Campaign Phone Number
701-226-5106
My top priorities focus on expanding access to recreational opportunities for all Bismarck residents. I am committed to the development of an indoor recreation center, an important and much needed space that would provide year-round access to indoor turf, pickleball, tennis, and court activities. Additionally, I want to ensure that residents in south Bismarck have access to the same high-quality amenities enjoyed in other parts of the city, including dog parks, splash pads, and community spaces.
The park district’s biggest challenge is balancing rising demand for facilities and programs with limited budgets. While existing spaces are well maintained, many no longer meet the needs of a growing community. Addressing this will require collaboration with user groups, businesses, and community leaders to set priorities, build partnerships, and create sustainable solutions that keep pace with Bismarck’s growth.
I am committed to balancing community needs with responsible financial stewardship. My approach focuses on delivering a variety of facilities and programs while maintaining a sustainable budget. With legislative constraints adding pressure, careful planning and prioritization are essential in a growing community like Bismarck, supported by a strong finance team and directors that utilize conservative budgeting practices.
The district is already taking important steps through its ADA Accessibility Plan to ensure our parks and facilities are inclusive and accessible to all residents. Prioritizing these improvements, along with specific updates to some of our older facilities, will help ensure our spaces remain safe, welcoming, and comfortable for everyone. Ongoing evaluation and investment will be key to maintaining high-quality experiences that meet the needs of our entire community.
Ensuring accessibility means addressing the barriers community members face. The district’s ADA plan supports access for those with physical limitations, while affordability ensures cost isn’t a barrier, especially for kids. Program scholarships and free swim passes are some steps the district already takes. Expanding and promoting these efforts will help all Bismarck residents fully enjoy parks, facilities, and programs.
1. Maintain and improve existing parks and facilities through responsible, long-term stewardship
2. Build strategic partnerships to expand programming and maximize community use
3. Leverage grants and alternative funding to grow opportunities while protecting taxpayers
The biggest challenge is maintaining Bismarck’s high standard of excellence during a leadership transition.
The park district is the only nationally accredited system in the state—that standard must be protected while continuing to improve. With a director transition ahead, the board’s role is to ensure continuity, clarity, and long-term direction.
I bring a disciplined, governance-focused approach backed by 35 years managing and administering a non-profit trade association. I’m experienced in building and overseeing budgets, setting priorities, and aligning resources to long-term goals. I understand the distinction between board oversight and staff execution—and keep the focus on direction, accountability, and responsible stewardship.
Our park system is in a GREAT place—this isn’t about fixing problems, it’s about keeping up with a growing community. I’ll listen to community input, including ideas like year-round indoor turf, while keeping the broader priorities in focus. That includes staying ahead on maintenance, planning for future green space, and ensuring staffing levels keep high-demand facilities—like pools with lifeguards—open when people use them most.
Accessibility starts with affordability and smart prioritization. The board needs to monitor the balance between user fees and tax support to ensure costs don’t become a barrier to participation. Strong budgeting and clear priorities—focusing on needs over wants—help keep parks and facilities open, welcoming, safe, and usable for the entire community.
Campaign Phone Number
7013918954
My priority is protecting and strengthening Bismarck's parks, trails, and recreation spaces. I'll focus on sustaining what we have while ensuring accessibility for all ages and abilities. As our community grows, I'm committed to improving trail connectivity, strengthening partnerships with local organizations, and making fiscally responsible decisions. Through stewardship, accessibility, and collaboration, we can ensure our parks remain a source of pride for generations.
The biggest challenge is maintaining what we have while managing limited resources and growing demand. Deferred maintenance compounds over time, trails become hazards, and equipment fails. I'd address this through a fix-what-we-have-first approach: honest facility assessments, data-driven priorities, and lifecycle planning. We need smarter partnerships and to pursue available grants.
Three core values: transparency, stewardship, and equity. Transparency means data-driven budgets showing what services different funding scenarios provide. Stewardship means fix-what-we-have-first and lifecycle cost analysis. Equity means ensuring all residents; across ages, abilities, income levels, and neighborhoods have genuine access to quality green space, safe recreation, and meaningful programs. Budget decisions must serve everyone, not just the most vocal.
The most important improvements are accessibility and programming infrastructure. Accessibility means facilities usable for all ages, abilities, and background safe, navigable, and welcoming. Programming infrastructure means facilities supporting how people actually use parks: better field conditions, winter recreation options, unstructured play spaces, and community gathering venues. Improvements should be driven by resident feedback and data, not assumptions.
Accessibility requires intentional action across four dimensions. Physical: universal design with input from disability communities. Geographic: quality access in all neighborhoods, not just some. Economic: clear scholarship policies ensuring fees don't exclude families. Programmatic: activities reflecting our full community diversity. Strong afterschool and youth programs provide safe, structured recreation for all kids, especially those without other options.
My top priorities are to ensure a smooth transition with the District’s new executive director…that is critical to the continued success of the District. It has always been my desire to have a new recreational facility in Bismarck. I was on the Grand Fork Park Board and during my time there I utilized my fundraising training to help secure a naming sponsor and land donation. Also, I want to see the addition of a dog park in south Bismarck along with enhancements to the ball fields.
Budget constraints remain the biggest challenge for the park district; however, we manage to hold the line on the percentage of mils we receive and have even had several years we decreased our mil. Public-private partnerships are a great way to help keep the costs of a new facility down. Most recently, Bismarck Parks partnered with Bismarck School District to help pay for the third ice rink at the VFW Sport Center.
Being a current Bismarck Park Board commissioner, I have experienced the budgeting process for several years. In addition to working in the banking industry, I have a degree in accounting from University of Jamestown and a Master of Business Administration from University of Mary. I bring my education, and work experience to the board table to ensure the district achieves a balanced budget.
Our community continues to grow and there is a great need for a new recreational facility. Having additional indoor turf, courts and other recreational amenities would allow Bismarck to host more area tournaments. This would have an economic impact and bring in new revenue dollars. Currently, Bismarck Park District is partnering with the City on a facility feasibility study. Also, I have always held a strong belief in the need to take care of our existing facilities and parks.
Bismarck Park District completed a major accessibility study a little less than two years ago. Currently, the district is implementing changes as the budget allows in addition to ensuring that every remodel and new playground aligns with these standards. We have shared this study with our contractors to make sure the standards are utilized.
