is about remembering our shared humanity and working together to meet real needs.
