At Florida Rising, I serve in executive leadership as the Chief Advocacy & Political Officer. In this role, I am responsible not only for developing the position of Florida Rising for issues like affordability, voting rights, and criminal justice reform but I also develop our strategy for advancing these positions. My professional experience over the last 20 years has primarily been shaped by listening and working alongside people who are directly impacted by issues, not special interests. Further, I have served on the Jacksonville Planning Commission for 3 years and have served as the chair for the last 6 months. This has been an up close and personal look inside of City Hall and the politics that gets played out within its walls.
One of the most pressing issues in our community is affordability. Families of all varieties have been subject to higher costs on everything from gas to eggs. While the city is limited in how much it can impact these issues, what we have the ability to help with is housing costs. We must encourage in-fill and more accessible housing for people who are struggling to afford their rent or mortgage. The second is ethical leadership. While the Mayor has been working hard to propel the city forward, the City Council has been rife with members who have been seeking to continue the Good ‘Ole Boys club. It’s important to elect people to the Council who will work alongside the Mayor and her team; not as a rubber stamp, but as a partner in progress.
In addition to my professional experience, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida A&M University. I believe in ethical leadership and structural fairness. As a mother of two, I don't look at local economics through abstract theories. I understand the real-world pressure of making hard decisions at the kitchen table, and I am running to protect the quality of life for the next generation.
The growth we are experiencing in Jacksonville, while welcome, means we have to be considerate of the resources available to any one moving to the county. This means infrastructure, retail sites, and housing options. While this is a challenge, this is also the opportunity the city has to invest in revitalizing the urban core through infill development with an emphasis on small business corridors that work alongside communities, rather than demanding their participation out of convenience.
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Campaign Phone
9045448202
Having lived across Duval—in Brentwood, Oceanway, East Arlington, and the Southside—I deeply understand our diverse neighborhood needs. Alongside my B.A. in Communication Studies, I bring two decades of operational leadership across the corporate, government, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial sectors. My background includes P&L forecasting, cost accounting, and procurement for a Fortune 500 company, Human Resources, and directing non-profit hubs and boards. My work within politically adjacent c3 policy organizations gives me a deep grasp of non-partisan research and legislative analysis. I even authored a public guide to our City Council and LUZ process. I offer an array of financial, policy, and collaborative skills to serve on day one.
Our most critical issues are achieving geographic infrastructure equity and enforcing fiscal transparency-keeping the needs of Jacksonville’s families at the core of every decision. First, we must stop supporting crony capitalism and focus our dollars on fulfilling the historic, unmet promises of consolidation. I asked City Council to repeal the local gas tax because it forces spending on new projects instead of repairing old neighborhood sidewalks and drainage. Second, we must find creative revenue without cutting public services. By auditing city assets and aggressively selling off vacant, surplus real estate like the old morgue, we can cut maintenance costs, put properties back on the tax rolls, and fund neighborhood infrastructure.
Character-wise, I am a collaborative communicator who believes public service should be accessible, not adversarial. My background in Communication Studies and c3 policy work taught me how to break down complex, dense legislation—like our Land Use and Zoning (LUZ) process—into plain, everyday language so residents feel truly empowered. In tense public meetings or divided boardrooms, I intentionally use humor and a grounded approach as tools to de-escalate friction, lower the temperature, and bring people back to the facts. I am an independent watchdog. I offer a blend of financial discipline, clear transparency, and diplomatic wit needed to bridge gaps and deliver real results for Duval.
Unprecedented growth brings economic momentum, but it presents a critical challenge: infrastructure lag and massive looming budget uncertainty. The opportunity lies in leveraging our expanding property values to strengthen city services, but we face severe fiscal unpredictability with the upcoming November property tax referendums. If voters approve these measures, city revenues will shift dramatically. We cannot allow this uncertainty to stall our roads, drainage, and public safety. Growth must pay for growth. We must audit internal operations now and codify a true Neighborhood Bill of Rights into our charter, ensuring communities have advance notification of land-use changes and a protected voice as we grow.
Giving the Neighborhood Bill of Rights real legal teeth is the best way to handle growth fairly. Right now, the city’s rules are treated more like suggestions, which leaves communities completely blindsided by major zoning changes or intrusive city projects—just like Brentwood faced with the placement of the new morgue. Growth only works when neighbors actually have a say in local building decisions. Making these rights legally binding guarantees that everyday residents get early, clear warnings and a real seat at the table. It stops special interests from cutting backroom deals and ensures new developments pay for their own impact, rather than dumping the bill onto current taxpayers.
Campaign Phone
904-532-1841
After 35 years of service with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, I retired as a Commander on the Sheriff's appointed staff. I have a bachelor's degree in Supervision and Management. The positions I held, Officer, Sergeant, Internal Affairs Investigator, Lieutenant, Assistant Chief and Commander, groomed my leadership skills and propelled me to roles that offered significant opportunities for professional and personal growth. My experience includes:
28 years of serving in supervisory/management positions
Management of more than 300 employees
Budgetary experience
Employee, supervisory, and management training through LDI
2024 graduate of Lifework Leadership
I have spent my entire career building and working on teams to achieve common goals.
Public safety is a pressing issue in our community and reducing violent crime remains a top priority. Neighborhood safety and quality of life issues are concerning. In addition to crime, these concerns include homelessness, blight, traffic safety, and infrastructure. It is important that every citizen, especially our children and senior citizens, have a safe community in which they may live and thrive. Housing affordability and cost of living expenses are also one of the most pressing issues in our community. Rising rents and housing costs, homeowners' insurance costs, affordable housing shortages, and low wages are a few reasons citizens are struggling financially. Rising costs of goods/services place added burdens on many families.
I have 28 successful years of management experience that exemplifies my ability to lead and work with others. My training in ethics, communication, and management was paramount in dealing with people and solving conflict. My years of experience completing investigations was critical in making sound decisions and avoiding liability. My commitment to Jacksonville did not end when I left work each day. For decades, I volunteered in one of our city's most vulnerable neighborhoods through youth sports and community outreach. I helped provide meals, offered financial assistance to families in need, tutored children, and mentored young women and youth because I believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.
Northeast Florida's unprecedented growth is both an exciting opportunity and a serious responsibility. Growth brings new businesses, jobs, and a larger tax base that may help improve our quality of life. However, if growth is not managed wisely, it can have negative effects on infrastructure and reduce the quality of life for Jacksonville residents. Some of the biggest challenges include housing affordability, keeping up with public safety demands, traffic congestion, and protecting our natural resources. I have learned how to anticipate future needs, manage resources responsibly, and how to bring people together to solve complex problems. Those same leadership skills are needed as Jacksonville continues to grow.
Having the ability to see the big picture as it pertains to growth and recognizing that growth should benefit every neighborhood is very important. I will support smart responsible growth that maintains affordability and strengthens our economy.
